1) The Mackinac Bridge opened on August 15, 1957, connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas for the first time. The bridge spans 5 miles and is the third-longest suspension bridge in the world.

2) The first Michigan State Fair was held on August 15, 1849, in Detroit. The fair has been held annually ever since, except for a few years during the Civil War and in 2020 due to COVID-19.

3) On August 15, 1914, Henry Ford introduced his $5-per-day wage for his workers, which was double the average wage at the time. This move attracted thousands of workers to Ford's factories and helped to spark the growth of the middle class in America.

4) Michigan native and astronaut Jerry Linenger returned from a record-setting 132-day mission on the Russian space station Mir on August 15, 1997. Linenger spent more time in space than any other American and faced several life-threatening situations during his mission, including a fire on board the station.

5) August 15, 1831, marks the day that the first Protestant church opened in Michigan. The First Protestant Church of Detroit was built on Griswold Street and stood for over 100 years before it was demolished in the 1930s.