Interesting facts

1. Michigan is the only US state to consist of two distinct peninsulas (the Upper and Lower Peninsulas). 2. The state borders four of the five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie. 3. Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline of any political subdivision in the world. 4. No matter where you stand in the state, you are never more than 85 miles from a Great Lake. 5. Detroit is historically known as the "Motor City" due to its status as the historic heart of the American automotive industry. 6. Motown Records was founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy in 1959, fundamentally shaping American music. 7. The Mackinac Bridge, connecting the two peninsulas, is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world (approx. 5 miles long). 8. Motorized vehicles have been banned on Mackinac Island since 1898; residents and visitors travel by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or foot. 9. Battle Creek is known as the "Cereal Capital of the World," being the birthplace of Kellogg's. 10. Isle Royale in Lake Superior is the only island national park in the contiguous United States. 11. The state stone is the Petoskey stone, which is actually fossilized coral. 12. Michigan was the first state to guarantee every child the right to a tax-paid high school education. 13. The first paved road in the world was a one-mile stretch of M-1 (Woodward Avenue) in Detroit, paved in 1909. 14. The J.W. Westcott II is a 45-foot mail boat operating on the Detroit River; it has its own floating ZIP code (48222). 15. Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula was designated as the United States' first National Lakeshore in 1966. 16. Vernors, created in Detroit in 1866, is the oldest surviving ginger ale brand in the United States. 17. Michigan has more lighthouses than any other US state. 18. The state abbreviation is MI, and its motto is "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice" (If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you). 19. Grand Rapids is often referred to as "Beer City, USA" due to its high concentration of acclaimed craft breweries. 20. The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie are among the busiest locks in the world, facilitating massive freighters between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.