The Mighty Mac Turns 61 Years Old Today [VIDEO]

The video of the first day that the Mackinac Bridge opened is WILD! People are in tears!

The bridge opened to traffic for the first time on November 1st, 1957, but the idea was concocted back in 1883 when a store owner in St. Ignace posted an artist's conception of the Brooklyn Bridge and said that it was the "proposed bridge across the Straits of Mackinac."

Actual talks about the bridge began in 1888 when the Grand Hotel's owners realized that people needed a way to GET there.

Construction started in 1954; five men died during the building of the bridge - Frank Pepper, James LaSarge, Albert Abbott, Jack Baker and Robert Koppen. There's a special plaque honoring them from MDOT.

The 5-mile-long bridge was opened to traffic for the first time on November 1st, 61 years ago today. Happy Birthday, Mighty Mac!