2025 Milestone Celebrations in Pure Michigan

Michigan was founded on January 26, 1837 as the 26th state of the United States of America…making this year our state’s 188th Birthday!

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 2025 list…

1825 (200 years)

• Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Port Huron (original lighthouse established)

1835 (190 years)

• National House Inn, Marshall

1850 (175 years)

• City of Grand Rapids

1855 (170 years)

• Michigan State University

1870 (155 years)

• Bad Axe
• Bridgman
• Clare
• Dutton
• Harrisville
• Onondaga

1875 (150 years)

• Bay View Association, Petoskey
• Mackinac National Park (Mackinac Island)
• Osceola County Fairgrounds, Evart
• Otsego County
• White River Light Station, Whitehall

1880 (145 years)

• Harbor Springs
• Kent Theatre, Cedar Springs

1885 (140 years)

• Fabiano Brothers, Bay City

1890 (135 years)

• Better Made Chips, Detroit
• Crooked Tree Arts Center Building, Petoskey

1895 (120 years)

• Chrysler Corporation, Detroit
• Mackinac State Historic Parks
• Round Island Lighthouse, Straits of Mackinac
• Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, Gulliver

1900 (125 years)

• Calumet Theatre Company
• Brown Opera House, Sparta

1910 (115 years)

• Broadway Theatre, Mount Pleasant

1920 (105 years)

• Fenton Chamber of Commerce
• Masonic Temple, Detroit
• Michigan Floral Association
• Orchestra Hall – Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• Park Theatre, Holland
• Potter Park Zoo, Lansing
• Strand Theatre, Alma
• Trillium Performing Arts Center, Detroit
• WWJ Radio, Detroit

1925 (100 years)

• Bay View to Mackinac Yacht Race
• Camp Daggett
• J. Mertaugh Boat Works, Hessel
• Fillmore Theater, Detroit
• Grand Ledge Opera House
• National Cherry Festival, Traverse City
• Riviera Theatre, Three Rivers
• Sleeper State Park, Huron County
• Suicide Hill Ski Jump
• Vista Theater, Negaunee
• Wells State Park, Menominee

1930 (95 years)

• Eastown Theater, Detroit
• Grand Rapids Symphony
• Howell theatre, Lansing
• Mac Woods Dune Rides, Silver Lake
• Rialto Theatre, Grayling
• Tahqua-land Theatre, Newberry

1935 (90 years)

• Dinosaur Gardens, Ossineke

1940 (85 years)

• Civic Theater, Farmington
• Michigan Retailers Association, Lansing
• Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival

1945 (80 years)

• Bronners CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth
• DeWitt Ox Roast
• Grand Rapids Boat Show
• Ultimate Sport Show, Grand Rapids

1950 (75 years)

• Kalamazoo Speedway, Kalamazoo
• Tip Up Town USA, Houghton Lake

1960 (65 years)

• Kalamazoo Nature Center
• National Morel Mushroom Festival, Boyne City
• Petoskey Stone named Michigan’s State Stone
• Trout named Michigan’s State Fish

1965 (60 years)

• Petoskey Stone became the official state stone of Michigan

1970 (55 years)

• Charlotte Frontier Days
• For-mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, Burton
• Genesee Valley Center, Flint
• Olga’s Kitchen
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Benzie & Leelanau Counties

1975 (50 years)

• Edmund Fitzgerald Sank (November 10)
• Fisherman’s Island State Park, Charlevoix

1980 (45 years)

• Northern Michigan Hardwoods, Petoskey
• Manitou Pontoons
• Somewhere in Time released (filmed on Mackinac Island)

1985 (40 years)

• Da Yoopers formed
• Muskegon Luge
• St. Johns Mint Festival

1990 (35 years)

• Kalkaska Sand named Michigan’s State Soil

1995 (30 years)

• Arbor Brewing, Ann Arbor
• Biggby Coffee, East Lansing
• Lansing Lugnuts
• Painted Turtle named Michigan’s State Reptile
• Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan

2000 (25 years)

• Jamesport Brewing, Ludington
• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena
• The Todd & Brad Reed Photography Gallery, Ludington

2005 (20 years)

• Renegade Theatre Festival, Lansing
• Shaggy’s Skis, Boyne City

2010 (15 years)

• Capital City Film Festival, Lansing
• Mighty Uke Day, Lansing

2015 (10 years)

• Aldo Leopold Festival, Les Cheneaux Islands
• Batch Brewing, Detroit
• Behind the Mitten Podcast
• Hotel Walloon, Walloon Lake
• Michigan Nordic Fire Festival, Charlotte
• The Southerner, Saugatuck

2020 (5 years)

• Black Calder Brewing, Grand Rapids
• Five Shores Brewing, Beulah
  Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery, Mackinac Island
• Green Bird Cellars, Northport
• Kettlewell’s Ice Cream, Williamsburg
• Loaded Dice Brewery, Troy
• Mammoth Distilling Tasting Room, Bay Harbor
• Michigan Wine Co., Fennville
• North Grove Brewers, Montague
• Rusty Rocket Brewing Company, Pullman
• Stoney Ridge Vineyards, Kent City

 

Updated January 3, 2025