1. On April 9, 1877, Grand Rapids, Michigan experienced a devastating fire that destroyed almost 20 acres of the city's central business district. The fire destroyed numerous buildings and caused millions of dollars in damages.

2. On April 9, 1900, the Michigan State Senate approved an act that created the Marquette Branch Prison in the Upper Peninsula. The prison was opened in 1904 and is still in operation today.

3. April 9, 1919, was a significant day in the history of the Michigan State Police as Governor Albert Sleeper signed a bill that created the department. The Michigan State Police is one of the oldest statewide law enforcement agencies in the United States.

4. In 1953, the Detroit Tigers played their first game at Briggs Stadium (later renamed Tiger Stadium) on April 9. The Tigers played at the stadium for the next 87 seasons before it was closed in 1999.

5. On April 9, 1963, Michigan Senator Patrick V. McNamara, along with Senator Winston L. Prouty of Vermont, introduced a bill that would establish a national wilderness preservation system. The bill ultimately became the Wilderness Act of 1964, which is credited with preserving millions of acres of wilderness across the United States.