1) In 1849, the University of Michigan opened its doors for its first classes in Ann Arbor. Today, it is one of the largest and most respected universities in the country.

2) On September 17, 1920, the Detroit Tigers won their first American League pennant in franchise history. They went on to win their first World Series championship two weeks later.

3) In 1937, the United Auto Workers began a sit-down strike at the General Motors Fisher Body Plant in Flint, Michigan. The strike lasted for 44 days and eventually led to the recognition of the UAW as the bargaining agent for GM workers.

4) On this day in 1957, the Mackinac Bridge connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas was officially opened to traffic. It is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, spanning five miles across the Straits of Mackinac.

5) September 17, 1982 marked the opening of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The museum showcases a vast collection of historic artifacts, including the limousine in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.