Michigan History Magazine

If you love Michigan History magazine and want even MORE historical content, let us introduce Chronicle, HSM’s membership magazine! Issued quarterly, the magazine contains articles that celebrate Michigan’s history and the preservation of the state’s diverse cultures and heritages, as well as promotion and awareness for HSM’s organizational members.

In the new Spring 2026 issue, we explore the history of Rochester’s Honor Roll—a distinct type of war memorial—and its restoration, the work of commercial illustrator Robert Thom, northern Michigan’s defunct car companies, the story of Michigan’s only 250-year-old farm, and much more!

Want to stay in the loop with all the Michigan history news and hot spots that Chronicle has to offer? Learn about Chronicle and the other benefits of becoming an HSM member at https://hsmichigan.org/join/household-memberships

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in Michigan, much of the southern Lower Peninsula was dominated by oak openings—fire-dependent savannas centered on large burr oaks. These savannas were home to diverse populations of flora and fauna, and the local Indigenous people—whose livelihoods relied on the plants and animals found in the savannas—would maintain the ecosystem through controlled burns.

Following settlement by Europeans, most of these savannas and the majestic oak trees they surrounded were wiped out as the region was cleared for agricultural development. One of the few burr oak trees that survived that era can be found in Frenchtown Charter Township, located in Monroe County in southeast Michigan. In 1976, the International Society of Arboriculture and the National Arborists Association issued several plaques around the country, celebrating trees that were at least two hundred years old and had witnessed the birth of the nation. One of those plaques was dedicated to Monroe County’s burr oak tree! In the photo below, see the Semiquincentennial Tree in Monroe County as it appears today.

Keep up with local Michigan history, culture and news with Michigan History magazine at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history

Today is a day to honor, reflect on, and remember those who laid down their lives in service to their country. We thank them and wish everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day.

Please note our office is closed today in observance of the holiday. We will be back in office tomorrow morning, May 26, at 8:00 a.m.

Photo: Flags are placed at the gravesites of veterans on Memorial Day in 1973 in Lansing, Michigan. Courtesy of the Lansing State Journal.

At .44 square miles, Clarkston, Michigan, is the smallest city by land mass in the state, but this community northwest of Pontiac boasts a big history that fills the Clarkston Heritage Museum.

Located inside the library building, the museum features displays that focus on every aspect of history and life in Clarkston. Exhibits are refreshed every six months and reflect a new theme to help keep history relevant and interesting. More than 30 different displays have been designed, installed, and enjoyed by the public since the museum opened in 1999. The museum offers educational programs and walking tours and is funded by an Art in the Village event, memberships, and community donations.

Learn about “History Hot Spots” all over the Great Lakes State in Michigan History magazine at https://hsmichigan.org/read/michigan-history