The original 13 Colonies are responsible for a lot of “firsts” for our nation, but the state of Michigan makes rich contributions of its own. In fact, some things in Michigan’s past were the first ever, history-making events and inventions. We bet you can guess which invention made such an impact – and “paved” the way for the creation of the RV industry.

There are also some things about Michigan that are simply interesting from a trivia standpoint, such as the first place in the Upper Peninsula to see the sunrise. Do you know where that is? We’ll tell you!

For those who enjoy history in general:

  • The first European arrived in Michigan in 1618. His name was Etienne Brule, from France.
  • Michigan State University was the first agricultural college in the U.S. It was founded in 1855. The school remains an authority in agricultural programs today.
  • 1879 brought the first time in the nation that a city needed telephone numbers. The city? Detroit.
  • In 1926, the first regularly scheduled air passage service in the nation began operation between Grand Rapids and Detroit.
  • The Michigan State Police established the first state police radio system in the world in 1929.
  • The world’s first floating postal zip code was acquired in 1948 by the J.W. Westcott when it became an official mail boat of the USPS. The vessel is named after Captain J.W. Westcott, who established a marine company to deliver destination and dock information to passing ships in the Detroit River.
  • The Detroit Zoo was the first in America to feature cageless, open exhibits that allowed animals more freedom to roam.

For those who enjoy cars and roadways:

  • The first Ford Model T was manufactured in 1908.
  • Four years later, in 1912, the University of Michigan became the site for the nation’s first highway materials testing lab.
  • Not long after, in 1913, the first moving automobile assembly line began operations in Henry Ford’s Hyland Park plant. Within a year, chassis assembly time was reduced to 93 minutes – down from 12 hours and 30 minutes!
  • The nation’s first practical highway snowplow was built in Munising in 1922. It was designed and built by Edward C. Levy, public works superintendent. According to Motorcities.org, the “plow was mounted on runners and consisted of two retractable wooden wings, 10 feet high and 20 feet long.”
  • The Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit manufactured the first air-conditioned car in 1939. Unfortunately, they discontinued it as it wasn’t “paying off.” Now we can’t imagine life without it.
  • Vehicles continued to improve in design and performance. The first Corvette, an iconic American car, was assembled in 1953 in Flint.
  • Those cars needed a faster way to travel. Michigan was the first state to complete a border to border interstate: I-94 from Detroit to New Buffalo. The interstate was completed in 1960.

For those who enjoy the outdoors:

  • Calling all travelers! The first roadside park in the state was established in Iron County off of U.S. 2 in 1919, likely America’s first facility.
  • The popularity of the UP as a camping destination can be traced to 1923, when three of America’s entrepreneurs made their first camping trip there. Who were they? None other than Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford.
  • 1959 saw the nation’s first outdoor pedestrian mall, a four-block stretch in Kalamazoo. You can still enjoy shopping and delicious food at this location.
  • Marblehead on Drummond Island gives hikers a stunning view over Lake Huron. Besides being the easternmost point in the Upper Peninsula, it’s also the first place in the UP to see the sunrise.