michigan history

Promote Michigan Blog

Celebrating Michigan’s Irish Communities

Irish immigration to Michigan dates back to the early 1800s, with a heavy increase between 1845 and 1855 during a period of famine in Ireland, lasting well into the 1920s. Starting first in Detroit, the Irish made their way north and westward, landing throughout both the Lower and Upper Peninsulas where they found work in factories, fishing villages and copper mines. Nearly one-third of Michigan’s foreign-born population was from Ireland in 1870. Today, only about 10% of the state’s 9.9 million population is of Irish descent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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News Releases

St. Julian Winery Introduces Michcato Wines to Celebrate Michigan Wine Month and the Pure Michigan Summer of 2017

May is “Michigan Wine Month” and with a Pure Michigan summer just around the corner, St. Julian—the state’s oldest, continually-operating winery—introduces its two latest wines to celebrate both occasions. Michcato and Sunset Michcato will be available beginning May 1 at retail outlets around Michigan.

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News Releases

Veterans Day Concludes Strong Foundations, New Possibilities – Chelsea’s Community-Wide Historic WWI Centennial Exhibition

For the past three-and-a-half months, the community of Chelsea in northwest Washtenaw County, has proudly displayed 36 unique banners throughout town as part of the historic interpretation installation World War I Centennial: Strong Foundations, New Possibilities.

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News Releases

Chelsea Uses Technology to Tell its Local World War I Historic Stories

The 36 historic banners that make up the Chelsea District Library’s community-wide historic interpretation installation, World War I Centennial: Strong Foundations, New Possibilities, have found a digital home at MapMe—a publishing platform that allows for the mapping of sites and sharing of stories.

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News Releases

Harbor Springs Historical Society to Host Club Ponytail Reunion Party on August 25 at Nub’s Nob

The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society invites you to relive the glory days of northern Michigan’s most popular teen club at Club Ponytail: A Reunion Party on Thursday, August 25 at Nub’s Nob. The Harbor Springs Area Historical Society invites you to relive the glory days of northern Michigan’s most popular teen club at Club Ponytail: A Reunion Party on Thursday, August 25, 2016 beginning at 5:30 pm. Held at Nub’s Nob Ski Area, this throwback party of the summer will feature live music from The Boyfriends, an original Club Ponytail band.

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Promote Michigan Blog

Promote Michigan Celebrates 12th Anniversary With Michigan-Themed Public Fundraiser at Downtown Market – Grand Rapids

To celebrate the last dozen years of business, Promote Michigan is hosting a public party to benefit the Educational Foundation of the Downtown Market – Grand Rapids on Thursday, August 18 (5-7 pm).

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News Releases

Promote Michigan Celebrates 12th Anniversary With Michigan-Themed Public Fundraiser at Downtown Market – Grand Rapids

To celebrate the last dozen years of business, Promote Michigan is hosting a public party to benefit the Educational Foundation of the Downtown Market – Grand Rapids on Thursday, August 18 (5-7 pm).

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Featured Destination

Chelsea Commemorates World War I with Community-Wide Historic Display

More than 100 years ago, America was gripped in the midst of World War I (July 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918). It affected U.S. troops overseas and families back home in communities across the country, including those in the southeast Michigan town of Chelsea, in Washtenaw County. Strong Foundations New Possibilities is a chance for this community to share its stories.

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News Releases

Acclaimed Photographer Provides Glimpse into Northern Michigan History with Release of 2nd Edition Title  

Nationally-recognized architectural photographer Dietrich Floeter and Leelanau Press publisher Barbara Siepker capture the beauty and essence of 60 summer cottages and the nostalgia enveloping them in a recently released second edition of Historic Cottages of Glen Lake.

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News Releases

Chelsea to Unveil “The World War I Centennial: Strong Foundations, New Possibilities” Historic Installation Exhibit (July 30 – November 11, 2016)

In collaboration with the Chelsea River Gallery (inspired by co-Director Deborah Greer) Chelsea District Library presents The World War I Centennial: Strong Foundations, New Possibilities, which commemorates the centennial anniversary of World War I.

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