Michigan Walk of Fame facts for kids
The Michigan Walk of Fame was a special place in Lansing, Michigan that celebrated amazing people from Michigan. It was like the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it honored people who had done great things for Michigan or for the entire country.
People from all over could suggest names for the Walk of Fame. The idea was to honor twelve new people every year.
The first group of honorees was celebrated on May 25, 2006. Famous people like Stevie Wonder, Helen Thomas, and Jeff Daniels were among those honored that day.
The second group was announced in 2007. However, the Michigan Walk of Fame stopped adding new people after 2007.
Honorees from 2006
In 2006, the Michigan Walk of Fame honored these twelve amazing people:
- Jeff Daniels: A talented actor from Michigan.
- Herbert Henry Dow: He started the Dow Chemical company.
- Thomas Edison: A famous inventor who created the light bulb and many other things.
- Gerald R. Ford: He was the 38th President of the United States.
- Henry Ford: An automotive pioneer who made cars affordable for many people.
- Emma Genevieve Gillette: Known as the "mother" of Michigan's state parks system, helping to create beautiful parks for everyone to enjoy.
- Ernie Harwell: A beloved sportscaster, famous for his voice during baseball games.
- W.K. Kellogg: He founded the Kellogg's company, known for its breakfast cereals.
- Rosa Parks: A brave civil rights activist who stood up for equal rights.
- Fannie Richards: A pioneer African-American teacher in Detroit. She also started the city's first kindergarten.
- Helen Thomas: A well-known political journalist who covered the White House for many years.
- Stevie Wonder: A world-famous musician and composer.
Honorees from 2007
In 2007, another group of incredible individuals was added to the Walk of Fame:
- Joe Louis Barrow: A legendary boxer, often called "the Brown Bomber."
- Mack-e-te-be-nessy / Andrew Blackbird: An educator and linguist, important for his work with Native American languages.
- William C. Durant: Another automotive pioneer who helped shape the car industry.
- Gordie Howe: Known as "Mr. Hockey," he was a famous ice hockey player.
- Dr. Pearl Kendrick and Dr. Grace Eldering: These two scientists created a vaccine to fight whooping cough.
- Elijah McCoy: An inventor who held many patents, especially for lubricating engines.
- Walter Reuther: A strong leader in the labor union movement, fighting for workers' rights.
- Eero Saarinen: A famous architect and designer, known for creating the iconic St. Louis Arch.
- Jonas Salk: He developed the first successful vaccine for polio, a serious disease.
- Mary Spencer: She was Michigan's very first state librarian.
- Danny Thomas / Muzyad Yahkoob: A well-known actor and philanthropist who helped start St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
