Carol DM
Continuing with a new series of the strangest facts about each one of the United States.
Maine
1. Maine is the only U.S. state not known to have any dangerously venomous spiders.
2. There’s a town in Maine where 83% of the population speaks French.
Maryland
1. The first Ouija board was invented in Baltimore by Elijah Bond, who proudly selected its design for his tombstone.
2. Maryland’s baseball team is named after a poem. The Baltimore Ravens are named after the famous poem, The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe. Poe was from Baltimore and his house is now a historical landmark that is open for tours.
Massachusetts
1. Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts.
2. The first subway system in the US was actually in Boston and not New York City.
Michigan
1. Superman ice cream is the unofficial ice cream flavor of Michigan. It’s a colorful treat with red, blue and yellow swirls and can differ in taste from ice cream shop to ice cream shop.
2. Muskegon, Michigan, is home to Snurfing, an early version of snowboarding.
Minnesota
1. The Land of 10,000 Lakes has more shoreline (90,000 miles total) than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
2. Minnesota produces more turkeys each year than there are people in California.
Mississippi
1.Though we can’t imagine shoes being sold in any other way, the practice of selling shoes in pairs began in 1884 at Phil Gilbert’s Shoe Parlor in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
2. S.B. Sam Vick of Batesville, MS was the only man to ever pinch hit for Babe Ruth. He played for the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
Missouri
1. The ice cream cone was invented at the Missouri World’s Fair in 1904 when an ice cream vendor ran out of cups and asked a waffle vendor to help by rolling up waffles to hold ice cream.
2. The soft drink Dr Pepper was introduced at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. 7-Up also was invented in St. Louis.
Montana
1. Yogo Sapphires, found only in Montana, are considered to be among the finest sapphires in the world. Their “cornflower blue” color gives them one of the most true-blue colors naturally.
2. Montana has more different species of mammals than any other state in the U.S. There are approximately 100 species of mammals, including elk, bighorn sheep, caribou, and bobcats.
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Question of
Did you know these facts before reading?
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No
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Question of
Are you enjoying this series about the United States?
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well that was fun!
(ravens play NFL, not MLB)
I love the fun state facts! my grandfather used to say what can you do with 10,000 frozen lakes? Go fishing!
we went several times to ice fish in Minnesota!
It was fun for me as well. So many facts to share and I try to keep it short, hard decision choosing the ones to share. A fun memory.
it is a great idea you had and made every day a little brighter
I will keep trying for… I don’t know how long.
i am not hanging on like I did at Niume.
Or at Bubblews or Red Gage. 🙁
Very interesting. I like to read these.
That makes me happy, I will continue.
I am enjoying reading the facts about the states of America.
That makes me happy, I will continue. 🙂
Very interesting facts once agaian, I love the series! Something about Maine I learnt recently – it is the only state to border just one other state.
Thanks, I am enjoying it as well. So much to learn. It is hard to decide which facts to share. That is true about Maine.
Those are some amazing facts you’ve collected, Carol! Especially the one about the shoes – I wonder when they started selling trousers/pants in pairs 😀
When I have some extra time I go to many sources to get this information. And there is so much more out there, I try to choose only a couple from each state. I have learned so much with this series.
Actually, there is a ton of history about slacks/trousers!
https://bellatory.com/fashion-industry/A-History-of-Trousers-and-Pants-in-Western-Culture
I didn’t know the facts. I’d like to try Superman ice cream.
The ice cream looked good, I forgot to add photos.
These are brand new facts for me …. I didn’t know any of that ….. thanks I learned a lot, dear Carol
Glad you are learning my friend, so am I!