As we near the end of our sesquicentennial year, I want to share some of Wayne State's history. Here are a few of my favorite facts from (almost) every decade of our 150 years.

1868

1868: The Detroit Medical College, a predecessor of Wayne State University, is founded by five Civil War physicians. #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 pic.twitter.com/nnwTFS4M15

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) January 1, 2018

Unlike other universities, Wayne State was born through the unification of multiple colleges.

1881

1881: The Detroit Normal Training School, a predecessor of the College of Education, is founded. The Washington School building, pictured, would serve as its home from 1895 to 1914. #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6

Image courtesy of the @ReutherLibrary pic.twitter.com/N7PtDuYtUO

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) January 30, 2018

1918

1918: Kelly green and “old gold” are adopted as the school colors of Detroit Junior College, a predecessor of Wayne State. #wsu150 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 pic.twitter.com/xT6BkTiQDq

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) March 24, 2018

100 years later we are still reppin' these colors #GreenandGold #OnWednesdaysWeWearGreen

1928

1928: The College of Pharmacy is founded. https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 #wsu150 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary.
cc: @wsueacphs pic.twitter.com/nyYshcedIX

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) February 23, 2018

In 1934 several colleges combined into one to form Wayne University.

1934

1934: Students present Dean of Students Joseph Selden with pins, stickers and varsity letters to celebrate the university’s new name, Wayne University. #wsu150 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 pic.twitter.com/vs56qEIXvX

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) May 31, 2018

(me when we changed the new logo and had new stickers and warrior gear)

1940s

Late 1940s: After WWII, veterans attended Wayne University in record numbers. The influx of students led the university to set up temporary classrooms and use neighborhood homes to meet space demands. #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6
Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. pic.twitter.com/Av3IQx8sPo

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) January 11, 2018

1947: Veteran enrollment peaks at 7,685 students — roughly 40 percent of the student population. #wsu150 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 pic.twitter.com/AF31OTqj0y

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) March 9, 2018

Wayne State is still dedicated to providing comprehensive student veteran support through the Office of Military and Veterans Academic Excellence.

1952

1952: Wayne State researcher Forest Dewey Dodrill, M.D., and @GM engineers design a machine to temporarily replace the blood-pumping function of the heart, making open-heart surgery possible. #wsu150 ://go.wayne.edu/wsu150 :/ Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. pic.twitter.com/p3Epd60UzI

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) February 8, 2018

1969

1969: Ph.D. student Kenneth Honn and Professor Walter Chavin develop a 25,000-gallon "artificial ocean" to study horn and nurse sharks. It was built at 84 Hancock Street and held 40 sharks. Today, Honn is a professor at @waynemedicine. #wsu150 Image courtesy of Kenneth Honn. pic.twitter.com/kYsuf5ZYJV

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) July 17, 2018

Our very own ocean! 84 Hancock Street is no longer standing but it would have been next what is now Blimpie Subs.

1976

1976: Alumnus Robert Hayden is named U.S. Poet Laureate, becoming the first African American to hold the distinguished title. #wsu150 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. pic.twitter.com/93zdLPGggo

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) July 31, 2018

1987

1987: The drug AZT, created by Wayne State professor and researcher Jerome P. Horwitz, becomes the first federally approved treatment for AIDS. #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary pic.twitter.com/DX3WvptZzL

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) February 5, 2018

1994

January 1994: Wayne State students gain access to Gopher, a pre-HTML form of internet linking academic institutions across the country. #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. pic.twitter.com/xaAVn8VPDc

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) January 13, 2018

Around the world there are some Gopher devotees who still use this protocol.

2003

2003: The year I was born. I'm 15 this year! #wsu150 https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 pic.twitter.com/JUHptlLkom

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) May 11, 2018

W was born! W celebrates his birthday on January 24th.

2011

2011: The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights opens at WSU to study and support the civil rights of underrepresented communities in urban areas. https://t.co/hNSCZdFbl6 #wsu150 #blackhistorymonth
Image courtesy of @ReutherLibrary. pic.twitter.com/62wURfya5Y

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) February 22, 2018

2013

2013: Alumnus Sixto Rodriguez is the subject of @TheAcademy-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man. #wsu150 Image courtesy of Hal Wilson/Sony Picture Classics. pic.twitter.com/MeKDkmMjhw

— Wayne State University (@waynestate) July 19, 2018

You can find more historical  Wayne State facts at go.wayne.edu/150facts