Michigan's New License Plate

A new license plate design usually doesn’t mean much to anyone outside the affected state, but the 2007 Michigan plate taught us something. At the top of the plate on the left is a downtown skyline, presumably Detroit, that fades into an outline of forest trees. The background below then turns into a map of the great lakes around the state with the slogan “Spectacular Peninsulas.” That can’t be the state slogan, can it? We dug deeper and found that, indeed, the Michigan state motto is similar: “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Huh.

The most recent design, done in 1997, says “Great Lakes Splendor.” But we fondly remember the old blue and white plates that just said “Great Lakes.” The basic blue plate can still be had, and the other versions, including the upcoming “Spectacular Peninsulas” plate, cost an extra $5.