Michigan History Center

Happy Fourth of July! Today’s holiday marks 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, signaling the United States of America’s official break from Great Britain.

While Michigan was not one of the original Thirteen Colonies, it was part of a region eyed by American colonial leaders for westward expansion, which King George III forbade and thus part of one of the causes of the Revolution. What we know as Michigan was the domain of the Anishinabek, the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi, with smaller populations of French-Canadian fur traders and British troops around Fort Detroit and Fort Michilimackinac. Their focus was north to Canada and control of the North American fur trade, not the eastern seaboard.

After more than seven years of war, in 1783, Great Britain and the United States of America signed the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War. The treaty set the boundary that placed Michigan in United States territory. While the treaty’s terms were clear, the British managed to maintain control of the profitable Great Lakes fur trade and stayed in its Michigan miliary forts. They did not leave until 1796.

For Michigan, the commemoration of America’s Semiquincentennial is just the beginning. The events of July 4, 1776, are the starting point of a chain of history that links us to the effort to create a more perfect union that has continued for 250 years. We hope that the commemoration of our nation’s beginning continues with thoughtful reflection about both the past and the possibilities of the next 250 years.

Pictured here: From the Michigan History Museum Collection, a brass button made for delegates to wear to George Washington’s first (1789) and second (1793) inaugurations and other important functions during his first term. You can see Washington’s initials engraved in the middle with the initials of the Thirteen Colonies around the outer edge.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

The Michigan History Museum and the Michigan Iron Industry Museum will be closed from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.

While those museums will be closed over the holiday weekend, our other historic sites and museums around the state are open! Commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and dive into history by visiting one of our sites or other Michigan cultural institution, reading a Michigan Historical Marker or walking a Heritage Trail.

Plan your visit today at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums.

We’d like to thank the special guests who took time out of their Saturday to share a piece of their family’s history with us during today’s event!

Personal stories help paint the broader picture of both Michigan and United States history. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we encourage you to take the time to explore history through the lens of your family, neighbors and loved ones.