The first typewriter patented in America was called, “Burt’s Family Letter Press.”
Category: History
San Francisco’s First Streetcars
One of the first streetcars in San Francisco was made to look like a horse, so its high speed of eight miles per hour and noisy characteristics would not frighten horses pulling carriages and carts.
Colombian Exhibition
During the summer of 1893 Chicago hosted a large fair called the Colombian Exhibition. There were approximately 75 million Americans then, and one out of every three Americans visited that exhibition.
The world’s first Ferris wheel was built in Chicago for the Colombian Exposition in 1893. Modern Ferris wheels are just little-bitty things compared to that one. It was taller than 20 men standing on each other’s shoulders (as tall as a 10-story building) and each “chair” was a coach that could hold 40 people. Between May 1 and November 1, 27 million people were treated to wonderful displays of modern science at the exposition such as brilliant electric night lighting by George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla.
Bushnell’s Turtle
In the mid 1770’s David Bushnell, an inventive guy, created the world’s first attack submarine. Using whiskey barrel technology, he made a watertight clam shell shaped vehicle with barely enough room for one man. The thing, nicknamed the Turtle, was placed in New York Harbor one night Continue reading Bushnell’s Turtle
Philadelphia Population
By 1790, the population of Philadelphia, the largest city in America, had grown to 42,444.
By comparison, the current population New York City, now the largest city in the United States, is 8.48 million.
Philadelphia skyline
Carrie Nation
After marrying a promising young physician in 1867, Carrie Nation (also known as Carry Nation) was horrified to see her husband destroy his career and his life after only two years. He drank himself to death. Mrs. Nation was so angry and disgusted with alcohol that she smashed up over 30 drinking establishments. This fearsome looking nearly six-foot-tall, 175 pound woman would enter a bar with such frenzy that all the male patrons ran in fright. She busted all the bottles and much of the furniture with rocks, bricks and a hatchet.
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Kanawha
There used to be a state in America named Kanawha. It was later renamed West Virginia.
Taverns in New York
In 1637, one out of every four shops in New York City were taverns.
Crayons
Sometimes people with great ideas get caught up too soon in varieties and options. If you have a great idea, consider letting it stand on its own initially.
For the first 19 years Crayola Crayons were produced, they came in only one color – black.
Marijuana, Cash Crop
In the early 1800s, marijuana was Kentucky’s number one crop. It was legal then. People did not smoke it. Marijuana was used for its fiber, called hemp, which was used in ships’ sails, rope, twine, paper and canvas.
Most books made before 1875 were made of marijuana, not paper.
Stay Awake in Church!
The American Pilgrims had a unique gadget that was used in church to keep members of the congregation awake. It was a wooden ball on a string. It was used to bop people on the head who were drifting off during the seven-hour-long sermons.
Thanksgiving
Served at the first Thanksgiving meal in 1621 were lobster, roasted pigeon, eel, stuffed cod, turkeys, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, popcorn and cranberry sauce. But, it was not a dinner. There were 92 native Americans at this breakfast.
American Pilgrims
The Pilgrims would have sailed beyond Plymouth Rock, but their beer was all used up
Alive Today
| Approximately one out of every ten people who ever lived are alive today. |
Alive Scientists
Nine out of every ten scientists who ever lived are alive today.
Charles Lindbergh, Not First To Fly Over the Atlantic
Charles Lindbergh was not the first person to fly non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean. He was the sixty-seventh. He was, however, the first to do it solo.
Ferdinand Porsche
Education isn’t the only way to succeed.
Ferdinand Porsche, inventor of the Porsche cars, Volkswagens, and many German WWII machines, went to trade school to be trained as a factory foreman. He got the lowest grades in his class.
For more about Volkswagens see 10 Surprising Facts About Volkswagen.
Ferdinand and Volkswagens
See also: 10 Surprising Facts About Volkswagens.
As some of you may know, Ferdinand Porsche designed the Volkswagen Beetle, and he considered it his greatest achievement. He rated the VW higher than his winning race cars because this was a car every family could afford. It was a masterpiece of economical engineering for its time, as is evidenced by the fact that the basic design survived for so many years. Volkswagen still makes a version of it today, although it is quite different under the hood. In fact, the engine is no longer under the same hood. It used to be in the back of the car. Now it is in the front.
