Just like you probably never see things in your own town until someone comes to visit and you are forced to show them around, many people who live in America don't know a lot of cool and interesting facts. These are some lesser-known but interesting things about America that the average American probably doesn't know.
The Oldest City
Most people have no idea what happened before the colonies were formed or what the oldest city in America is. Many would be shocked to know that St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers. It is the oldest continually inhabited settlement in the United States.
New York City’s Real Name
The Big Apple wasn’t always referred to as New York City. Before it was named New York, it was known as New Amsterdam named first by Dutch settlers.
That’s a Lot of Water
According to the EPA, the Great Lakes hold 21% of the globe’s surface fresh water. The Great Lakes are so massive that they actually have their own tides. Lake Superior all by itself, has more water than if you combined the other four, making it the most “Superior” of them all.
The “Lost State” of Franklin
In the late 18th century, settlers who settled in what is now East Tennessee attempted to establish their own independent state and wanted to call it Franklin. It actually existed for a short time before it eventually rejoined what is now North Carolina.
The First Capital
If you asked the average American what the first capital city of the United States was, they would probably be stumped. The first capital was New York City under the United States Constitution. It served as the first from the years 1785 to 1790.
Hawaiian Language
Most people would assume that people in Hawaii’s official language is like the rest of the United States, English. But Hawaii has two official languages, one being English and the other being Hawaiian. The average American probably has no idea that Hawaiian is actually a language.
Cracking Up
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know of the Liberty Bell, but not many know that it didn’t just crack once, it cracked again in 1846 at the first President’s birthday celebration. The bell has since been silenced. Although it no longer rings, it is still a symbol of freedom that we all cherish.
Why It's Called American Cheese
American Cheese only has about 51% of actual real cheese. It is a mix of milk, whey, cheese, and emulsifiers. Even though it was named after America, according to polls, it isn’t our favorite. Cheddar cheese comes in first when it comes to American taste buds.
The Golden Gate Bridge Was Almost Not So Golden
The Golden Gate Bridge is a landmark that millions of people travel to see. Although it is black and yellow stripes now, it was supposed to be all yellow, like the color of a bumblebee. Upon seeing the primer’s original color, the architect thought it was much more iconic and decided to leave the hue, as is.
Uncle Sam Was a Real Deal
The image of Uncle Sam has become one of the greatest iconic signatures of America. Samuel Wilson is the man behind the scenes. He was so loved that his townsfolk nicknamed him “Uncle Sam” due to his reliability and fairness. His persona has come to signify all things American style like baseball and apple pie.
LO You Go
The very first message to cross the World Wide Web was “LO.” It was the first attempt that was made to login from UCLA to Sanford. The login wasn’t very successful though, only the first two letters made the transition before the system crashed. It was the first time ARPANET, which is the original version of the internet was tried.
The National Debt
The average American probably has no idea what the National Debt is, assuming it is money we owe other countries only. The National Debt is partly owed to itself. A significant portion of the debt is owed by different branches of the government, including the Federal Reserve and the Social Security Trust Fund.
The Four Corners Monument
There is only one point in the entire United States where four states meet up. The location is where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah intersect and it is marked by the Four Corners Monument.
The State with the Most Forestry
The United States is known for its many and vast forestry areas. Although forests align the territories of many states, the state with the most forest territory is Maine. 80% of Maine's land is covered in forests.
The Largest Desert
While most people would assume that the largest desert in the United States is the Gobi or Sahara, they would be wrong. The Great Basin Desert, which covers parts of Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon spans the most area.
The State with the Most Education
In 2022, about 39% of all people between the ages of 18 and 24 were enrolled in a postsecondary program. America is a highly educated part of the world. When it comes to the state with the most people educated, Massachusetts has the highest percentage of people who are college-educated.
The United States Has the Largest Economy
Of all of the countries in the world, the United States has the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP. It accounts for as much as a quarter of the global economy.
The United States is Home to Royalty
Although people know about the Royal Family in Britain, they probably don’t know that the United States has royalty of its own. Iolani Palace, which is in Honolulu, Hawaii is our own version of royalty.
Alaska’s Coastline is Ginormous
If someone wanted to walk the entire coastline of Alaska, they better train hard. According to statistics, the distance of the shoreline would be almost equal to walking from California to Florida, and then back again. It is a recorded 46,600 miles wide.
Mount Rushmore has a Secret Room
There is a secret room in Mount Rushmore that most people probably don’t know exists. It is called the “Hall of Records,” and it is situated behind Abraham Lincoln’s head. It is a place that was originally built to house the most important documents in the United States arsenal, but it was never finished because the project ran out of money.
Lincoln Owned a Bar
Before Abraham Lincoln became one of America’s favorite presidents, he used to serve drinks in Illinois. He owned a bar called Berry and Lincoln and it was one of the most popular hangouts in the town of New Salem. Luckily, he aspired for more.
So Much Left to Know
America is a land that is so expansive, that it is difficult to know what goes on in other states most of the time. There are some really cool pieces of American history that not many Americans know, but they are fun to learn.
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