Golden memory: Michigan skater wins Olympic medal, meets Beatles
Terry McDermott didn’t view himself as anyone all that special. And this mop-topped rock ‘n’ roll band from England? Well, he was only faintly aware of their budding stardom.
Michigan History
Stories and photos about people, places and events from Michigan's past
Events
'Remember the Maine!' Michigan men fight in the Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War was the shortest war in U.S. history, a mere 10 months from declaration to surrender in 1898. It pitted the up-and-coming international power, the United States, against a faded Spanish empire, which after nearly 400 years saw its colonies break free until it was down to Cuba, the Philippines, and the tiny … Continue Reading →
World War II letters find their way home
By Neal Rubin / The Detroit News It was 70 years ago, in the middle of World War II, that Glenn Husted sat down at a typewriter and first made his contribution to the cause. The date was Nov. 6, 1943. In the Solomon Islands, the Marines had just landed on Bougainville. In Ukraine, the … Continue Reading →
1913 Great Lakes storm reminder of nature's fury
Nearly forgotten disaster sank 12 ships, killed 250 By Francis Donnelly / The Detroit News What was the biggest disaster in the history of the Great Lakes? Would it help if we told you it battered four of the five lakes, killing 250 people, sinking 12 ships and causing $120 million in damage? Still don’t … Continue Reading →
Detroit's Halloween past: Spirits, demons and pranks
By Bill Loomis / Special to The Detroit News Halloween has become a major retail holiday, second only to Christmas in consumer spending, according to the National Retail Federation. But it didn’t start out that way. Early celebrations in Detroit had more to do with soothsaying than trick-or-treating. The first mention of Halloween in the … Continue Reading →
It's the Fourth of July - launch the anvil!
Detroit’s 19th century celebrations were proud, explosive and dangerous By Bill Loomis / Special to The Detroit News After voting for independence in 1776, the Continental Congress debated and revised the formal Declaration of Independence, finally approving it on July 4. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: “The second day of July, 1776, will … Continue Reading →
Lake Michigan beam may be from Griffin shipwreck
By John Flesher / Associated Press Fairport, Mich. — A wooden beam that has long been the focus of the search for a 17th century shipwreck in northern Lake Michigan was not attached to a buried vessel as searchers had suspected, but still may have come from the elusive Griffin or some other ship, archaeologists … Continue Reading →
Optimism shines through in Henry Ford exhibit of World's Fairs of the 1930s
By Michael Hodges / The Detroit News Has there ever been a more seductive view of the future? The 1930s might have been a time of global depression, but that didn’t stop the design industry in its optimistic rush toward that more abundant life just around the corner. This glittering vision, in all its elegance … Continue Reading →
Art that rocked Detroit: 80th anniversary of the DIA's Diego Rivera murals
Eighty years ago, the Detroit Institute of Arts debuted “Detroit Industry,” the monumental murals by Diego Rivera that he intended to be a tribute to Michigan’s innovative technology.
Gold! Michigan men with a fever joined the rush to California
The California Gold Rush began in the spring of 1848 at Sutter’s Mill off the South Fork River, northeast of Sacramento. A carpenter named James Marshall was overseeing the construction of a water-powered sawmill when he spotted “something shining in the ditch.” After some crude tests, he became convinced that what he held was real … Continue Reading →
