A Brief History Of Ann Arbor Michigan

One of Michigan’s most popular cities is nearly 200 years old, but how much do you know about the history of Ann Arbor? Find out how it got its unique name, how it became home to one of the country’s top universities, and how it has grown in the two centuries since its founding.

In January 1824, businessmen John Allen, originally from Virginia, and Elisha Rumsey of Connecticut met in Detroit. Only a month later, the two land speculators scoped out a 640-acre plot on the Huron River 40 miles (64.3 kilometers) west of the city and purchased it for only $800. By May, the village was fully registered as “Annarbour.” Whether it was named for their wives who were both called Ann or for another reason is still debated, but the new settlement soon became the seat of Washtenaw County.

In 1837, Ann Arbor suffered both misfortune and success. It lobbied to become the capital of the new state of Michigan but lost out to Lansing; however, the land that had been set aside for the potential government buildings was instead chosen as the new site of the University of Michigan, which had been based in Detroit since its founding in 1817.

Two years later, the town received another boost with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad, which helped to attract more and more settlers. In 1851, Ann Arbor was chartered as a city, and its population surpassed 5,000 by the time of the 1860 census. The city grew steadily from there until the 1940s when WWII necessitated the construction of a new aircraft manufacturing complex just outside of Ann Arbor. The plant, which produced the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber, brought many military personnel and workers to the city, and the population increased by over 60% that decade.

During the 1960s, the city rose to prominence as a center for liberal politics and counterculturalism thanks to the activism of University of Michigan students. Ann Arbor hosted protests against the Vietnam War and for Civil Rights and was the founding place of the national Students for a Democratic Society group. By the 1970s, these ideals had an impact on municipal politics, with three members of the Human Rights Party winning city council seats and instituting a number of progressive policies.

A Civil Rights protest in Ann Arbor in 1965

With the University of Michigan continuing to foster a liberal and cultural vibe, these days Ann Arbor is best known as one of the top tourist destinations in the Midwest and a great place to live, with it being named one of America’s best small cities and one of the most liveable cities in the U.S. in recent years.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.