Michigan consists of two peninsulas in the Great Lakes region of the Midwestern United States. It is the state with the longest freshwater coastline and is also called "The Great Lake State." Crossing the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, Mackinac Brigde between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City was opened as the world’s longest suspension bridge between anchorages in 1957. Another nickname of Michigan is "The Wolverine State." The animal is the mascot of the University of Michigan as well as various sports teams, and its fur was a sought-after commodity in the 18^th century. Even Detroit volunteer soldiers in the Civil War called themselves "The Wolverines." While Lansing is the capital of Michigan, Detroit is the largest city and home to many buildings of historic architecture. The creation of Detroit's skyline started as early as 1889. At 727 feet (222 m), the Marriott hotel at the Renaissance Center is the tallest building.

Native American tribes inhabiting the region when Europeans arrived included the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi, who formed a confederacy known as the Council of Three Fires. After the first European exploration in 1622, French and Canadian fur traders settled in the region and Michigan became part of New France. As a result of the Seven Years' War, it was ceded to Great Britain in 1763, and following the Revolutionary War, it belonged to the Northwest Territory. Michigan was established as an organized unincorporated territory in 1805 and was admitted to the Union as the 26^th state in 1837. The Latin motto "Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice" means “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you.” 

At the beginning of the 20^th century, Michigan developed into the center of the automotive industry in the United States, as Metro Detroit became home to the headquarters of the "Big Three", the manufacturers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. 

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