1. On January 27, 1837, Michigan was admitted as the 26th state of the United States. After a contentious boundary dispute with Ohio, Michigan officially entered the union as a free state.

2. On January 27, 1922, automotive pioneer Henry Ford purchased the failing luxury automaker Lincoln Motor Company. Under Ford's leadership, Lincoln went on to produce some of the most iconic American cars in history, including the Continental and the Town Car.

3. In 1973, the Michigan Wolverines basketball team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 86-68 on January 27, snapping Indiana's 33-game winning streak. The win was instrumental in propelling Michigan to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 11 years.

4. On January 27, 1986, the Cole Bros. Circus Train crashed on a trestle in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, killing five circus employees and dozens of animals. The incident brought renewed scrutiny on the safety of animal-based circuses and led to stricter regulations.

5. January 27, 2021 marked the third straight day of protests in Lansing, Michigan over the state's handling of COVID-19 restrictions. Demonstrators gathered outside the state capitol building to voice their opposition to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's executive orders, which they claimed were crippling small businesses and infringing on personal liberties.