Good Monday morning friend... Today we are going to see what is weird but true about the 3rd State to join the Union, the state of
1). The stateโs name originates from the English Channel Island of Jersey.
2). In October 1858, the worldโs first dinosaur statue was discovered in Haddonfield, New Jersey. It was the first complete dinosaur skeleton to be found and the first to be publicly displayed.
3). New Jersey is one of the thirteen original colonies.
4). The Miss America Beauty Pageant is the countryโs most famous pageant. It was first held in Atlantic City in 1921 over Labor Day weekend as a scholarship event.
5). Legendary American musician Bruce Springsteen was born in 1949 in Freehold, New Jersey. He has continued to live there his entire career despite his massive success.
6). New Jersey is located about halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, on the eastern coast of the United States.
7). New Jersey is also known as the โmedicine chest of the world.โ New Jersey is a world leader in discovering and developing new medicines, therapies, diagnostics, and technologies to improve the quality of patientsโ lives.
8). Some of the most prolific inventions of the 20th century happened right here in New Jersey. One was done by Thomas Edison when he introduced the world to his idea of an electric light bulb. At his laboratory in Menlo Park, Edison built his first high-resistance, incandescent electric light. Edison was born in Ohio on February 11, 1847.
9). The worldโs largest light bulb which is 13 feet tall and weighs eight tons stands near Thomas Edisonโs old lab in Edison, New Jersey. The light bulb was constructed in 1938 and it is encased by 153 individual pieces of Pyrex.
10). The popular board game Monopoly was created and patented in 1935 and was based on the real streets and locations in Atlantic City.
11). In 1991, New Jersey terminated ocean dumping. To bring about the shift from ocean dumping to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of discarding the waste, the state had to spend more than $100 million.
12). While many believe Ellis Island and Liberty Island (named in 1956) are in New Yorkโs waters, theyโre actually in New Jerseyโs waters.
13). The lighthouse of the sandy hook is in service since June 11, 1764. The lighthouse completed 250 years of service in 2014 and a celebration was held to mark the historic occasion.
14). At least 100 battles were fought in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. This was primarily due to its location near the center of the thirteen colonies and between New York and Philadelphia. All ten of New Jerseyโs largest cities are within 30 miles of New York or Philadelphia.
15). Although the area now known as New Jersey was a territory within the new country since the Revolutionary War ended, it didnโt officially become a state until December 1787 when the Constitution approved it as a state.
Have a blessed day friend... Take care and GOD bless...
Good Tuesday afternoon dear friend, today we are going to learn the weird and true facts about the great state of
1). The actual word, "Tennessee" comes from the Cherokee Native American word, "Tana-see." This means, "The Meeting Place."
2). Reelfoot Lake is considered the "Turtle Capital of the World." This beautiful oasis is precisely where you'd like to get a little turtle watching in.
3). During Teddy Roosevelt's 1907 visit to Tennessee, he was served Maxwell House coffee and coined the phrase, "Good 'til the last drop." Coffee fans, unite!
4). The Manhattan Project was based in Oak Ridge, where secret research for the creation of the atomic bomb took place The city was known as, "The Secret City" or, "Atomic City." Many of the workers didn't even realize that they were helping to develop the bomb.
5). Tennessee earned its nickname "The Volunteer State" for its participation in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. The state also deployed more National Guard soldiers during than Gulf War than any other state in the nation.
6). Kingston was the state capital for one day, September 21, 1807 This was as a result of a treaty with the Cherokees.
7). Jack Daniel's made his fortune in Lynchburg. He died after kicking a safe and allowing the wound to get infected. Ouch.
8). The Grand Ole Opry holds the title of the longest radio show in history. It is broadcast on Friday and Saturday evenings as it has been since 1925.
9). Martin Luther King Jr. took his last breath at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. After his death in 1968, the motel became a landmark and now is preserved as the American Civil Rights Museum.
10). Reelfoot Lake came from shaky beginnings - the lake was formed entirely from a series of earthquakes in 1811-1812. Perhaps Quake Lake would have been a better name...
11). Birthplace of Davy Crockett. Davy Crockett was born near Greeneville, TN. You can visit a replica of the log cabin today.
12). Bristol: The REAL birthplace of country music. Nashville may be Music City, but Bristol is the official birthplace.
13). Andrew Johnson: 19th Century Over-Achiever. Not only was Johnson the first president to be impeached, but he also held every single elective office at the local, state, and federal levels. He served as the governor and military governor of Tennessee before taking the title of Vice President, then President of the United States. (Source comes from 20 Facts About Tennessee You Never Knew Were True)
Have a blessed day... Take care and GOD bless...
Good Wednesday morning friend, today we are going to know what is weird but true about the great state of 
Kentucky is the 26th most populous and the 37th most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. It lies in the east-south-central region of the United States. Kentucky attained statehood on June 1, 1792, becoming the 15th state to join the union. It shares its border with seven bordering states (Tennessee , Virginia , West Virginia , Illinois , Indiana , Missouri , and Ohio .) See the full list of the 50 states and their borders here. Kentucky has 120 counties. The stateโs capital is Frankfort. The postal abbreviation for the state is KY. With these Kentucky facts, let us explore more about its history, geography, culture, people, economy, and more.
1). Kentucky actually started off as a county in the state of Virginia. The residents did not feel that they were properly being represented by the state though, and in 1792, it became its own state.
2). When KY became the 15th state, it was the first in the western frontier.
3). There is part of KY. that is not attached to the rest of the state. About 17 square miles are located on the Mississippi River, connected to Tennessee. This weird part of the state is due to a surveying error. Known as the Kentucky Bend, just 17 people live in the area, and it is a 40-mile drive to get to the rest of the state.
4). Fort Boonesborough, located in Richmond, was established by Daniel Boone and his men in 1775. This fort became the second settlement in the area that was to become the state of Kentucky. Boone was a pioneer, woodsman, and explorer who became a legendary folk hero in the United States.
5). Roughly half of the state is covered in forests (around 48%), which means over 12.4 million acres of forests. The diverse hardwood strains here are second only to Florida. That makes it one of the largest providers of hardwoods in the United States.
6). Louisville is constantly being pronounced in different ways around the world. The most common way locals say it is โlooavullโ or โluhvul.โ Anything else is going to get weird looks.
7). Kentucky has the highest population of elk in the eastern part of the United States by far. With more than 11,000 elk currently roaming the state, the number is expected to continually increase after only being reintroduced to the state in the 1990s.
8). Mammoth Cave, located in Edmonson, Hart and Barren counties, is more than 400 miles long. The system was declared a World Heritage site on October 27, 1981. It is the longest cave system in the world, pretty much doubling up second place Sac Actun in Mexico.
9). In Kentucky, it is illegal to go fishing with a bow and arrow.
10). Women living in Owensboro may be fashion experts, but if they find a hat they particularly like, they need to obtain their husbandโs permission before making the purchase.
11). Each citizen of Kentucky is required to shower once each year. (Personal statement: Please revise this law to once a week... Thank you).
12). In Kentucky, it is against the law to release a feral hog back into the wild. (This should be a law throughout every state that has a problem with feral hogs, they cause billions of dollars in agricultural damage every year).
13). In Kentucky, a woman can only marry the same man three times. This is for the best. The poor guy would probably be quite confused after three different times down the aisle to the same bride!
14). In Kentucky, women in bikinis used to require police protection. Until this law was recently repealed, bikini-wearing women weighing between 90-199 pounds could not walk down a Kentucky highway without an officer or other professional guarding them. The weight restrictions seem a bit odd, but weโre sure lawmakersโ intentions were in the right place and focused on womenโs protection.
15). In Kentucky, you can't walk around with an ice cream cone in your pocket. (Source comes from 66 Interesting Facts About Kentucky - The Fact File
Have a blessed day friend... Take care and GOD bless...
Good Thursday afternoon friend, today we are going to look at the great state of 
Maryland is the 19th most populous and the 42nd most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. It is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The state attained statehood on April 28, 1788, becoming the 7th state to join the union. Its four bordering states are Delaware , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and West Virginia . Maryland (nicknamed: Cockade State, Free State, Monumental State, Old Line State, Terrapin State) has 23 counties and one independent city (Baltimore City). The stateโs capital is Annapolis. People who live in MD or who come from Maryland are referred to as Marylanders. The postal abbreviation for Maryland is MD. With these facts about Maryland, let us learn more about its history, geography, economy, people, culture, and much more.
1). Paleo-Indians first inhabited what is now the state of Maryland. They believe the Paleo-Indians came from other parts of North America to hunt bison and caribou. In later years, Native American tribes moved into the region, including the Lenape, Nanticoke, Susquehannock, Shawnee, and Powhatan tribes.
2). Maryland gets its name from Queen Henrietta Maria of England. Her husband, George Calvert created the colony, but before the settlement could begin, he died and his son Cecilius continued on. Cecilius wanted to create safe place for Roman Catholics that were coming from England.
3). Maryland is sometimes called โAmerica in Miniatureโ. It has a wide topography that ranges from gently rolling hills to pine groves, to sandy dunes, and marshlands near the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland is home to lakes, rivers, and the Atlantic ocean. 400 types of birds, 90 species of mammals, 93 species of reptiles and amphibians, and hundreds of freshwater and marine fish inhabit the borders of Maryland.
4). The Chesapeake Bay is the largest of more than 100 estuaries (a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean) in the United States. It splits Maryland into two halves and covers an area of about 64,000 square miles (103,000 square km). Captain John Smith was one of the first Europeans to visit the bay.
5). MD joined the Union during the Civil War even though it was a slave state south of the Mason-Dixon line. Being a border state, it had major divisions in its support, even among family members. The state was a battleground where some of the most decisive battles of the war were fought.
6). In Sharpsburg, Maryland, the Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862. The battle is considered as the bloodiest battle of the American Civil war because an estimated 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat. According to some sources, it is also the eighth-costliest land battle of the American Civil War.
7). Another Maryland nickname is the โOld Line Stateโ. During the Revolutionary War, 400 American soldiers led by Colonel William Smallwood, fought against 10,000 British soldiers in a 1776 battle. The โMaryland Lineโ was able to hold off the advancing British soldiers long enough for George Washington, leading the remaining American soldiers, to make their escape.
8). Maryland has a state crustacean. The blue crab was named the state crustacean (crustacean comes from the Latin word crusta, which means shell) in 1989. The blue crab is commonly called the โMaryland crabโ, even though a large amount of blue crabs are caught off the waters of Virginia. The crabs are in peak season from April to November, and Marylanders are known to eat their crabs with Old Bay or Chesapeake Bay seasoning.
9). Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and was founded in 1729. It was originally created as a grain and tobacco shipping point.
10). The first successful passenger balloon flight in the United States took place in Baltimore on June 24, 1784. It is said that a 13 year old boy from Baltimore embarked in this balloon since it was too small to carry its creator.
11). The Maryland State Police, established in 1921, is the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the United States. They became a separate branch of the stateโs government in 1935.
12). Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. Although born into slavery, Harriet Tubman rose above her traumatic past and became a historic leader, fighting against slavery. Part of her famous underground railroad can be toured in Maryland at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. The journey lasts 125 miles starting in Cambridge to Goldsboro passing through country roads to off state highways and part of the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop.
13). The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore is the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem, โThe Star-Spangled Banner.โ The โFlag Houseโ has been there since 1793.
14). Francis Key Scott, a Maryland lawyer, wrote the โStar-Spangled Bannerโ in 1814. It became Americaโs national anthem in 1931. The Francis Key Scott bridge is a 1,200-foot long bridge that crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore. It is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the nation.
15). Annapolis, MD, is home to the United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy was founded in 1845 and has been training officers for the Marine Corps and Navy ever since. Visitors can explore the campus and take a guided tour to get an up-close look at what student life in the academy is really like. There are many gorgeous, old buildings to see, from the main chapel to Bancroft Hallโs Memorial Chapel. For those lucky enough to be there around lunchtime, the daily noon formation of 4,000 midshipmen can be observed as they form for roll call. (Source comes from 52 Interesting Facts About Maryland - The Fact File
Have a blessed day... Take care and GOD bless.
Good Monday afternoon friend, today we are going to learn what is weird but true about the great state of
1). Though it's often confused with its neighbor Virginia, West Virginia is an independent state rich with history. These two states were once a single territory but have developed their own identities. John Denver composed the state song, and people have referred to West Virginia as "almost heaven." These are just two of the dozens of things that set the state apart from the rest of the country.
2). In 1907, a Philidelphia woman named Anna Jarvis organized a day to honor her late mother. Her mother strived to create a community that supported women and fostered friendship. A fun fact about West Virginia is that the first Mother's Day was celebrated as a church service in West Virginia. This is where Jarvis' mother resided. The idea caught on and, within a few years, the rest of the United States also celebrated the holiday.
3). John Denver's famous song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is about the artist's time in West Virginia. Since it was released in 1971, it has captured the hearts of West Virginian residents. In 2014, it joined the list of tunes that have become official West Virginia state symbols. The other songs on that list are "This is My West Virginia" and "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home.
4). On June 20, 1863, West Virginia made history by becoming the 35th state in the USA. Before that time, modern-day West Virginia was part of Virginia's state territory. The decision to split the state was made after continuous disagreements and tensions between different regions began to impede the state's ability to govern itself. In particular, Virginia and West Virginia disagreed over matters regarding the Civil War.
5). In 1896, the United States Postal Service began the rural, free delivery program. This program ensured that rural residents could receive their mail directly to their front door. Before this time, anyone who lived outside of a city needed to pick up their mail from the post office. West Virginia was the first state to enact this program. Its success led to its implementation elsewhere in the United States.
6). The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in the state. It was completed in 1977 and served as a more direct way to cross the gorge. It's not just memorable due to its importance to transportation within the state. It's also the longest steel arch bridge in the world. It's 1700 feet long and, typically takes less than a minute to cross by car.
7). Anyone who wants to brush up on state facts about West Virginia should learn the West Virginia state nickname. On state license plates and signs, you'll see the moniker "Mountain State." This nickname refers to the over 1600 named mountains within the state's borders. West Virginia is also the only state that's entirely within the Appalachian Mountain Region.
8). Before the Civil War, John Brown was a leader in the anti-slavery movement. Though he was a pacifist, he led protests against slave owners. His most famous protest occurred in 1859 In Harpers Ferry. Brown led a raid to begin a slave revolt in the town. While he ultimately didn't succeed, his actions began to change minds regarding human rights in the area.
9). In 1903, the West Virginia state flower was the rhododendron, chosen by both schoolchildren and the governor at the time. Rhododendron is a broad term that covers over 1,000 species of similar plants. While a specific strain wasn't chosen to be the state's symbol, the flower you'll usually see associated with West Virginia is white.
10). If the American Civil War had never happened, West Virginia might not exist. While Virginia fought for the Confederate army, West Virginians didn't agree. Of the 50,000 West Virginian soldiers in the war, the majority fought for the Union. This disagreement caused Virginia to split into the two states that exist today.
11). At the 1984 Summer Olympics, Mary Lou Retton from West Virginia made history. She was the first woman from the United States to win a gold medal in gymnastics. However, since then the state hasn't sent many athletes to the Olympics. The state hasn't had a representative at the games since 1996.
12.) In Williamson, West Virginia, you can find the Coal House. Constructed in 1933, the building is made from 65 tons of coal. The house is used as the town's chamber of commerce and is a tourist attraction. In 2010, the building caught fire and was extensively damaged. It was reconstructed the following year.
13). In 1917, the US joined WWI, three years after it began. Though the war ended the following year in 1918, it still played a large role in US history. Men from all over the country enlisted to fight for their country. The youngest soldier was a boy from West Virginia--Chester Merriman. He was only 14 years old when he enlisted. (Source comes from 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About West Virginia State
Have a blessed day. Take care and GOD bless.
Good Tuesday Morning, friend. Today, we will learn some weird and true facts about the great state of 
Illinois is the 6th most populous and the 25th most extensive of the 50 states. It lies in the Midwestern region of the United States. The state attained statehood on December 3, 1818, becoming the 21st state to join the union. On December 3, 2018, the state celebrated its 200 years of statehood. Its six bordering states are Kentucky , Missouri , Wisconsin , Indiana , Iowa , and Michigan (water boundary). See the full list of the 50 states and their borders here. Illinois (nicknamed the Prairie State) has 102 counties. The stateโs capital is Springfield. The postal abbreviation for Illinois is IL. With these interesting facts about Illinois, let us learn more about its geography, history, people, economy, etc.
1). The word โIllinoisโ comes from the French version of an Indian word which means โmenโ or โwarriors.โ
2). In 1673, French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet arrived in the region. They were exploring the Mississippi River, searching for a route to the Pacific Ocean.
3). Illinois had two different state capitals before Springfield โ Kaskaskia (1809 to 1819) and Vandalia (1819 to 1839).
4). Illinois had two different state capitals before Springfield โ Kaskaskia (1809 to 1819) and Vandalia (1819 to 1839).
5). The Chicago River is dyed green on St. Patrickโs Day.
6). The flow of the Chicago River was reversed on January 1, 1900, to empty into the Mississippi instead of the Michigan. The riverโs flow was reversed to prevent epidemics of water-borne diseases, especially cholera. It took eight years and 8,500 workers to put the system in place. In 1999, the system was named a โCivil Engineering Monument of the Millenniumโ by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
7). By population, Chicago, Illinois, is the third-largest city in the U.S.
8). Train tracks in Chicago, Illinois, are set on fire to prevent rails from contracting and failing due to stress. Temperatures in Chicago fell several degrees below zero, and thus, the rail tracks were set on fire in a controlled way with the help of gas-fed heaters that ran alongside the rails. Due to low temperature, the metal contracts and the rails pull apart at their connection. Maintenance crews light the heaters by hand and stay in the area to monitor the flames and the heating system. A few of the rail lines are damaged, but this method is considered safer than using frozen tracks that can pull apart and cause accidents.
9). Chicago, Illinois, was the starting point of Route 66, one of the essential icons of America. Route 66 (aka US 66) was opened in 1926 and extended from Chicago to Los Angeles, crossing much of the American Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. The road covered a total distance of 2,448 miles. During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the road served as a primary route for those migrating toward the west.
10). Telephone communication services started in 1878 in Chicago. That was the year when the Bell Telephone Company began operating with only 75 telephones.
11). In 1922, the first radio station broadcast was made in Illinois from Tuscola.
12). The father of cell phones, Martin Cooper, hails from Chicago, Illinois. He led a team that built the first mobile phone in 1972.
13). The city of Aurora gained the nickname โthe city of lightsโ after it became one of the first in the country to install street lighting in 1881. This nickname was then carried forward and adopted as the cityโs official motto just after the turn of the century.
14). The largest pinball machine ever made can be seen in the Chicago Museum of Science. This machine is about 15 feet wide and 7 feet high.
15). On April 15, 1955, the first McDonaldโs franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, was opened.
16). In 1829, Abraham Lincoln came to Illinois from Indiana. The former president of the United States of America (served as the 16th president of the United States from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865) spent 24 years of his adult life in Springfield (in the west-central part of the state), Illinois. Interestingly, he started his political career while living in the state. Lincolnโs home and tomb in Springfield are open for visitors.
17). Abraham Lincoln worked as a postmaster in New Salem, Illinois. He was appointed On May 7, 1833, and was the only U.S. President who had served as a postmaster.
18). Willis Tower (renamed Willis Tower in 2009), formerly known as Sears Tower, is a 110-story building in Chicago , Illinois. The tower is 1450 feet high. At the time of its completion in 1973, it held the record for the worldโs tallest building after surpassing the One World Trade Centre Towers in New York. The Willis Tower is now the third-tallest building in North America and the twelfth-tallest building in the world. From its Skydeck, you can see four states: Illinois, Indiana , Wisconsin, and Michigan .
19). The term โJazzโ was coined in Chicago in 1914 by Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa.
20). Another very famous person in America, Walt Disney, also comes from Chicago, Illinois. The home he grew up in can be found in the downtown area.
Have a blessed day. Take care and GOD bless.
Good Wednesday afternoon dear friend. Today we are going to learn the weird and true facts about the great state of
1). The state insect is the firefly, and the state fossil is the mastodon, but Indiana has no state fish or mammal.
2). There are more than 100 wineries in Indiana. When people think of Indiana, usually the first thing they think of is something like "corn", but maybe it should be "wine".
3). Indiana is where Santa Claus is. No, seriously. The town of Santa Claus, Indiana, is a delightfully fun little town where it's Christmas year-round. It is quite literally someone's job in Santa Claus to answer letters sent to the man himself from children all over the nation. The North Pole is out, the Midwest is in.
4). There are catacombs beneath City Market in Indy. Yes, there are indeed literal underground catacombs in Indiana, though thankfully these are not filled top-to-bottom with bodies. In this case, the catacombs (located underneath City Market in Indianapolis) used to be utilized to transport goods and inventory from place to place, but now they're quiet - except for in October when City Market offers tours of the catacombs.
5). The first train robbery in US history happened in Indiana. On October 6th, 1866, brothers John and Simeon Reno planned and pulled off the first train robbery in United States history in Jackson County, Indiana. They made off with $13,000, which would be about $242,664.21 these days.
6). We can thank Indiana for things like rear-view mirrors and sliced bacon. When you read my posts you know me as MOHLovesAlaska, that could very easily change to MOHLovesIndiana because of sliced BACON. (Source comes from Fun Facts About Indiana That Sound Weird But Are 100% True
Have a blessed day friend. Take care and GOD bless.
Good Wednesday afternoon friend, today we will learn what is weird and true about the great state of
Iowa is the 31st most populous and the 26th most extensive of the 50 states. It lies in the midwestern United States. Iowa attained statehood on December 28, 1846, becoming the 29th state to join the union. Its six bordering states are Illinois , Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , South Dakota , and Wisconsin . Iowa (nicknamed: Hawkeye State) has 99 counties. The stateโs capital is Des Moines. The postal abbreviation for Iowa is IA. People who live in Iowa or who come from Iowa are referred to as Iowans and upon occasion, they are referred to as Hawkeyes. With these facts about Iowa, let us learn more about its history, people, geography, economy, culture, nature wildlife, and much more.
1). Iowa is the only state name that starts with two vowels! You can hardly pronounce it on your first trial. Isnโt this a unique and interesting fact about Iowa?
2). Iowa was first documented by the Jesuit missionary Jacque Marquette in 1673. They reported several native villages in the area now known as Iowa.
3). The state is named after a tribe called Ioway. The Ioway tribe has the honor to have the state of Iowa named after them. They used to live here long before European settlers arrived in the area.
4). Iowa is the only state bordered by two navigable rivers; the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi River to the east. The eastern and western borders of the state are completely formed by the rivers.
5). Three States in one city. Sioux City Iowa may feel a little strange if you are visiting for the first time. You can travel across three states without actually leaving the city. The largest section is the Sioux City and is in Iowa. The North Sioux is part of South Dakota while South Sioux is in Nebraska.
6). Gladbrook was founded by two gentlemen. When they went to complete the areaโs paperwork in Chicago, they had to come up with a name for the town. After a lengthy conversation about what is good in Iowa, the two said they were glad to have enjoyed a nice brook from the town. And that is how they came up with the name โGladbrookโ.
7). Between Washington and Columbia Streets in Burlington, Iowa, is a road known as the Snake Alley. It is the most crooked street in the state.
8). Ninety-two percent of Iowaโs land is covered with farms. The best crop is grown to be corn. Corn production provides income for Iowaโs economy. According to the statistics, they say the state produces even more corn than some countries, like Mexico. And it is 2nd to Illinois in soybean production.
9). A 25-mile trail bridge winds across five Iowa towns. It crosses from Woodward to Ankeny across the Des Moines River valley. The bridge is half a mile long and a hundred and thirty feet high. It is considered to be among the largest trail bridges in the world.
10). A list of Iowa facts cannot be complete without mentioning this. The worldโs largest truck stop is in Iowa. It is known as Iowa 80. The truck stop is not just a place for truckers to park their bread and butter earning machines, but it also has a barbershop, chiropractor, and a huge museum with antique trucks. It was established in 1964, and has been dubbed โA Small Cityโ and โA Truckerโs Disneyland.โ In short, itโs a truckerโs paradise.
11). A huge frying pan was built for the Brandonโs Cowboy Breakfast Festival in 2004 to fry 44 dozen eggs. This is equivalent to 88 pounds of bacon. It measures nine feet in width and 14 feet in length with the handle included. The Cowboy Breakfast Festival occurs on the 3rd Sunday of every September.
12). The famous investor, model, and actor featured in several romantic movies and comedies was born and brought up in Iowa. John Wayne was the son of a pharmacist and grew up to become one of Hollywoodโs most famous movie stars. He was born in Winterset, Iowa.
13). The Day the Music Died. The plane crash of 1959 that caused the death of famous singers and songwriters Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP happened near Clear Lake Iowa. (Source comes from 102 Interesting Facts About Iowa - Page 2 of 2 - The Fact File).
Have a blessed day. Take care and GOD bless.
Good Thursday afternoon friend, today we are going to learn weird and true facts about one of the original 13 Colonie states and that is the great state of
Virginia is the 12th most populous and the 35th most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. It is in the southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The state attained statehood on June 25, 1788, becoming the 10th to join the union. Its five bordering states are Kentucky , Maryland , North Carolina , Tennessee , and West Virginia . Virginia (nicknamed: Mother of Presidents, Old Dominion) has 95 counties. The stateโs capital is Richmond. The abbreviation for Virginia is VA. With these facts about Virginia, let us learn about its history, geography, people, culture, economy, etc.
1). Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
2). Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.
3). The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. It was established in 1619 and prohibits the governors from serving two consecutive terms.
4). Virginia is the only state that has jurisdiction over both the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay shorelines.
5). A 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia in 2011 was felt by almost 1/3rd of the population of the U.S. The Earthquake also shook some neighboring Canadian provinces to some extent. The effect of the quake was so prominent that it cracked the Washington Monument.
6). According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia ranks at the second spot in the list of the states for total defense spending, followed by Texas, Maryland, and Florida. California tops the list with an expenditure of $49 billion.
7). Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, is the worldโs largest naval base. The base is classified as Americaโs fifth most endangered military base. The base also serves as a major naval air center. It is estimated that the rise in sea level could be a potential threat to the base.
8). The United States Navyโs first successful submarine, the USS Holland, was built in Virginia in 1897. But it didnโt launch until 1900.
9). Virginia is home to the largest office building in the world โ the Pentagon. The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense including all three military servicesโArmy, Navy, and Air Force. The Pentagon, however, has a Washington, D.C. mailing address. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain.
10). Did you know that the Pentagon has 3 times the floor space as the Empire State Building? The Pentagon has twice as many bathrooms as necessary because it was built during a time of racial segregation, and separate bathrooms were required for different races.
11). After California, Virginia has the second highest concentration of tech workers of any state in the U.S.
12). Did you know that eight U.S. presidents (more than any other state) were born in Virginia? Interestingly, four of the first five presidents were Virginians. In the early days, Virginia was also known as the โBirthplace of Presidents.โ
13). In the Civil War, more battles were fought on Virginia soil than in any other state.
14). In 1607, Jamestownโthe first English colony in what would become the United Statesโwas founded in Virginia. Jamestown was also Virginiaโs first capital. The town was established on the bank of the James River.
15). The first Englishwoman to marry in the New World, Anne Burras, married John Laydon in Virginia in 1608.
16). The first recorded Thanksgiving in North America took place in Virginia in 1619, a year before the Pilgrimsโ famous Thanksgiving in Massachusetts.
17). The famous Revolutionary War battle, the Battle of Yorktown, which led to Americaโs independence, took place in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781.
18). Virginia is the birthplace of the American Revolution figure Patrick Henry, known for his famous speech โGive me liberty or give me death!โ
19). The iconic Mount Vernon, George Washingtonโs estate, is located in Virginia and attracts over one million visitors each year.
20). The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, with a 17.6-mile span (shore to shore), is the worldโs largest bridge-tunnel complex. Its official name is Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel.
21). The town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is home to the shortest railroad in the United States, measuring only 300 feet in length.
22). Virginia is home to the Luray Caverns, which houses the largest musical instrument in the world, the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which plays music by striking stalactites. (Source comes from 79 Interesting Facts About Virginia - Page 2 of 2 - The Fact File ).
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