Promote Michigan Blog

2021 Milestones for Pure Michigan Businesses

Michigan was founded on January 26, 1837 as the 26th state of the United States of America. Currently home to nearly 10 million people, spread out throughout two peninsulas, Michigan is the Great Lakes State – the Mitten of Plenty – the Wolverine State. Michigan’s early business history is centered in industries that benefited from its proximity to the Great Lakes: fishing, lumbering, mining, fur trapping and agriculture.

Each year, Promote Michigan compiles a list of tourism and hospitality related businesses celebrating milestones like a 5th, 15th, 50th, 100th (or more) anniversary.

Here is the 2021 list…

240 Years (1781)

  • 12 – A Spanish force from St. Louis captured the British Fort of St. Joseph and raised Spain’s Flag over the Michigan Territory (Niles – known as the “Four Flags” area).
  • May 12 – Mackinac Island was sold to the British Government; the Native Americans were given presents worth 5,000 pounds in exchange.

225 Years (1796)

  • September 1 – Mackinac Island became part of the United States of America.

175 Years (1846)

  • Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit

170 Years (1851)

  • Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Keweenaw Peninsula
  • St. Joseph County Grange Fair, Centreville
  • Waugoshance Shoal Lighthouse, Western Straits of Mackinac

165 Years (1856)

  • Boyne City
  • Ottawa County Agricultural Society (Ottawa County Fair)
  • Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Whitefish Bay
  • Zehnder’s (built as the Exchange Hotel), Frankenmuth

160 Years (1861)

  • Keweenaw County Organized
  • Ladies Soldiers Aid Society, Detroit
  • Manitou Island Light Station, Keweenaw Peninsula

155 Years (1866)

  • Vernor’s, Detroit

150 Years (1871)

  • Douglas Village
  • Fallasburg Covered Bridge, Lowell
  • Kingman Museum, Battle Creek
  • Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse
  • Muskegon Breakwater Lighthouse (the town’s first lighthouse was constructed in 1851 atop a wooden tower on land).

145 Years (1876)

  • Bissell Inc., Grand Rapids
  • Saginaw River Rear Range Light, Bay City

140 Years (1881)

  • Groskopf’s Luggage & Gifts, Grand Rapids

135 Years (1886)

  • Port Sanilac Lighthouse
  • Stafford’s Bay View Inn (originally called Woodland Avenue House), Bay View / Petoskey

125 Years (1896)

  • Big Bay Point Lighthouse, Big Bay

115 Years (1906)

  • Kellogg Company, Battle Creek
  • Michigan Sugar Company, Bay City
  • Shrine Circus, Detroit
  • Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights (current)

110 Years (1911)

  • Robinette’s Apple Haus & Gift Barn, Grand Rapids
  • The Terrace Inn & 1911 Restaurant, Bay View / Petoskey

105 Years (1916)

  • Koegel Meats, Flint
  • National Parks System
  • Playhouse at White Lake, Whitehall

100 Years (1921)

  • Harrisville State Park
  • Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo
  • Michigan Department of Agriculture (& Rural Development), Lansing
  • Onaway State Park, Onaway
  • Orchard Beach State Park, Manistee
  • Julian Winery & Distillery, Paw Paw
  • Van Boven Fine Men’s Clothing, Ypsilanti
  • Young State Park, Boyne City

95 Years (1926)

  • America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Detroit
  • Holland State Park, Holland
  • Howard Miller, Zeeland
  • Hudsonville Ice Cream, Holland
  • Lake Gogebic State Park, Marenisco
  • Tahquamenon River Bridge, Chippewa Township
  • Vista Theater, Negaunee

90 Years (1931)

  • DeTour Reef Lighthouse, DeTour Village
  • Grand Rapids Yacht Club
  • Robin named Michigan’s official State Bird (April 8)

85 Years (1936)

  • Grays Reef Light Station, Western Straits of Mackinac
  • Ford Foundation

80 Years (1941)

  • Michigan Trailer Coach Association (now known as Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC))

75 Years (1946)

  • Barn Theatre, Augusta
  • Berrien County Youth Fair (Aug 16-21, 2021), Berrien Springs
  • Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts, Petoskey
  • Laughing Whitefish Falls State Park, Onota Township / Rock River Township
  • Walstrom Marine, Harbor Springs

65 Years (1956)

  • Symons General Store, Petoskey
  • Ellis Parking Co., Grand Rapids
  • Glen’s Markets, Gaylord

60 Years (1961)

  • Irish Boat Shop, Harbor Springs
  • Muskegon County Community Foundation
  • National Morel Mushroom Festival – Boyne City
  • Petoskey State Park, Petoskey
  • Stafford’s Hospitality, Charlevoix / Petoskey / Bay View / Alanson

55 Years (1966)

  • Bewabic State Park, Crystal Falls
  • Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Twin Lake
  • Clear Lake State Park, Atlanta
  • Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners
  • The Heather Golf Course @ Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs
  • Newaygo State Park, Newaygo
  • Ranch Rudolf Resort, Traverse City
  • Van Buren State Park, South Haven

50 Years (1971)

  • Fort Custer Recreation Area, Augusta
  • Maybury State Park, Northville
  • Michigan Museums Association
  • Michigan Steelhead & Salmon Fisherman’s Association
  • Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park, Sanilac
  • Seven Lake State Park, Holly
  • Tabor Hill Winery (50th Harvest Anniversary), Buchanan
  • Thunder Bay Resort (as Thunder Bay Golf Course), Hillman

65 Years (1951)

  • White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Whitehall

45 Years (1976)

  • Hospitality Programs at Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor

40 Years (1981)

  • Greek Tony’s Pizza, Muskegon
  • Mercy Health Seaway Run, Muskegon
  • Traverse—Northern Michigan’s Magazine, Traverse City
  • West Michigan Student Showcase, Muskegon

35 Years (1986)

  • Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth
  • The Tower & Grand Lobby @ Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Acme

30 Years (1991)

  • Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Traverse City
  • Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City
  • Lakelands Trail State Park, Pinckney
  • Lilac Tree Hotel, Mackinac Island
  • Michigander Bicycle Tour
  • The Purple Rose Theatre Company, Chelsea

25 Years (1996)

  • Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor
  • Lansing Home & Garden Show @ MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
  • Mountain Town Station, Mount Pleasant
  • Muskegon’s Polka Melodies Radio Show on WKBZ
  • New Buffalo Inn & Spa, New Buffalo
  • White Pine Trail State Park (renamed Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park in 2006), Grand Rapids to Cadillac

20 Years (2001)

  • ahFest (a month-long celebration of Muskegon County’s Arts and Humanities)
  • Apple Creek Campground
  • Escanaba in Da Moonlight (Play by Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre)
  • Hackley & Hume Historic Site City Barn Dedicated, Muskegon
  • Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren

15 Years (2006)

  • Chartreuse Art Co-Op, St. Joseph
  • Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, Grand Rapids
  • Craftsman Chop Co., Portage
  • First Tee of Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs
  • James Jackson of African American History, Muskegon Heights
  • Pure Michigan (Your Trip Begins at Michigan.org)
  • Sherwood Brewing, Shelby Township
  • Wolverine State Brewing Company, Ann Arbor

10 Years (2011)

  • Cheboygan Brewing, Cheboygan
  • CityFlats Hotel, Grand Rapids
  • Fatty Lumpkins Sandwich Shop, Muskegon
  • Four Roses, Plainwell
  • Gravity Vineyards & Winery, Baroda
  • High Five Threads, Traverse City
  • Hillside Homestead, Suttons Bay
  • Journeyman Distillery, Three Oaks
  • Lime Island State Recreation Area, DeTour Village
  • Verterra Winery, Leland
  • Watermark 920, Muskegon
  • Witch’s Hat Brewing, South Lyon

5 Years (2016)

  • Coffee Factory, Muskegon
  • Dockside Salon and Day Spa, Lakeside / Muskegon
  • Newaygo County Tourism Council
  • Sister Lakes Brewing Company, Dowagiac
  • Steele Street Brewing, Ionia
  • Transient Artisan Ales, Bridgman

 

If you have others to add to this list, please email PromoteMichigan@gmail.com