Cool Michigan Fun Facts

[Detroitej72]

I thought this was cool to share.

Detroit is known as the car capital of the world.

Alpena is the home of the world's largest cement plant.

Rogers City has the world's largest limestone quarry.

Michigan is 1st in the U.S. production of peat & magnesium compounds and 2nd in gypsum and iron ore.

Colon is home to the world's largest manufacturer of magic supplies.

Michigan ranks 1st in boat registrations.

The Packard Motor Company in Detroit manufactured the 1st Air-conditioned car in 1939.

Sault Ste. Marie was founded by Fr. Jacques Marquette in 1668. It is the 3rd oldest remaining settlement in the United States

In 1817 the University of Michigan was the 1st university
Established by any state. Originally named Cathelepistemian and located in Detroit , the name was changed in 1821. The university moved to Ann Arbor in 1841.

Michigan State University is the largest institution of higher learning in the state and one of the largest universities in the country. It was founded in 1855 as the nation's 1st land-grant university. It was the 1st institution of higher learning in the nation to teach scientific agriculture.

The Mackinac Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. It spans 5 miles over the Straits of Mackinac.

Gerald R Ford grew up in Grand Rapids and became the 38th president of the United States.

The Kellogg Company has made Battle Creek the Cereal Capital of the World. The Kellogg brothers accidentally discovered the process for producing flaked cereal products and sparked the beginning of the dry cereal industry.

The painted turtle is Michigan 's state reptile.

Vernor's ginger ale was created in Detroit and became the 1st soda pop made in the United States.

The Detroit Zoo was the 1st zoo in America to feature cageless, open-exhibits that allowed the animals more freedom to roam.

Michigan is the only place in the world with a floating post office. The J. W. Westcott II is the only boat in the world that delivers mail to ships while they are still underway. They have been operating for 125 years.

Indian River is the home of the largest crucifix in the world. It is called the Cross in the Woods.

Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the world.

Michigan has more shoreline than any other state except Alaska.

The Ambassador Bridge was named by Joseph Bower, who thought the name [[Detroit-Windsor International Bridge) as too long and lacked emotional appeal.

Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and more than 36,000 miles of streams.

Michigan has 116 lighthouses and navigational lights.

Michigan is the only state that touches 4 of the 5 Great Lakes .

Standing anywhere in the state a person is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes .

4 flags have flown over Michigan -- French, English, Spanish and United States.

Isle Royal Park has one of the largest moose herds remaining in the U.S.

The Upper Michigan Copper Country is the largest commercialdeposit of native copper in the world.

The 19 chandeliers in the Capitol were designed by Tiffany's of New York. Weighing between 800-900lbs apiece they are composed of copper, iron and pewter.

The 1st auto traffic tunnel built between two nations was the mile-long Detroit-Windsor tunnel under the Detroit River .

The world's 1st international railway tunnel was opened between Port Huron, and Sarnia in 1891.

The nation's 1st regularly scheduled air passage service began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 1926.

In 1879 Detroit phone customers were 1st in the nation to be assigned phone numbers.

In 1929, the Michigan State Police established the 1st state police radio system in the world.

The State Motto translates to: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula,look about you.."

With all the poor economics these days let us all try to remember something positive about our beautiful and interesting Michigan!

We will strive to thrive once again!

[Nicodeme]

Thanks for that list, it was an interesting read! Some of them I knew, but a lot of them I didn't. Here's another one:

There is enough salt under metro Detroit and surrounding areas to cover the world's consumption for 70 million years.

[FlyingJ]

The nation's 1st regularly scheduled air passage service began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit in 1926.

Um, no;http://earlyaviators.com/ejannto2.htm
I don't have time to fact-check the other stuff...

[lilpup]

Michigan ranks 1st in boat registrations.

I believe this has changed in the last year or two - I think Florida leads now [[Michigan has been losing boats along with population). I'm skeptical of that iron ore claim, too.

[gazhekwe]

MIchigan is home to the nation's first Indian casino, King's Club at Bay Mills, which opened July 4, 1984.