Statehood The 26th state Jan. 26, 1837 Captial Lansing State Motto If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you. Origin of State Name The name is taken from that of Lake Michigan. State Nickname The Wolverine State The name refers to the importance of wolverine pelts to early trading posts. Interesting Facts In 1862 the current Michigan State University became the first land grant college in the United States. Michigan is a leading state in the ownership of recreational boats and in the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Henry Ford, who produced his first experimental car in 1893, founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. Mackinac Island, a state park since 1895, consists of a series of rock terraces rising out of the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.