Ovid Township in Shepardsville in Clinton County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Professional Football Game in Michigan

Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024

1. First Professional Football Game in Michigan Marker

Inscription.

In the field south of this site on July 4th, 1895 the Michigan Rushers, a local team, played the first professional football game in Michigan, and possibly in the U.S.

This marker was placed by citizens of Clinton County, Michigan after a 100th anniversary game was played on July 4th, 1995 in Shepardsville.

Erected by Clinton County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1895.

Location. 43° 0.052′ N, 84° 25.483′ W. Marker is in Shepardsville, Michigan, in Clinton County. It is in Ovid Township. It is on Michigan 21, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7002 M-21, Ovid MI 48866, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

and in Greater Lansing.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

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other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Anthony Bontrager Building (approx. 2.7 miles away); Emily Kelley Building (approx. 2.7 miles away); Old Kent Bank (approx. 2.7 miles away); Village of Ovid / First Congregational Church of Ovid (approx. 2.7 miles away); Carriage House (approx. 2.7 miles away); Ovid Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); George D. Sowers House (approx. 2.8 miles away); Rochester Colony (approx. 3½ miles away).

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 12, 2023

2. First Professional Football Game In Michigan Marker

Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024

3. First Professional Football Game in Michigan Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 12, 2023

4. First Professional Football Game In Michigan Marker

Football artwork on top of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 12, 2023

5. Football artwork on top of the marker

Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024

6. First Professional Football Game in Michigan Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,276 times since then and 60 times this year. Last updated on August 15, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photos: 1. submitted on August 15, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2. submitted on February 16, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on August 15, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 4, 5. submitted on February 16, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 6. submitted on August 15, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear, close-up photo of the marker. • Can you help?