Michigan: The Script

Michigan became the 26th state of the United States in 1837. Its capital, Lansing, was dedicated in 1879 and remains there today. The name "Michigan" comes from an American Indian word "Michigama," which means "large lake." This is a very accurate description of Michigan because of its enormous number of fresh inland lakes, rivers and streams. Michigan is sometimes referred to today as the "the Great Lake State" since it is nearly surrounded by four of the five great lakes: Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Superior. Lake Ontario is the only Great Lake not touching Michigan.

The land area of Michigan is comprised of two peninsulas: the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula. These peninsulas are joined not by land but by a five-mile long suspension bridge called the Mackinac Bridge. The majority of Michigan’s some 10,000,000 people live in its lower peninsula. The Upper Peninsula is known more for its vast untouched forests and its wildlife.

Because of its variety of natural resources, Michigan has diverse industries. Probably the first industry to come to mind when thinking of Michigan is the automobile industry. Its largest city, Detroit, is known worldwide as the "Motor City" because of its history with car manufacturing. Agriculture is another large industry in Michigan. Products such as cherries, apples, and soy beans are the staples of many Michigan farmers. People throughout the United States and many countries worldwide may start their mornings off with a Michigan product - cereal. Battle Creek, Michigan, is the home of Kellogg’s Cereal.

So, Michigan is a state full of many different characteristics. It has large metropolitan cities and many smaller communities which make Michigan an interesting place to visit. That’s probably one of the reasons why Michigan is a popular year-round vacation spot for tourists. In the summer, its numerous campsites, hiking trails, golf courses, and fishing spots are the main reasons people from all over flock to Michigan. In the fall, people come to see the colors change in the Michigan trees. Other people wait until the leaves have fallen to take part in the deer hunting season in the late fall. Even the sometimes heavy snowfalls in the winter don’t stop tourists from coming to Michigan. The Upper Peninsula and parts of the northern Lower Peninsula are popular ski and snowmobile areas. Outdoor recreation in its beautiful scenery is a large part of Michigan life. Michigan couldn’t be described any better than by its state motto, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."