Michigan Life


DETROIT, MI - JUNE 7: American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker Prince (1958-2016) performs onstage during his 1986 Parade Tour on June 7, 1986, at the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)
Throwback to 1980: Remembering the First Time Prince Performed in Detroit

On March 23, 1980, the late recording artist Prince performed for the first time in Detroit. The concert stop was during Rick James’ “Fire It Up” tour at Cobo Arena.

Lee Thompson and his pack. Photo Credit: Mo Mountain Mutts via Instagram.
11 Michiganders Having an Awesome Year So Far

We may only be a few months into 2023, but these Michiganders are already having a truly great year.

Felix Moncla with a T-33 in 1953. Photo Credit: Gordheath/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0.
Mysterious Object in the Soo: The 1953 UFO Called “One of the Strangest Cases on Record”

On a November night in 1953, Second Lieutenant Felix Moncla, Jr., on temporary assignment to the Kinross Air Force Base just south of Sault Ste. Marie, was sent to track down a mysterious object.

Photo Courtesy of Michigan State University.
9 Michigan Women Who Have Amazing Stories

From anti-slavery activists to glass ceiling-shattering politicians, here are some of the most impressive women in Michigan’s history. 

Leelanau State Park, Summer 2019.
Photo Credit: Tyler Leipprandt in cooperation with the MI DNR.  Credit goes to Tyler Leipprandt and Michigan Sky Media LLC.
Need to Get Outside? These 15 Michigan State Parks Are a Half-Hour Away or Less

Fun fact: Throughout most of Michigan, you’re almost never more than a half-hour away from a state park. With 101 state parks and recreation areas, as well as five national parks, a day trip is within reach of just about every Michigander.

This Dec. 5, 2014 photo shows a class learning about the Detroit Industry Murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The murals were done in the 1930s by Diego Rivera as a tribute to Detroit’s manufacturing industry, and  Rivera spent time studying the River Rouge Ford car factory. The museum’s collection was at one point threatened with a sale to help fund Detroit’s pension obligations, but finalization of the city’s bankruptcy last week included a deal that protects the art. (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz)
Do You Love the Work of Vincent Van Gogh? Thank the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The country's best art museum has given Michigan more than we might realize.

7 of Michigan’s Best Small-Town Burger Spots Worth the Extra Drive

You can find some pretty delicious burgers in Michigan's larger cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids. But there's something special about the small-town charm of stumbling upon a local burger joint that doesn't seem to get the same attention. You just have to know where to look.