Issue No. 15

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

On Tuesday, 12/9, we shared a social post about famed Detroit architect and engineer Albert Kahn. We mentioned that he and his team ultimately shaped more than 2,000 structures; we bet you’ve heard of a few.

Some of Albert Kahn's most famous structures include Detroit landmarks like the Fisher Building, Cadillac Place (formerly GM HQ), the Ford Rouge Complex, the Highland Park Ford Plant, and the Packard Plant.

Two of our notable favorites are the 60-room, 30,000 sq. foot Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and the famous Willow Run Bomber Plant that produced ~8,700 B-24 Liberator bombers during WWII.

Berrien Springs, MI (near Benton Harbor) holds the quirky title of “Christmas Pickle Capital of the World.” A title they earned from Pickle Packers International in 1995.

In the late 20th century the town held an annual Pickle Festival, complete with a “Grand Dillmeister,” pickle games, and pickle ice sculptures.

There are even reports of a quirky tradition that involves hiding a pickle ornament on Christmas trees. It’s a vinegar-sweet bit of Michigan holiday lore.

Michigan and our Canadian neighbors offered multiple locations as potential sites for the United Nations Headquarters.

In 1944, Belle Isle was floated as a potential site for the future headquarters of the United Nations. Supporters argued that the island’s international border setting between the U.S. and Canada symbolized peace and cooperation after World War II.

Though Belle Isle and Sugar Island (near Sault Ste. Marie) were both passed over, it’s a striking reminder that Michigan was once seriously imagined as a center of global diplomacy.

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Located at Willow Run Airport, the Michigan Flight Museum offers a rare chance to walk through living pieces of Michigan’s “Arsenal of Democracy.”

Visitors can explore aircraft, exhibits, and preserved spaces tied directly to the former Willow Run Bomber Plant, including areas that once supported the mass production of B-24 Liberators.

It’s difficult to fathom just how significant Detroit and Michigan have been — not only to the United States, but to the world.

As we continue peeling back the layers with each issue, it’s truly inspiring. It also makes the resurgence we’re seeing in Detroit even more powerful, as we’re experiencing history in the making.

And I had no idea you could still tour parts of the original Willow Run Bomber Plant — that’s officially been added to my bucket list of historical adventures.

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

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