5 Facts About 5 States #3

Queen Liliuokalani was the last of Hawaii's royalty to reside in the United States of America's only palace. The Iolani palace, where she lived, was equipped with modern amenities such as electric lights, indoor plumbing, and a modern communication system. When her brother died on January 20, 1891, the queen ascended to the throne. Her reign was short-lived, however, as she was opposed by the Committee of Safety. She was eventually deposed, and she was later convicted and sentenced.

The Sandwich Islands were named by Captain James Cook, the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands, in 1778. The Sandwich Islands were named by Captain Cook in honor of John Montague, Earl of Sandwich and one of his patrons. Unfortunately, he was killed in a fight with a group of Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay in 1779.

In 1927, the first flight arrived in Hawaii. The Bird of Paradise airplane was used to cover a distance of more than 2400 ground nautical miles. The flight crew and the plane took more than 25 hours to arrive on the island. However, the outcome was not as happy as you might think. They had to crash land due to a lack of fuel. The crew was unharmed in the crash.

The third Friday in August is a national holiday in Hawai'i, commemorating the statehood of the state in 1959. "Admission Day" is another name for the day. Who was the first Japanese American elected to the House of Representatives? Daniel Inouye, the first Japanese American elected to Congress, was elected in 1959. During WWII, he fought valiantly for the United States.

Did you know that Mauna Kea, the world's tallest volcano, is located in Hawaii? The Big Island of Hawaii is made up of this volcano and four other volcanoes. The volcanic mountain is so massive that it is sinking into the seabed due to the weight of its own mass.

This state is known for having a unique name for a canyon. Hells Canyon is a deep canyon with a depth of 7,900 feet. Keep in mind that this is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Heaven's Gate Lookout, perched high above the canyon, offers panoramic views of Idaho as well as the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana.

Many states are working to become more environmentally friendly, but Idaho appears to be moving ahead quickly. The state's Capital Building is the only one in the country that is heated with renewable energy. It's known as geothermal water, and it refers to the use of 3,000-foot-deep hot water to generate heat.

The world's highest navigable river is found in this region. The river's name is St. Joe River, and it originates at a height of nearly 7,000 feet. The majority of its trailheads are located on easy-to-walk moderate slopes. The river, also known as Shadowy St. Joe, is one of the best places in the region for camping, hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting. Along the river, the Scenic Byway runs. It's named after the towering cottonwoods that line the beach, as well as the idyllic mountainous scenery. On the river's edge, moose, bear, elk, and deer can be seen.

Throughout the year, the Treasure Valley in Boise offers a variety of fun activities. There are other hidden gems for family vacations besides big attractions like Quinn's Pond, Camel's Back Park, and Table Rock. Floating the Boise River is a popular summer activity in Boise. Between Morrison Park and Barber Park, there is a floatable stretch.

A City With Myths About Its Name's Origin: The origin of the name Nampa is unknown. Because of the large religious community, some early residents dubbed it New Jerusalem. According to some theories, the name Nampa means "foot" in Native American. Historians claim, however, that the site was named after Nampus, a Shoshone chief. According to local legend, Nampa means "Namb" (footprint) or "Moccasin."

To prevent rails from contracting and failing due to stress, train tracks in Chicago, Illinois, are set on fire. The rail tracks were set on fire in a controlled manner with the help of gas-fed heaters that run alongside the rails as temperatures in Chicago dropped to well below zero. The metal contracts as a result of the low temperature, and the rails pull apart at their connection. The heaters are lit by hand, and maintenance crews remain in the area to keep an eye on the flames and the heating system. Although a few rail lines have been damaged, this method is considered to be safer than using frozen tracks, which can separate and cause accidents.

Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower and renamed Willis Tower in 2009, is a 110-story building in Chicago, Illinois. The tower stands at a height of 1450 feet. It held the record for the world's tallest building at the time of its completion in 1973, surpassing the One World Trade Center Towers in New York. The Willis Tower is now North America's second-tallest structure. Four states can be seen from the Skydeck: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Abraham Lincoln moved to Illinois from Indiana in 1829. The former president of the United States of America, who served as the 16th president from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865, spent 24 years of his adult life in Springfield, Illinois (in the state's west-central region). He began his political career while still residing in the state. Visitors are welcome to visit Lincoln's home and tomb in Springfield.

Back in 1895, James Duryea won the United States' first ever motor-car race, which was essentially a 54-mile loop from Chicago to Evanston and back. Snowstorms wreaked havoc on the roads, causing massive drifts and dangerous driving conditions. He completed it in 10 hours and 23 minutes, averaging a speed of seven miles per hour!

Route 66 began in Chicago, Illinois, and has since become one of America's most iconic highways. Route 66 (also known as US 66) was established in 1926 and ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, traversing much of the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest of the United States. The road stretched for a total of 2,448 miles. The road served as a primary route for those migrating west during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.

Ray Ewry, a track and field athlete from Lafayette, Indiana, won eight Olympic gold medals. He is one of the most successful Olympians ever. He was born with polio and had to use a wheelchair as a child. He overcame his illness with his exercises, however, as he was destined to make a name for himself in athletics. In the standing high jump and long jump competitions, he won Olympic gold medals.

Did you know that Jacob Barnett, an Indiana child prodigy diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and Autism at the age of two, was enrolled in college at the age of 12? Jake passed all of the tests required to exempt him from school, including Algebra, Algebra 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus, after being allowed to sit in on astronomy and advanced math classes at Indiana University. He's currently working on a counter-theory to the Big Bang Theory because he doesn't believe it's true.

Indiana is one of thirteen states in the United States that is divided into multiple time zones. Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alaska are among the states that observe multiple time zones. Alaska is the only one of these states that is not part of the contiguous United States.

Did you know that the discovery of natural gas in northern Indiana in the late 1880s triggered a state-wide economic boom? The plentiful supply of cheap fuel attracted heavy industry, which in turn created a plethora of jobs that drew people from all over the country, as well as Europe. As a result, cities like Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Gary grew.

The world's largest ball of paint can be found in Alexandria, Indiana. It was originally just a baseball with a layer of paint applied to it. However, as time went on, the owner continued to add layers of paint to it, causing the ball to grow in size. The ball now weighs more than two and a half tons, and visitors can even choose their favorite color to coat it with.

Born and raised in Iowa, the well-known investor, model, and actor has appeared in a number of romantic films and comedies. John Wayne was born to a pharmacist father and grew up to be one of Hollywood's most well-known actors. He was born in the Iowa town of Winterset. Bob Feller, a famous baseball player, was an Iowa farm boy who rose to greatness with the Cleveland Indians during the Golden Age of baseball.

The town of Sabula is located on an island in the Mississippi River in Jackson County, Iowa. It's the only town on the island. It is home to approximately 600 people and covers an area of 1.26 square miles. It's an incredible hideaway between the Mississippi River and the eastern border, similar to an island getaway. It is commonly referred to as the "Island City." Sabula wasn't always an island. Until Lock and Dam was built in 1939 to connect Clinton, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois, it was always connected to Iowa. The dam separated Sabula from the rest of the town by submerging the lowland on the west side of town.

The annual fair has been held in various cities across the United States since 1854. It was set to take place in Des Moines, Iowa's capital, on a permanent basis. Every year in August, the fair lasts 11 days and attracts over a million visitors. It is the state's largest event, honoring Iowa's agriculture, industry, entertainment, and achievements.

Iowa is the birthplace of Spirit Lake, the state's largest glacier lake. The lakes of West and East Okoboji are the deepest in the United States. In the winter, they serve as ice skating rinks, and in the summer, they provide fishing and boating opportunities. However, the vast majority of the state's lakes are man-made.

The Fenelon Place Elevator, located on Dubuque's 4th Street, is known as the world's shortest and steepest scenic railway. It takes passengers from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place through 189 feet at a 296-foot incline. The views of three states, the Mississippi River, and the entire Dubuque central business district are breathtaking.