History
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That One Time in Michigan… When an Elephant Stormed Through Lansing
It was Sept. 26, 1963, and a traveling circus had stopped at the South Logan Shopping Center in Lansing, Michigan. One of the show’s acts was Rajjee the elephant.
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The True Stories Behind Ball Park Franks, Vlasic Pickles, and Other Foods Made in—You Guessed It—Michigan
Every Michigander knows that Faygo and Vernors go way back in the Mitten State, but all of these delectable and persistently popular products got their start here, too.
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The surprising history behind these 7 Michigan college mascots
Whether they’re being goofy on the field or inspiring loyalty to our team, college mascots have, er, big shoes to fill. But how are these powerful symbols created?
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9 of Traverse City’s most historic buildings—and the stories they tell
Today they’re hip breweries and luxury living spaces, but once upon a time they were candy factories and hospitals. These are the real origin stories of some of Traverse City’s most storied buildings.
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Explore the stories behind Mackinac Island’s cemeteries
If you care to tour the cemeteries on Mackinac Island, keep an eye out for these graves.
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Daughters of Motown: 5 Michigan women who shaped music history
These five ladies didn’t need Los Angeles to make it big—all they needed was the Motor City. Relive Motown’s glory days with the stories of these Detroit divas.
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5 Michigan women who made history
Through activism, sports, astronautics, and monumental court cases, these five trailblazers made history in the Mitten…and the world.
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K’zoo Jams: 12 popular songs that reference the city of Kalamazoo
In the music world, the unusual name of Kalamazoo has become a versatile tool for a variety of lyrics—and a popular metonym to refer to more exotic places, even if Kalamazoo isn’t so exotic itself. It’s a Michigan city, but it’s also now a big piece of lyrical Americana.
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Guitars, Corsets, and Kzoo: Kalamazoo’s industrial history is cooler than you think
Kalamazoo is filled with factories—and it’s an industrial legacy that didn’t grow overnight. Back when railroads were a dominant form of transportation in Michigan, Kalamazoo made a name for itself as the “Crossroads of Southwest Michigan.”
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Food History: Michigan’s favorite ice cream was born in a brewery
Blue Moon ice cream may be a Midwest dairy flavor mystery that sort of just tastes like “blue” to some, but Michigan’s Superman ice cream multiplies that mystery by three.
