1

Gilroy Garlic Festival, California

Image: team voyas

The city of Gilroy, California, is known for being a major garlic producer and is even more known for hosting one of the most important food festivals in America. Originally inspired by a French garlic festival, Gilroy opens their doors to all garlic lovers the last weekend of July, and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Not recommended if you are allergic or just a vampire.

2

Mothman Festival, West Virginia

Image: LucasVphotos

Mothman is one of the most distinguished cryptids in American folklore and a point of pride for its home turf, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Since 2002, a festival centered around the figure of Mothman has been celebrated yearly, and has been a big source of tourism for the town.

3

Humongous Fungus Festival, Michigan

Image: Transly Translation Agency

In the 1980s, Crystal Falls, Michigan, was the site of a significant discovery: a vast underground colony of Armillaria gallica , commonly known as the honey mushroom. Since 1991, Crystal Falls has celebrated its fungal neighbors with the Humongous Fungus Festival, which includes a parade, a cook-off —mushroom themed, of course—, and many more community events.

4

Surfing Santas, Florida

Image: krakenimages

Florida beaches might not have the ideal Christmas weather, but they are perfect for surfing. This is why, every Christmas Eve, Cocoa Beach, Florida, is the scene of Surfing Santas, a festival where, as the name suggests, people surf dressed as Santa Claus. Initially an open beach party turned festival, the proceeds are destined to local charities and to the Florida Surf Museum.

5

Frozen Dead Guy Days, Colorado

Image: Simon Berger

As the name of this certainly peculiar festival indicates, there is a corpse involved. The remains of Bredo Morstøl, originally from Norway, are cryopreserved in the town of Nederland, Colorado. While the town’s ordinances forbid the private keeping of remains, human or otherwise, a special clause was added for Bredo. Nederland celebrates its most unique resident the second weekend of March, and the celebrations include coffin races and a ‘frozen dead guy’ lookalike contest.

6

Waikiki Spam Jam Festival, Hawaii

Image: newhallpublishing

Hawaii is the biggest SPAM consumer in the U.S., so it’s only right that they hold a SPAM festival. Held during the last week of April, it includes fireworks, parades, live music, and all kinds of spam dishes.

7

Underwater Music Festival, Florida

Image: NEOM

Florida homes the biggest coral reef in the continental U.S., and this festival is all about it. With the intention of raising awareness for reef conservation and eco-friendly diving, this event holds an underwater concert for divers and snorkelers.

8

San Fermin, Louisiana

Image: mana5280

You might have heard of the San Fermin celebrations in Spain, where people run in front of bulls in the street. Louisiana’s San Fermin festival is similar, minus the bulls. In the New Orleans Running of the Bulls, people run from derby skaters armed with foam bats, which are aimed at anyone they encounter in their way.

9

Cow Chip Throw Festival, Wisconsin

Image: Daniel Quiceno M

Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, certainly knows how to party on Labor weekend. Besides the chip throwing, you can enjoy music, food, and family activities. Don’t worry about bringing your own cow chips: official festival-sanctioned chips are provided to contestants to ensure fair competition.

10

North American Wife Carrying Championship, Maine

Image: Priscilla Du Preez

Wife carrying as a competitive sport was first introduced in Finland, but it has had its own festival in Newry, Maine, since 1999. Participating couples have to traverse a 278-yard obstacle course, with some of the prizes including the wife’s weight in beer and cash. Single? No problem. As long as you are 21 or older and you have a companion, you can participate.

1

Gateway Arch’s time capsule

Image: Roger Miesfeld

The Gateway Arch, the 630-foot-tall monument located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri, is famous for being the world's tallest arch. But few people know about the secret hidden at its peak.

In 1965, before the final piece of the stainless steel arch was put in place, a time capsule containing the signatures of 762,000 St. Louis students and residents was welded into the keystone. Just one more fun fact added to the mystique of this midwestern icon!

2

A celluloid treasure trove

Image: Denise Jans

Have you ever wondered where Hollywood's golden age films are preserved? Well, as it happens, they are not in the basement of some Tinseltown studio but more than 650 feet below the surface in a facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. Established in 1959, Underground Vaults & Storage specializes in storing a wide range of valuables, including paper documents and client records.

In addition, this site is a precious resource for the entertainment industry. Underground Vaults & Storage preserves—under optimal temperature and humidity conditions—film copies of classic cartoons, television programs like Friends , game shows, soap operas, and even the original reels of cinematic masterpieces like The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind .

3

A ‘Big Basket’ building

Image: Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Who says a building has to look traditional to be iconic? Why settle for an ordinary office building when you can work inside a basket? That's what the executives of the Longaberger Company, an American manufacturer and distributor of handcrafted maple wood baskets, thought when they relocated to Newark, Ohio, in 1997.

Their headquarters was designed as a seven-story building, a perfect replica of the company's top-selling product, the Medium Market Basket. The massive handles are attached to the structure with copper and wooden rivets, and the gold-leaf-plated tags each weigh 725 pounds. Though the building was a novelty, the company eventually abandoned it, and it is now listed for sale.

4

Empire State Building Wedding Club

Image: William Wachter

Popping the question on top of the Empire State Building has become a cherished tradition in the United States. Thousands of couples travel from all over the country to get engaged at one of New York City's most iconic buildings. But did you know that you can also celebrate a wedding there?

Every February 14, a few lucky couples are granted the unique opportunity to exchange wedding vows at the building's 86th Floor Observatory. Since 1994, hundreds of couples have said "I do" at this breathtaking location, celebrating Valentine's Day at America's most romantic landmark.

5

A supernatural castle

Image: Michelle_Raponi

Creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance can achieve extraordinary feats. Such is the case with Coral Castle, a massive limestone structure built by self-taught engineer Edward Leedskalnin in the early 20th century.

Located just north of Homestead, Florida, sits this construction built with stones larger than those at Stonehenge. Leedskalnin, who invested more than 28 years in this project, claimed that he raised it single-handedly using reverse magnetism and supernatural abilities. The truth is he probably used pulleys and other tools, but that doesn’t make it any less of a unique and original building that is a fascinating tourist attraction to this day.

6

Walt Disney's utopian city

Image: Paul Moody

Walt Disney was a visionary, and thanks to his infinite imagination today we have the most endearing characters and the best amusement parks in the world. But did you know that Disney originally envisioned his famous EPCOT Center as the blueprint for a larger utopian society?

EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Had Disney’s dream come to fruition, 20,000 people could have lived in a real, futuristic city complete with residential areas, shopping malls, factories, recreational parks, and a state-of-the-art multimodal road system to connect it all. Unfortunately, after his death in 1966, the company felt his original vision was a bit impractical. Instead, they created a theme park that captures the spirit of its creator, a permanent celebration of human achievement, from culture to technological innovation.

7

Secret codes

Image: Pixabay

The CIA is a mysterious organization, so it's no wonder that there is a sculpture hiding secrets sitting right in the courtyard of the George Bush Center for Intelligence in Langley, Virginia.

Named "Kryptos," this large copper sculpture was installed in 1990 and holds a series of four encrypted messages. Only three of these codes have been cracked, while the fourth remains one of the most famous unsolved cryptograms in the world.

8

The paper house

Image: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It seems that the 1920s was a time of inventiveness, innovation, and originality in architecture. During this decade, the United States built the most impressive skyscrapers and, as we've explored, even a massive limestone castle. But a house made of paper? It seems almost impossible, doesn’t it?

Well, we are about to prove you wrong. In 1924, a mechanical engineer called Elis Fritiof Stenman built a summer cottage made almost entirely out of pasted, coated, or rolled-up newspapers. The only exceptions were the framework, floorboards, and shingles. The house is located in Rockport, Massachusetts, and, believe it or not, is still standing and can be visited.

9

Race into the sky

Image: roberto_bellasio

The Chrysler Building on the East Side of Manhattan in New York City was once the world’s tallest building, holding the title for 11 months. But did you know that it almost didn't make it? Industrial pioneer Walter Chrysler, who commissioned the project, wanted his building to be taller than the Eiffel Tower. Originally designed to be 925 feet tall , the imminent construction of other taller skyscrapers forced architect William Van Alen to revise his plans.

This competition for the title of the world’s tallest building became known as the " Race into the Sky ." To beat his opponents, Van Alen ordered a 125-foot spire to be built in secret. It would only be attached to the roof after the rival buildings were finalized. When it was finished in May 1930, the Chrysler Building reached 1,046 feet, making it the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time. Unfortunately, less than a year later, the Empire State Building would claim that honor.

10

A laboratory under the sea

Image: NEOM

Did you know the world's only undersea research laboratory is located in the United States? Sixty-six feet below the surface of the ocean off the coast of Florida lies Aquarius Reef Base, an underwater lab where researchers work for up to ten days at a time.

Aquarius is dedicated to the study and preservation of coral reefs, fish, and aquatic plants. The facility is currently operated by Florida International University and contains sophisticated state-of-the-art lab equipment.

11

Give me the time of day

Image: Leo_Visions

A bridge that tells time? We are not kidding! When it’s not being used by pedestrians and cyclists to cross the Sacramento River in Redding, California, the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay serves as a giant timepiece.

The bridge's 217-foot support tower points north, and its shadow can be used to calculate the time. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, it was completed in 2004. So now you know, if your watch breaks or your cell phone dies on your way to Turtle Bay Exploration Park, you don't have to worry, the Sundial Bridge will always tell you the time of day!

12

The Capitol Subway System

Image: Harrison Haines

Few people know that a network of subway cars runs beneath Washington’s labyrinthine Congressional headquarters. The first Capitol Subway System opened on March 7, 1909, and has been transporting politicians seeking shelter from the weather—and curious onlookers—for more than a century.

The rails stretch for nearly a mile, connecting the United States Capitol to several congressional office buildings. While the public can ride the trains, the subway is restricted to congressional members and staff during votes.

1

Abraham Lincoln

Image: Library of Congress

Probably one of the most remembered presidential beards is that of the 16th US President and author of the unforgettable Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln. But, while his image is forever linked to his top hat and distinctive, mustache-free beard, he actually didn't always have it.

Before he was elected president, an 11-year-old girl wrote him a letter suggesting he grow a beard. Fortunately, Lincoln took her advice! Thus, he became the first president to grow a beard while in office.

2

Theodore Roosevelt

Image: Library of Congress

Another iconic style was that of Teddy Roosevelt. His handlebar mustache is not only seen in photos and portraits from his time in office but is also forever etched on the imposing Mount Rushmore. Many men of his era imitated his dramatic, thick, and bushy mustache, which perfectly matched the vigor and toughness that defined the 26th US president.

3

Ulysses S. Grant

Image: Sergei Starostin

Beard? Yes! Sideburns? Of course. Mustache? That too! That is the case with Ulysses S. Grant, a president with a full look, fitting for a Civil War hero.

Grant's beard and mustache were thick -though not long- covering his jawline and also much of his cheeks. Thus, the 18th US president set a fashion trend that would be followed by several other presidents of the 19th century.

4

Grover Cleveland

Image: Dave Sherrill

Another president with a well-remembered mustache was Grover Cleveland, the first US president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Cleveland's mustache was fluffy and extended just past the edges of his mouth. Although this might have been a problem when dining with guests, his mustache always looked neatly trimmed.

5

William Howard Taft

Image: Ronaldo Guiraldelli

Now, it's time to talk about the only person in the history of the US to have served as both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: William Howard Taft.

Taft sported a bushy mustache, like Teddy Roosevelt, who served right before him. But, unlike his predecessor, the tips of Taft's mustache didn't point downward; instead, they bent upward, making it much more theatrical.

6

John Quincy Adams

Image: Library of Congress

John Quincy Adams didn't need a mustache to stand out with his style. His hallmark was something quite original: sideburns.

Remembered for being bushy and always well and neatly groomed, the 6th president's memorable sideburns extended down the sides of his face, even connecting beneath his chin!

7

Rutherford B. Hayes

Image: Nikolaos Dimou

Rutherford B. Hayes was another 19th-century president known for sporting a full beard. In addition to being thick, his beard and mustache were quite long and even joined together, fully covering his lips, as seen in portraits from the time. While the 19th President looked really distinguished, we can't help but wonder how he handled summer with that style!

8

James A. Garfield

Image: Sean Foster

James A. Garfield had a look strikingly similar to that of his predecessor, Rutherford B. Hayes.

Also sporting a thick, long, full beard, Garfield's mustache was slightly shorter than Hayes', and his beard extended further onto his cheeks. It seems that you had to put some serious effort into perfecting your facial hair to be trendy in the late 19th century!

9

Martin Van Buren

Image: Jack Bulmer

"Mutton chops" is the term for the thick, bushy sideburns worn by Martin Van Buren, the 8th president of the United States, a style known more for its volume than its tidiness.

As seen in portraits from different moments of his life, Van Buren had sideburns from a young age, but they definitely stood out during his presidency. In fact, political cartoons of his time often emphasized that very feature, making his sideburns exaggeratedly large.

10

Zachary Taylor

Image: Josh Sorenson

Before Lincoln, the dominant fashion was a clean-shaven look. But Zachary Taylor -just like John Quincy Adams and Martin Van Buren- came to revolutionize things with his sideburns.

We have to admit Taylor's sideburns were far more modest than those of his predecessors, but he remains one of the few presidents to have worn any facial hair before Honest Abe made it a trend!