Michigan helped introduce painted center lines on roads after a simple milk wagon spill inspired one of the most important traffic safety ideas in history.
Remembering “Big Sid”
If you lived in west Michigan in 1978 and someone mentioned the name “Big Sid” — you knew exactly what they were talking about. (READ MORE)
June 1, 1879: The Day Grand Rapids Fired the Boys and Hired the Girls
Grand Rapids telephone companies replaced boy switchboard operators with women in 1879 after complaints that the boys were leaving their posts to play marbles.
May 22, 2011: The Video That Tried To Prove Grand Rapids Wasn’t Dying
After Grand Rapids was called a “dying city” in 2011, thousands of people joined together to create the massive Grand Rapids LipDub video in response.
When Pinball Machines Were Feared in Michigan
Pinball machines were once considered dangerous gambling devices in Michigan and across America. Here’s the strange history behind the pinball panic.
The Farms Michigan Once Used for the Poor
Before modern welfare systems, Michigan counties operated “poor farms” where struggling residents lived and worked. Here’s the forgotten history behind them.
May 1, 1926: How Henry Ford Helped Create the 40-Hour Workweek
On May 1, 1926, Henry Ford introduced the five-day, 40-hour workweek—an idea that reshaped American labor and started in Michigan.