10 Curious Facts About the United States You Might Have Wrong
Some are funny, others so weird, they could only happen in the USA
The history of the United States never ceases to amaze us. America is only 245 years old, and during that time, we’ve witnessed some of the strangest events.
We brag about mastering everything there is to know of the United States’ history, but we often get our facts wrong. Perhaps we assumed they were true because we heard it from a friend, read it somewhere, or watched a YouTube video and never took the time to verify them.
But here’s something that might surprise you. Not everything you read or see on the internet is true!
The only way to be sure is to include verified data from a reputable source. If you are unsure about the authenticity, try checking other sources, such as universities, newspapers, or Google Scholar.
Now, after making that clear, here are some verified weird inventions, strange locations, and myths turned into alternative reality facts you might have wrong.
1 — Do you know the correct etiquette to listen to “The Star-Spangled Banner”?
We hear it all the time, in sports games, concerts, funerals, etc., and probably you remember what your teacher told you to do while listening to the Star-Spangled Banner. But did you know there is a legal code on how to conduct during a rendition of the national anthem?
36 U.S. Code § 301 — National anthem, instruct that “every person present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. All members of the Armed Forces and veterans, with uniform or not, should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note,”
To put it in simple words, so everybody understands, it says: Get on your feet, remove your MAGA hat, put the hot dog and the beer down, no selfies, look at the flag or the band, not at the jumbotron, and no clapping.
2 — Did you know the Statue of Liberty used to be a lighthouse?
It is the most visited French girl in America. Also, the first tourist destination in the Big Apple, even though, is not in New York state but New Jersey.
But did you know that Lady Liberty’s first job before becoming an international celebrity was working as a lighthouse for 16 years?
After the 1886 statue’s dedication, her unique location, height, and contrast with her surroundings made it the perfect lighthouse, with its torch visible from 24 miles away.
3 — What inspired NASA’s countdown? Unless you are Marsha Hunt, Nehemiah Persoff, or Caren Marsh Doll, all of them over 100 years old, you probably don’t remember when Fritz Lang’s 1929 silent film “Frau im Mond” debuted in the cinemas.
But indeed, you are familiar with its countdown scene. If not, watch any rocket launch where NASA’s personnel got inspired.
And by the way, did you know astronauts don’t bring bread, crackers, or salt and pepper to space because crumbs could get in their eyes or damage sensitive equipment?
4 — Did you know president Biden has a personal Zip Code?
In 1963, the United States Postal Service (USPS) introduced a basic five-digit code to handle the mail efficiently. Under the acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, USPS registered the term ZIP Code. Later, they added a hyphen and four digits to designate a specific location, diplomats, or embassies.
There are over 41,000 ZIP Codes in the country. They range from the dreaded 00501 Internal Revenue Service’s ZIP Code, the famous 90210 Beverly Hills CA, to 99950 in Ketchikan, AK.
Other strange ZIP Codes are 99705 from the tiny town of North Pole AK, 97009 Boring OR, 17529 Intercourse City PA, 76442 Ding Dong TX, and 28710 Bat Cave City NC. Who knew Batman had another mansion 100 miles away from Charlotte.
Every president has a personal Zip Code assigned by the USPS to manage his correspondence.
5 — Do you know where the original copies of the Declaration of Independence are?
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. has the only engrossed and signed copy of the Declaration of Independence. But to spread the message, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston formed “the Committee of Five.”
They were in charge of distributing the reproductions of the original text. They asked John Dunlap to produce 200 copies of the document. These duplicates did not include any names besides John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson. There are only 26 known copies, 23 in the United States and three in London.
During a visit to a flea market, a rare historical document and artifacts dealer found a copy of the 1776 handwritten Declaration of Independence on the back of a frame he bought for $4.00. He later sold it for $8.1 million.
We should also tell Nicolas Cage’s character, Benjamin Franklin Gates. The only thing he will find written on the back are the words “Original Declaration of Independence / dated 4th July 1776,” and not a secret map.
6 — Did you know that the U.S. government poisoned over 10,000 people?
Do you remember the TV show The Untouchables? They based it on agent Eliot Ness’ adventures while enforcing prohibition laws, showcasing how they fought criminals.
This time, real-life proved to be crueler than fiction. One method used to discourage drinking the officers used was to order manufacturers to poison the industrial alcohol. The criminals used this alcohol to manufacture illegal booze.
This creative but deadly measure killed at least 10,000 people by the end of Prohibition. Proving drinking would literally kill you.
7 — Is Mount Everest the tallest mountain in the world?
To determine a mountain’s height, cartographers measure the distance between the base and the peak. Mount Everest’s distance from its base on the border between Tibet and Nepal, where it begins to the summit, is 29,028 feet high.
Nevertheless, not all mountains are above the sea. Scientists can now measure them from their base, even if it is under the water. It is the case of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. If you measure it from sea level, it is only 13,796 feet high. But since it begins under the waves, when you measure Mauna Kea from the seafloor, it is over 33,500 feet tall.
Hence, while Mount Everest has the highest point above sea level, Mauna Kea is the tallest one if you measure it from the seafloor.
8 — Do you know these facts about the all-mighty dollar?
The first person appearing on the $1 bill was Salmon P. Chase. They issued the bill when Chase was the Secretary of Treasury and designed its first banknotes during the Civil War in 1862. George Washington’s portrait appeared for the first time in 1869.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago estimates that 80% of the $100 bills in circulation are outside the United States.
Every penny costs the U.S. government 1.76 cents to mint. Nickels cost 7.42 and dimes 4.6 cents. By the way, in 2015, the change lost in the airport security checkpoints made the TSA $765,759.15 richer.
9 — Did you know that until 1863, Thanksgiving was on April 13?
Can you imagine celebrating Thanksgiving as you get ready for Spring Break or having your turkey dinner on a Monday?
The tradition started by the pilgrims became a holiday in 1789 thanks to George Washington, but until 1862 it was on April 13. President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving was officially on the last Thursday of November, in 1863.
FDR moved it to the third Thursday of November in 1939, but the change only lasted for two years. When he realized his mistake, he pushed it back to the fourth Thursday.
Andrew Johnson once set the date on December 7, for no reason at all. But thankfully, it was the only time they celebrated Thanksgiving two weeks before Christmas.
10 — Do you know which is the oldest city in the United States?
If you think Jamestown, Virginia, is the oldest city in the United States, you could be wrong.
Yes, Jamestown, established in 1607, could be the title winner, but only under the category of America’s oldest permanent English settlement.
Still, the city of St. Augustine in Florida, founded in 1565 by Spanish Colonials, is the oldest continuing permanent European settlement.
But considering that Texas was a Spanish territory, Part of Mexico, and a republic before it became the 28th state under The Treaty of Annexation — of Texas; of April 12, 1844. Texas formed part of the United States and was subjected to the same constitutional provisions as their other territories.
Hence, Presidio in Texas, established by Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1535, would make it the oldest European settlement, at least under the naturalization category.
But hold your horses, cowboy. There were many settlements and colonies in North America established way before that. Archaeologists found remnants of the Hohokam and the Anasazithe ruins founded before the first millennium. It makes the Anasazi settlements of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico dating to 650 AD, the oldest city in America.
Therefore, I think the wisest thing to do is, like in boxing, have different category winners, and award special recognition to each.
Bonus. Some of America’s firsts?
What was the first book printed in America? Experts believe the “Bay Psalm Book,” published in 1640, was the first book printed in America. From the 1,700 copies, there are only 11 known in existence. In 2013, one of them sold at auction for $14.2 million, making it one of the most expensive books in the world.
Which is the oldest bridge in the United States? There is a 73-feet stone bridge in Philadelphia that is older than the US. They erected it in 1697, and it is still in use. It is the Frankford Avenue Bridge.
What was the first paved road in America? In 1909, one mile of road between Six Mile Road and Seven Mile Road on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, became the first paved road in America. Also, did you know that there is a highway in Lancaster, California, that plays the “William Tell Overture” as you drive over it?
Which is the oldest operating amusement park in America? Built in 1846, Lake Compounce in Connecticut is the oldest amusement park in the USA. Still in operation 170 years from its inauguration ago in 1846!
When was the first Ferris wheel built? In 1893, an American bridge engineer built the first one for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. His name was George Washington Gale Ferris Jr, hence the name.
Who and why was the first roller coaster built? LaMarcus Adna Thompson, an American inventor, and businessman from New York was tired and disgusted with peoples’ sex, drinking, and other sinful behaviors. He decided to create something to distract them from those evil ways, so he invented the first roller coaster on Coney Island. Opening June 16, 1884, people could travel at an astonishing speed of six miles per hour for a nickel.
Nothing compared to the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure at Jackson, New Jersey, with an altitude of 456 ft, and reaching 128 mph after launch, making it the tallest and fastest roller coaster, according to the Guinness Records.
And to end with a sweet note, do you know where Mars Inc. came up with the name 3 Musketeers? During the 1930s, Mars created small bars of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry nougat candies covered with chocolate. Thinking about Alexandre Dumas’ characters, they came with the name, since they sold the three flavors together, named it 3 Musketeers.
During World War II, the original 3 Musketeers three-pack bars became too expensive to continue the production. So, they researched, discovering that people preferred the nougat version, then the company cut down to only one flavor and also manufactured them in the small bite-size pieces we love on Halloween.
© Copyright Jose Luis Ontanon, 2022
