Celebrated annually on January 18th, National Michigan Day recognizes Michigan's pivotal role in American history and culture. Named from the Ojibwe word "mishigami" meaning "large water," the 26th state joined the Union in 1837. It boasts 5000+ km of freshwater coastline, the longest in the U.S. It is often referred to as the "Great Lake State" since it borders the Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Home to over 10 million people, Michigan's influence is profound. Detroit, the automotive capital and its largest city, drove the 20th-century industrial boom, earning a key spot in America’s economic landscape. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler (the "Big Three") are headquartered here. Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown Record Corporation, an African American-owned label that achieved crossover success playing a significant role in the racial integration of popular music. Motown produced iconic artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and the Jackson 5. The state capital is Lansing. Other major cities include Grand Rapids, nicknamed "Furniture City", known for its art scene, breweries, and office furniture companies, and Ann Arbor, famous for the University of Michigan and its research contributions. Michigan is also famous for its Tart cherries, its lighthouses, and, of course, Madonna, who was born here. Raise your glass today in honor of all Michiganders! More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan Art by Dall-E, ChatGPT helped with the text.