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Three MI Moments from February
1. The Queen of Gospel Matches the Queen of Soul
On February 1, 2026, Michigan gospel legend CeCe Winans made history, winning her 18th Grammy Award.
This ties her with Aretha Franklin for the 2nd most wins of any Michigan artist, behind only Stevie Wonder (25).
This milestone also makes her the 3rd most awarded female artist in Grammy history, sitting right alongside the Queen of Soul.
From Detroit to the world stage, these two icons now share the crown for Michigan’s most decorated women in music.
2. The Spirit of St. Louis
Most people know of the plane called the “Spirit of St. Louis”—but did you know the pilot was actually born in Detroit?
On February 4, 1902, Charles Lindbergh was born in his grandfather's house on West Forest Avenue (near where Wayne State is today).
He became a global icon in 1927 after completing the first-ever solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The flight started in New York and ended in Paris.
His Detroit roots run deep: his mother, Evangeline, was a chemistry teacher at Cass Tech High School. She famously kept teaching classes even after her son became the biggest celebrity on the planet.
3. The Pere Marquette 15
In February 1897, the world’s first all-steel car ferry, a “steel monster” named the Pere Marquette (later renamed Pere Marquette 15), made its maiden voyage.
It paved the way for the legendary SS Badger, which still sails the same route today.
This breakthrough allowed railroads to finally bypass the "Chicago bottleneck" year-round. Before this, Lake Michigan froze the economy solid every winter.
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MI History Photo of the Week
Spirit of St. Louis - Cockpit
Note: the custom wicker chair to save weight - circa 2015
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MI Trivia
Which Michigan music legend holds the record for winning a Grammy in the same category for 8 consecutive years?
Tip: Click or tap on your guess to see if you got it right!
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MI History Spotlight
The SS Badger
Designated a National Historic Landmark, the SS Badger is the last coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the United States and has provided a scenic shortcut across Lake Michigan since 1953.
Today, travelers can step back in time on this 410-foot vessel for a four-hour crossing or a special shoreline cruise featuring live entertainment and an onboard museum dedicated to its maritime legacy.
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My Michigan Reflection
There was a strong, unintentional theme I noticed after putting this week’s issue together.
Whether it’s aviation, gospel music, or maritime innovation, all of these moments have deep roots in Michigan with an immense global reach. It’s a great reminder that our history isn’t just about local pride—it’s about our impact on the world.
I still can’t believe Charles Lindbergh flew 3,600 miles sitting on a wicker chair!
And I had no idea that the Pere Marquette 15 paved the way for the SS Badger—the last coal-fired passenger steamship in the U.S. that you can still ride today right here in Michigan.
And, of course, a huge congratulations to Detroit’s own CeCe Winans for continuing to make history.
Update: I’m excited to introduce a new section below: MI History Rewind.
As many of you know, I post four Michigan history videos each week on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. But big news: This week, I officially launched a YouTube channel called Welcome Home History and will no longer be posting on TikTok.
This means I can link these videos directly in the newsletter! Just click one of the days below to watch its video—no social media account or login required.
Whether you don't use social media or just missed a post, it’s the easiest way to stay caught up on the latest Michigan moments.
Until next week, thank you for reading Michigan History Digest.
— Zac and the Welcome Home History Team.
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MI History Rewind
Our can’t-miss videos from the week
Tip: Click the day (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) to watch on YouTube for free!