1849: State legislature establishes Michigan Normal School

Go EMU! The Michigan state legislature wanted to set up a school somewhere in Michigan to train teachers. Ypsilanti town leaders volunteered land and money, so the legislature would put the new school in Ypsilanti. The state accepted and the Michigan "Normal School" was built. It later became Eastern Michigan University.

Here is a picture of gym class at the college in the 1800's. What do you think they are doing? Would you like to wear all those clothes while exercising?

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