Did you know? Weird, wacky and wonderful facts about our amazing America - Brief Article

Travel America, Jan-Feb, 2002

Say Uncle

Yes Virginia, there really was an Uncle Sam. The symbol of our country, dressed in red, white, and blue with a top hat and white beard, is based on a real person. During the War of 1812, U.S. troops stationed in New York were supplied meat from a purveyor named Sam Wilson. Troops affectionately referred to Wilson by his nickname--Uncle Sam--and though the "U.S." stamp on all the meat stood for United States, it was not long before all federal troops referred to the supplies as "coming from Uncle Sam." Sound contrived? Maybe so, but in 1961 the U.S. Congress officially recognized Sam Wilson as the one-and-only original Uncle Sam!

Touching

Tennessee and Missouri share their borders with eight other states!

Alone at Last

Prior to 1829, it was a common practice for American travelers staying at a hotel or inn to share bed space with other guests--often up to a half-dozen! It was that year, however, that the 180-room Tremont House opened in Boston. The largest and most luxurious hotel in the country, Tremont House became the first U.S. hotel to guarantee private rooms!

Fun Flower

Feeling romantic? Take a stroll in Oklahoma--its state flower is the mistletoe!

People Place

California (pop. 34 million) has more people than Canada!

From Earthquake and Fire

With huge wealth pouring in from Nevada silver mines, San Francisco found itself well established at the turn of the century as the financial center of the West. But disaster struck with the earthquake and Great Fire of 1906. Flames threatened to destroy the entire city. It was a frantic moment for A.P. Giannini, a 32-year-old grocer and food broker who had recently sold his holdings and together with his stepfather had founded the Bank of Italy to serve Italian neighborhoods. As walls of fire swept closer, Giannini hitched his horse to a wagon and raced to his tiny bank. Assets and record books were hastily loaded aboard with fruits and vegetables heaped on top to hide the tempting fortune, which was safely transferred to a distant warehouse. As a result of quick action, Giannini's Bank of Italy escaped destruction and was the first to reopen its doors and begin serving a frantic community. Today, it has positioned itself among the largest in the world as Bank of America!

Can't Win 'Em All

Man O' War, that great Kentucky Thoroughbred and the greatest racehorse in American history, won each of his 21 races except one. He lost to a horse named Upset!

Pause That Refreshed

Originally pitched as a patent medicine in the late 1800s, Coca-Cola was widely used as a cure for headaches and hangovers--and for good reason. It once contained the narcotic extract of the coca plant--cocaine.

Dixie Dollars

The name "Dixieland" is derived from the $10 bills made in New Orleans prior to the Civil War. Each bill, printed in both English and French, had the word dix (ten) on its back. Louisiana and, later, other Southern states became known as the "land of dixies."

Ouch!

Each year in July, Stroud, Okla., hosts participants for the International Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Championships! Hopefully, not at each other.

Bible Belt

We all know booze and Bibles don't mix ... but, ironically, a Baptist minister is credited with inventing bourbon whiskey in Georgetown, Ky., in 1789.

Blown Away

Though Chicago is called the "Windy City," average wind speeds are greater in Casper, Wyo. (12.9 m.p.h.), Boston (12.5), Buffalo (12), Milwaukee (11.6), and Honolulu (11.4). Chicago with a gusty 10.4, actually got its nickname from long-winded politicians, not the weather. Incidentally, America's windiest city is Blue Hill, Mass., with an average velocity of 15.4 m.p.h.

First Americans

Oklahoma has the largest Indian population of any state, with descendants from 67 original Indian Territory tribes. In fact, the name Oklahoma comes from two Choctaw words: "okla" (meaning "people") and "humma," or "red."

Centennial Wonders

Prior to 1876, few Americans had ever seen or even heard of what is now one of our most popular fruits--the banana. At that year's Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the novelty food, wrapped in tin foil, sold for 10 cents apiece, quite expensive for its day. Bananas and the telephone were the most talked-about (curiosities at the fair. In the same state a century later, residents of Selinsgrove created the largest banana split ever--it measured 4 1/2 miles!

Citrus Sense

Most Florida oranges are grown on hardy lemon roots. Across the country in California, lemons are grown on equally hardy orange roots!

Tempting Tune

Several states have a law against dancing to the "Star Spangled Banner."

Before Mickey

Prior to being "discovered" by Walt Disney, the city of Orlando was an encampment for soldiers during the Seminole Indian Wars of the 1830s.

Presidential Potpourri

Only U.S. president married in the White House: Grover Cleveland.

Tallest: Abraham Lincoln at 6'4".

Shortest: James Madison at 5' 4".

Heaviest: William Howard Taft, 354 lbs.

Only bachelor: James Buchanan.

Youngest elected: John Kennedy at 43 years, 236 days.