Michigan was first discovered in 1610 and governed by France and Britain until becoming a U.S. territory in 1783. It was admitted as the 26th state in 1837. In the 19th century, the state capital moved to Lansing in 1847 and the Republican Party was organized in 1854. The 20th century brought major automotive companies like Ford and General Motors to Detroit and construction of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957. Modern Michigan faces challenges like high unemployment but also highlights nature areas and its role as the "car capital of the world."