5 Facts About 5 States #5

The first telephone call was made on March 10, 1876, in Boston, when Alexander Graham Bell summoned his lab assistant, Thomas A. Watson. "Mr. Watson—come here—I want to see you," he said over the phone. Watson was in the next room when the receiver sent him a message. "The day is coming when telegraph wires will be laid on to houses like water or gas — and friends will converse with each other without leaving home," he wrote in a letter to his father.

Did you know that in 1897, the first subway in the United States was built in Boston, Massachusetts? The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway system has a total length of 78 miles and over 130 stations throughout the metropolitan area. Boston has more pedestrian commuters than any other major city in the United States, thanks in large part to the city's extensive subway system.

Did you know that in 1891, at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, James Naismith invented basketball? Naismith was a physical education teacher who wanted to get his students moving during the winter months when they were cooped up inside. A soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to railings 10 feet above the ground were used in the game. Some of the most famous basketball players of all time include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The intersection of the land-based approach and the underwater section of the Ted Williams Tunnel in East Boston is 90 feet below the surface of Boston Harbor, making it the deepest such connection in North America. Because of the depth of Boston Harbor, engineers were forced to build this tunnel so deep. They built it using the cut-and-cover method. The tunnel is 1.6 miles long and descends to a depth of about 100 feet below sea level. It was one of the first major links built as part of the Big Dig, opening to the public in 2003. When entering the tunnel from either side, there is a toll.

The frozen fruit industry in Massachusetts was revolutionized. Clarence Birdseye invented the first freezer that could quickly freeze fish and other foods such as meat and vegetables. Foods that were frozen quickly, rather than slowly, had a better flavor. Birdseye received US Patent #1,773, 079, which ushered in the frozen food industry. A variety of frozen foods were trialed in Springfield, Massachusetts, and after a positive public response, the company continued to sell their frozen food products, and the rest is history.

The chewing gum wall can be found in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Artist Katherine Cost painted this wall on East Liberty Street in 1999 as a form of free expression. One of the walls, dubbed "Graffiti Alley," is entirely covered in used chewing gum. Tourists and locals alike enjoy sticking chewing gum on the wall, which has become a popular tradition since 1999.

Livonia, Michigan, is regarded as one of North America's worst speed trap cities. In fact, the National Motorists Association (NMA) ranked the town second in this category in 2012. While this may not sit well with visitors and out-of-towners, it has put Livonia on the map as one of the safest cities in the country for automobile travel.

Dearborn, Michigan, is home to the country's largest Arab-American community. The city is home to the country's first Arab-American museum, which features numerous exhibits, cultural displays, and literary, artistic, and sculptural works of art. There are also a wide range of grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues, and mosques owned by Arab and Arab-Americans in the area.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, was once a major furniture manufacturing center, with more than 40 reputable firms. Grand Rapids, which is still known as "Furniture City," manufactures all types of residential and commercial furniture all year. Handcrafted wood furniture and accessories for homes, offices, and other businesses are included. However, this industry has taken a backseat to the production of beer and spirits.

Sterling Heights, Michigan, was once known as the world's rhubarb capital. In fact, before it was a city, the city had one of the state's largest rhubarb farms. Wild rhubarb still grows in the city today, but not as abundantly as it once did. This is due to all of the new construction in the area as the city grows and expands. The popular fruit-vegetable is still popular in Sterling Heights and the surrounding areas.

Minnesota's first military installation was Fort San Antonio (later renamed Fort Snelling). It was constructed in 1819, and Mendota, the first large settlement in the area, grew up around it. With the establishment of the American Leather Company's main commercial factory in Mendota in 1834, the fort became the main settlement of northwestern America.

To the north, the state's largest lakes and the Mississippi River's headwaters can be found. The third-largest lake in Minnesota is Lake Leech. It's worth seeing, especially for the scenery. In addition to small and large bays, it has an irregular shape. The fact that the state is known as "the land of 10,000 lakes" is unsurprising.

The gopher state is home to some of the world's oldest rocks, dating back 3.6 billion years. Basaltic lava erupted from cracks in the primitive ocean's ground about 2.7 billion years ago. In northeastern Minnesota, the remnants of this volcanic rock formed the Canadian Shield.

The Mayo Clinic is a Rochester, Minnesota-based nonprofit academic medical center. More than 60,000 people work at the facility, including scientists, physicians, administrators, and allied health professionals. Dr. William Worrall Mayo, who moved to Rochester in 1863, established the first surgical practice at Mayo Clinic.

Outside of Alaska, the region has the largest population of gray wolves. There are also large herds of elk and white-tailed deer in the area. Waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, as well as other migratory birds, such as Uruguayans, pheasants, and turkeys, abound in the state. Brook trout, common trout, and rainbow trout can all be found in the southeast.

Did you know that Brothers Fred and Al Key, aka "the Flying Keys," of Meridian, Mississippi, hold the world record for keeping an airplane airborne for the longest time? The team was able to complete the world's longest airborne flight, which lasted 27 days, 5 hours, and 34 minutes. They took off from Meridian Municipal Airport on June 4, 1935, after two failed attempts, and landed the plane safely on July 1, 1935. In their honor, the airport was renamed Key Field.

The origins of "Memorial Day" or "Decoration Day" can be traced back to Columbus, Mississippi. Women decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers in Friendship Cemetery in the city on April 25, 1866, marking the start of the day's commemoration of those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Only four cities in the world have been officially sanctioned to host the International Ballet Competition: Jackson, Mississippi, Helsinki, Finland, Moscow, Russia, and Varna, Bulgaria. Mississippi Ballet International, Inc. (MBI) was founded in 1978 with the goal of hosting the first international ballet competition in the United States.

If you've read Eudora Welty's novel "The Optimist's Daughter," you should know that she was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1909. She is a well-known writer from the twentieth century. In 1973, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for this novel, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts (it is the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.)

When Rock and Roll is played at a party or club, no one can stay still because it's difficult to resist the urge to dance. Rock and roll is a well-known music genre that originated in Cleveland. Some people believe Chuck Berry invented this style of music. However, it was disc jockey Alan Freed who was the first to play this music style in 1951. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is also located in Mainland, as many of you are aware.

Did you know that over two thousand earthquakes tremors struck the Mississippi River valley between December 16, 1811, and late April 1812? Three of the strongest earthquakes in US history (between 7.5 and 8.8 on today's Richter Scale) struck Missouri near New Madrid during this time. The earthquake triggered a "fluvial tsunami" in the Mississippi River, which caused the river to flow backward for several hours.

Did you know that between April 1860 and October 1861, a mail delivery system known as the "Pony Express" existed? Nearly 200 relief stations were used across what is now Missouri and California as part of the system. The mail was carried by lone horsemen, and the shipment was switched between the stations by lone horsemen. The mail was able to cross the border in record time thanks to the relay system. The Pony Express had a delivery time of only 10 days on average. However, in March 1861, they set a new record by transporting Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address from Nebraska to California in just seven days and 17 hours.

The only president of the United States born in Missouri was Harry S. Truman (33rd president). The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can be found in Independence, the town where President Harry S. Truman grew up. The historic museums, such as the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum and the National Frontier Trails Museum, attract visitors who want to learn about Missouri's importance in the region during the nineteenth century.

Did you know this interesting Missouri fact? The Gateway Arch, the country's tallest monument, is located in St Louis, Missouri. At the base, it is 630 feet tall and 630 feet wide. On October 28, 1965, it was completed. The "Gateway to the West" is the name of the monument. This architectural marvel offers a perfect vantage point from which to view the landscape for 30 miles in all directions. The building was built to withstand earthquakes and is capable of swaying 18 inches.

St. Charles, a restored city on the Missouri River, welcomes visitors thanks to its strategic location and access to the western territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, and other historical figures shaped the town into what it is today. The exploits of these brave pioneers are commemorated in St. Charles' historical sites.