1. Michigan became the 26th state in the United States on November 1, 1837. It was the first state in the Great Lakes region to achieve statehood and was originally part of the Northwest Territory.

2. On November 1, 1959, the Mackinac Bridge opened to the public, connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas for the first time. The suspension bridge is one of the longest in the world, measuring 26,372 feet in length.

3. The University of Michigan was established on November 1, 1817, in Detroit as the first university in the state. Today, it is one of the top public universities in the country and is known for its research and academic programs.

4. November 1, 1913, marks the day the Ford Motor Company introduced the first moving assembly line at its Highland Park plant, revolutionizing the automobile industry and changing the way factories operated around the world.

5. On November 1, 1974, Gerald Ford became the first and only person from Michigan to serve as President of the United States. Ford, a Grand Rapids native, took office after the resignation of President Richard Nixon and served until 1977.