Issue No. 22

Welcome Home, {{first_name|default:Michigander}}!

It took decades of debate, but in February 1988, Governor James Blanchard signed Public Act 5, officially designating the Brook Trout as the State Fish of Michigan—beating out the walleye and the perch.

This native fish is more than just a catch; it’s a living "quality check" for our Great Lakes wilderness.

Because Brook Trout require incredibly pure, cold water to survive, their presence is a symbol of Michigan’s environmental recovery after the logging era.

In February 1969, the first International 500 Snowmobile Race took place in Sault Ste. Marie. It was inspired by the Indy 500 and remains the world’s most grueling single-day snowmobile endurance test.

Riders reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour while enduring sub-zero temperatures and blinding "snow dust."

The track is built by spraying millions of gallons of water until the ice is thick enough to withstand 500 miles of punishment. It’s a legendary display of Michigan's obsession with winter sports.

Before it was "Go Green," it was a bold experiment to teach science to farmers in the Michigan wilderness.

In February 1855, Governor Bingham signed the law creating the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, now known as Michigan State University.

MSU became the prototype for the entire land-grant college system, proving that "practical" skills belonged in the classroom.

Following its success, the government gave federal land to states to fund public colleges. It paved the way for over 100 land-grant institutions—opening university doors to the working class for the first time.

Tip: Click or tap on your guess to see if you got it right!

Last week, we opened the virtual doors to The 1837 Club and Room 26. To date, 12 of our 189 Founding Member spots are officially filled.

While I love providing free Michigan history for everyone, there is a different level of validation when people choose to support this mission with their hard-earned money. It’s a commitment I don't take lightly. These first dozen members are making Michigan history accessible by directly funding our research, growth, and more.

The bonus history and Founding Member certificates are already flowing. You can still get yours by being one of the first 189 members (in honor of our 189 years of statehood!).

Support starts as low as $3/month (~10 cents a day). It might not seem like much, but as we see in the stories we share, history is often made when people come together for a cause.

I’d love to personally invite you to click the “Learn More” button below to see if it’s right for you.

Thank you for helping make Michigan history more accessible! - Zac 💙

Until I researched this week’s issue, I never fully grasped the devastation that driving logs downriver caused. I was surprised to learn that in the late 19th century, the lumber industry nearly destroyed Michigan’s rivers.

The practice of driving logs downriver scoured stream beds, ruined spawning grounds, and raised water temperatures, nearly wiping out the native Brook Trout. The Grayling, another native species, was driven to complete extinction in Michigan waters.

But history is often a mix of hard lessons and bright spots.

While I knew MSU started as an agricultural school, I had no idea that it served as the model for the federal land-grant system, paving the way for over 100 universities.

It just proves that there are always new layers to the history we think we know.

Until next week, thank you for reading Michigan History Digest.
— Zac and the Welcome Home History Team.