 1620:
French Canadian
explorers arrive in
the upper-reaches of
Michigan area
1668:
French missionaries'
Father's Dablon and
Marquette, establish
the first permanent
European settlement
near present-day
Sault Sainte Marie
1679: The
first French fort in
the area is built
1701:
Detroit is founded
by Antoine de la
Mothe Cadillac sound
like a nice moniker
for a luxury
automobile:
1760: The
British capture
Detroit, and the
long years of French
rule comes to an end
1763: The
Indian siege to
Detroit - lasting
almost six months -
is unsuccessful
1787:
After the
Revolutionary War,
and the Treaty of
Paris, Michigan was
made a part of
America. The British
remained in the area
for almost a decade,
finally admitting
defeat
1805: A
massive fire
destroys much of
Detroit
1812-14:
The British battled
for, and took
Detroit, during the
War of 1812, only to
see it lost in 1813
1819:
After losing much of
their homeland,
Indians begin their
mass-exodus to the
south
1832: Ohio
and Michigan settled
their border
dispute, and Ohio
was granted the
contested lands
around Toledo, while
Michigan received
the entire Upper
Peninsula
1837:
Michigan joins the
Union, and becomes
the 26th state
1854: The
modern Republican
Party is organized
in Jackson, Michigan
1855:
Shipping commerce on
the Great Lakes
increased
dramatically as the
Soo Canal and Locks
opened, linking Lake
Superior with Lake
Huron.
1899:
Ransom E. Olds
established the
first: automobile
factory in Detroit,
and soon Michigan
became the center of
the automobile
manufacturing world
1908:
Henry Ford
manufactures the
first Model T, and
he revolutionized
the industry with
his assembly line
techniques. That
same year, General
Motors is founded.
1935: The
United Automobile
Worker's Union is
formed
1942-44:
The Detroit
automobile industry
produces a great
percentage of the
materials needed by
American forces
during World War II
1957: The
Mackinac Bridge "Big
Mac," opens for
traffic
1959:
Barry Gordy, Jr.
creates Motown
Records in Detroit,
and the rest is
musical history
1967: The
Detroit riots
destroy much of the
inner city as racial
tensions increase
1974:
Gerald Ford, former
Michigan congressman
become U.S.
President, following
the resignation of
Richard Nixon
1975: The
Edmund Fitzgerald, a
giant Great Lake's
ore freighter, sinks
in Lake Superior
during an horrific
storm, all aboard
are lost
1980: The
Republican National
Convention is held
in Detroit
1998:
Chrysler Corporation
merges with
Daimler-Benz, the
German auto company
2001:
Detroit stages
massive celebrations
during its 300th
anniversary
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