Michigan History Magazine

From July 9 through July 26, the “Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation” traveling exhibition will be hosted at The Henry Ford in Dearborn to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding! Will you be making a trip to see the documents in person?

The exhibit features several founding era U.S. documents provided by the National Archives, including the 1783 Treaty of Paris, George Washington’s 1778 Oath of Allegiance, and the 1774 Articles of Association. The Henry Ford is one of eight venues from across the country selected for the exhibit, which will be free and open to the public.

Keep up with all sorts of Michigan historical news in Michigan History magazine and Chronicle, HSM’s membership magazine! Learn more at https://hsmichigan.org/read

If you love Michigan History magazine and want even MORE historical content, let us introduce Chronicle, HSM’s membership magazine! Issued quarterly, the magazine contains articles that celebrate Michigan’s history and the preservation of the state’s diverse cultures and heritages, as well as promotion and awareness for HSM’s organizational members.

In the new Spring 2026 issue, we explore the history of Rochester’s Honor Roll—a distinct type of war memorial—and its restoration, the work of commercial illustrator Robert Thom, northern Michigan’s defunct car companies, the story of Michigan’s only 250-year-old farm, and much more!

Want to stay in the loop with all the Michigan history news and hot spots that Chronicle has to offer? Learn about Chronicle and the other benefits of becoming an HSM member at https://hsmichigan.org/join/household-memberships

The year 2025 marked the 200th anniversary of a beloved portrait in the Michigan State Capitol. The painting depicts the esteemed Frenchman Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, more commonly known as Lafayette.

Although Lafayette never visited Michigan, he is celebrated as one of the greatest heroes of the American Revolution. Throughout his life, his name was synonymous with the enduring struggle of liberty, equality, and self-government. His image continues to serve as a timeless and inspiring example of that struggle.

Want to learn more about “America’s favorite fighting Frenchman” and how is portrait ended up in the senate chamber of the Michigan Capitol? Get the scoop in Michigan History magazine at https://www.hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in Michigan, much of the southern Lower Peninsula was dominated by oak openings—fire-dependent savannas centered on large burr oaks. These savannas were home to diverse populations of flora and fauna, and the local Indigenous people—whose livelihoods relied on the plants and animals found in the savannas—would maintain the ecosystem through controlled burns.

Following settlement by Europeans, most of these savannas and the majestic oak trees they surrounded were wiped out as the region was cleared for agricultural development. One of the few burr oak trees that survived that era can be found in Frenchtown Charter Township, located in Monroe County in southeast Michigan. In 1976, the International Society of Arboriculture and the National Arborists Association issued several plaques around the country, celebrating trees that were at least two hundred years old and had witnessed the birth of the nation. One of those plaques was dedicated to Monroe County’s burr oak tree! In the photo below, see the Semiquincentennial Tree in Monroe County as it appears today.

Keep up with local Michigan history, culture and news with Michigan History magazine at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

Today is a day to honor, reflect on, and remember those who laid down their lives in service to their country. We thank them and wish everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day.

Please note our office is closed today in observance of the holiday. We will be back in office tomorrow morning, May 26, at 8:00 a.m.

Photo: Flags are placed at the gravesites of veterans on Memorial Day in 1973 in Lansing, Michigan. Courtesy of the Lansing State Journal.

Would you say that many, if not most, fishing enthusiasts have a story about “the one that got away?” William Maxey, the author of this issue’s Remember The Time section in Michigan History magazine, shares his story of the one that got away in the Porcupine Mountains in 1962:

“After finding a place among the trees and shrubs to flip my lure into the clear water, I soon hooked a big, beautiful steelhead that my little Mepps No. 2 spinner had tricked into striking. I had that l***y trout firmly on as it circled the large pool a couple of times. I did my best to steer him away from the many roots around the edge. Then, on the next circuit, he jumped fully clear of the water directly in a shaft of bright sunlight, right in front of the small waterfall at the head of the pool. At the height of that magnificent arc, he spit that Mepps spinner right straight at me, then arced gracefully down and disappeared into the depths, no doubt fully satisfied that he had beaten me…I can see that picture in my head as clear as if it were yesterday, rather than more than 60 years ago, on a bright autumn day, in the beautiful Porkies.”

Thanks for sharing your memory, William! Read the full article—including the author’s photos from the trip!—and enjoy all the special sections Michigan History magazine has to offer at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

Jane Irene Cutler’s life changed forever on February 15, 1932. The 57-year-old housewife had just lost her husband, Berrien County Sheriff Fred Cutler, ten days earlier after a sudden illness. Now, in an extraordinary transition, she was appointed as his successor, becoming the first and only woman to serve in that post in Berrien County.

As Sheriff, Fred Cutler dealt with some very high-profile cases, including the trial of Fred “Killer” Burke and the arrest of notorious gangster Gus Winkeler, who was wanted for the largest bank robbery in history to that date. After Fred’s shocking death, the Berrien County community rallied to nominate Jane Cutler as the successor to her husband’s office. She served an eleven-month term and handled a record number of inmates—totaling 1,234—that year. See her pictured below on the right with inmates of the Berrien County Jail in 1932.

To learn about how Cutler obtained confessions using a motherly disposition, why one inmate chose to stay in the jail under Cutler after his sentence was up, and more, read the FULL ARTICLE “Madam Sheriff: The Unlikely Stry of Jane Irene Cutler” for free athttps://hsmichigan.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/PUB-MHM-Sample%20Story%20-%20MayJun26.pdf

Geologists and rock collectors: Do you have a Yooperlite in your collection?

Yooperlites were first confirmed in Michigan in 2017 by Erik Rintamaki, who found them off the coast of Lake Superior and gave them the Michigan-themed name. These glowing treasures are sought after by rock hunters, who use 365nm UV flashlights at night to spot them. The best time to search for Yooperlites is in the spring after the ice breakup, which moves the rocks along the shore, or just after a storm when the water churns them up and deposits them closer to the water’s edge. They have been found across Michigan but are most prevalent on the beaches of the Upper Peninsula, especially near Whitefish Point, Grand Marais, and the Keweenaw Peninsula. The display pictured below is located at the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton, Michigan, which is designated as the state’s official mineral museum.

Love learning about Michigan’s natural history? Check out Michigan History magazine at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

At .44 square miles, Clarkston, Michigan, is the smallest city by land mass in the state, but this community northwest of Pontiac boasts a big history that fills the Clarkston Heritage Museum.

Located inside the library building, the museum features displays that focus on every aspect of history and life in Clarkston. Exhibits are refreshed every six months and reflect a new theme to help keep history relevant and interesting. More than 30 different displays have been designed, installed, and enjoyed by the public since the museum opened in 1999. The museum offers educational programs and walking tours and is funded by an Art in the Village event, memberships, and community donations.

Learn about “History Hot Spots” all over the Great Lakes State in Michigan History magazine at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

In the mid-nineteenth century, when Chicagoans were flocking to the shore of Lake Michigan to escape city life, Swedish immigrants Rudolf and Karin Ruben built a simple but stately house on Duck Lake, near Whitehall, Michigan. In 1914, they bought four acres of land for $600 and opened a tent camp resort, where people could vacation for only $8 a week.

They built a Craftsman-style home on the property in 1919 as the resort prospered, and seven cottages and a dining hall were built for a more upscale experience. .” The resort operated until 1937, when economic hardship during the Great Depression made summer vacations hard for families to afford. Soon after, gasoline and tire rationing during World War II prevented travel, and many resorts like the one on Duck Lake were forced to close their doors. In 1997, Chris and David Pequet bought the Ruben House. Now called Duck Lake Inn, the beautiful little house once again welcomes vacationers to west Michigan for four weeks every summer.

The Michigan Heritage Home program will sunset on June 30, 2026, so if you have ever considered applying for this award, NOW is the time to do it! Learn more about the program and get your application in before June 30 at https://hsmichigan.org/awards/michigan-heritage-home