1

Young inventor

Image: Randy Fath

Although we all know that Edison was an inventor -and one of the best- very few know that his passion was already loudly expressed at the young age of 10.

At that age, while other children were naturally playing ball in the park, Edison was already interested in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and electricity. At 12, he set up his first laboratory in the basement of his parents' house, where he began to do his first experiments! Some stories claim that explosions in the basement were more frequent than their parents would have liked.

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Self-taught

Image: Nicola Tolin

Edison's educational path was very different from the one many of us probably had. In fact, Edison had almost no formal education.

Thomas Edison attended school for only a few months. Due to some hearing problems he developed as a child, his mother decided to homeschool him, teaching and encouraging him, which awakened his impressive curiosity and appetite for knowledge.

By the time he was a preteen, he was already an autodidact. This fact was crucial on his way to becoming one of our country's most important inventors.

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Young entrepreneur

Image: Jingda Chen

The young Edison was not only curious and intelligent; he was also an entrepreneur.

When he was just a boy of 12, he sold snacks, candy, cigars, magazines, and newspapers on the Grand Trunk Railroad. From that age, he displayed a determined character, which enabled him to raise money for his experiments.

But his ambition was so strong that he started his own newspaper, the Grand Trunk Herald. That's right! Little Edison assembled and printed his newspaper and sold it to passengers and people who frequented the train stations.

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Hero

Image: Sugden Guy sugden

Did you know that Edison was also a hero? That's right!

In fact, we could say that his act of heroism as a teenager was the event that started his great career. By the age of 15, Edison was working and traveling on the Grand Trunk Railroad, where he became close to a station master and telegraph officer. One day, Edison spotted the station master's two-year-old son playing on the tracks as a train sped toward him. Without hesitation, he jumped and rescued the child.

The boy's father was so grateful that he offered to teach Edison how to use the telegraph system. And what do you think? He accepted immediately!

5

Marriages

Image: Fernando @cferdophotography

Between labs and experiments, Thomas Edison also had time for love.

Thomas Alva Edison married twice in his life. His first wife was Mary Stilwell Edison, whom he married in 1871. Mary and Thomas had three children. Sadly, she passed away in 1884 after 13 years of marriage.

His second marriage was in 1886 to Mina Miller Edison. With her, Edison had three more children. As it couldn't be otherwise, it's said that Edison asked Mina to marry him in a rather peculiar way: he proposed using Morse code!

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His children's nicknames

Image: Sandie Clarke

Thomas Edison's creativity was evident in everything he did, and there's an anecdote that exemplifies this perfectly.

The inventor's passion and humor blended and resulted in fun and loving nicknames for his first two children. As we told you, by 1876, Edison already had two children from his first marriage. They were Marion and Thomas Jr., whom Edison called "Dot" and "Dash," respectively. Yes, you got it: it was a reference to Morse code!

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First phonograph recording

Image: Call Me Fred

As you probably know, in 1877, Thomas Edison introduced the phonograph. It was the first device capable of recording and reproducing sound!

As a result of his experiments, this device completely changed the history of communication. But what did the first recording made with the phonograph say?

Edison made a cute choice for his first recording: a recitation of the beloved nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." That was the first time in history that anyone heard a previously recorded voice!

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His work team

Image: The National Library of Norway

It seems that Edison had a tendency for affectionate nicknames and monikers.

Edison didn't reserve nicknames just for his children; he also gave them to the members of his large staff. Many people worked in Edison's famous laboratory at Menlo Park, which he referred to as his "invention factory." Engineers, scientists, technicians, and people with different kinds of expertise gathered there to help make the great inventor's ideas possible. Edison affectionately referred to them as his "muckers," a nickname that shows not only his sense of humor but also his strong team spirit.

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His health

Image: Dan Meyers

One of the best-known aspects of Edison's health was his hearing loss when he was very young. Contrary to what one might think, Edison stated that this fact didn't negatively affect his career development. In fact, he believed it helped him focus and dedicate more time to his inventions and discoveries.

However, as an adult, he developed some other health problems. Some sources suggest that Edison's habits, including long hours in the lab and a poor diet, contributed to health issues like heart problems and diabetes.

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His last words

Image: Jonathan Borba

Edison's life was full of adventures, discoveries, love, and many other things. The American inventor didn't abandon his creativity even when it was time for him to leave this world.

It's said that, at the age of 84 on his deathbed, Thomas Edison looked at his wife, Mina, and uttered the words, "It's very beautiful over there."

While it's difficult to make a unique interpretation of these nice and calm words, their poetic and inspirational character is undeniable.

1

History

Image: Christian Linnemann

Let’s start from the very beginning: in 1926, almost 100 years ago, Route 66 was established, covering a total of 2,448 miles. It was one of the original highways built under the then-new Numbered Highway System (also known as the "Federal Highways").

The route famously started in Chicago, Illinois, and stretched all the way to Santa Monica, California, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. At the time, Route 66 proved to be a quick and easy way to get to the western part of the country, which logically led to an increase in its popularity.

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Landmarks

Image: Mick Haupt

If you find yourself driving along the 2,448 miles that make up Route 66, you’ll certainly come across a fair share of outstanding landmarks, including American icons like the St. Louis Gateway Arch or the Santa Monica Pier. Not only that, you might want to explore some natural wonders, such as a 50,000-year-old meteor crater located in the heart of Arizona.

However, if you're more interested in landmarks focused on unusual or outlandish topics, there are plenty of roadside attractions worth visiting . For instance, you might want to stop for a few hours in San Bernardino, California, to visit the original McDonald’s location, now turned into a museum.

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One end of the road…

Image: Arnaud STECKLE

As we mentioned before, Route 66 is too long for us to include every single state it crosses in this article. However, we still felt the need to pay a small tribute to the two ends that "America’s Main Street" was built to connect. With that in mind, let’s start with Chicago, the easternmost point of Route 66.

Originally, Route 66 was commissioned as a quicker way to get from Chicago to Los Angeles in response to the large increase in car ownership that occurred in the 1920s. Route 66 shortened the distance between these two cities by 200 miles, providing an easy-to-follow route for millions of Americans.

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…followed by the other end.

Image: Rocio Abrego

According to a popular saying, "All good things must come to an end," and the gorgeous west end of Route 66 is a living testament to this phrase. The "City of Angels" truly doesn’t need an introduction. In that sense, can you think of a more welcoming image than the warm California sun greeting drivers at the final stop of Route 66?

Interestingly, nowadays Route 66 ends in the equally gorgeous city of Santa Monica, located in Los Angeles County. In any case, the way the U.S. Route 66 Highway Association described the highway during its construction still holds true, and Route 66 can still be described as the "most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles ."

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The "Father of Route 66"

Image: John Benitez

Nowadays, a route connecting Illinois and California seems almost logical, but at the time, it took the efforts of a visionary group of entrepreneurs to plan the construction of Route 66. Among them, one individual stands out, known to history as " The Father of Route 66 ": an Oklahoma businessman named Cyrus Avery.

A resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Avery was truly a jack of all trades. Originally a school teacher, he went on to become a businessman, an insurance agent, and an oilman after founding the Avery Oil & Gas Company in 1904. In the 1920s, Avery was a member of the federal board appointed to create the Federal Highway System, where he rallied for the establishment of what we now know as Route 66.

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Feel like walking?

Image: Capstone Events

Who said that only cars can enjoy Route 66? Certainly not Charles C. Pyle, a Route 66 Association member who, in 1928, launched an innovative campaign to promote the new highway: a foot race from Los Angeles to New York City.

With a distance of 3,400 miles, this gargantuan race had a suitably large prize: $25,000, which today would be just under $400,000. Nearly 300 racers crossed America, passing through Route 66 and several checkpoints along the highway. Ultimately, the race was won by a Cherokee citizen named Andy Payne, who finished the race in 573 hours.

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Culture inspired by Route 66

Image: Jonathan Gong

It seems only logical that such an iconic route has inspired a plethora of songs, books, and paintings. Let’s take a moment to pay homage to some masterworks of American culture that celebrate everything Route 66 has to offer. Celebrated authors like John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac have set their novels on the highway, with Steinbeck nicknaming Route 66 "the Mother Road."

Perhaps most famously, songwriter Bobby Troup wrote the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" while traveling on the highway on a road trip across America. The song became a smash hit in 1946 after it was recorded by the Nat King Cole Trio, and it was subsequently covered by music legends like The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and Bing Crosby.

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Decommission

Image: Alejandro Luengo

In the 1950s, President Eisenhower sought to upgrade America’s highway system into a more modern network, comprising several new routes that connected all 50 states. In 1956, Eisenhower signed the Federal Interstate Act, unknowingly initiating a series of steps that would eventually lead to the end of Route 66 .

After several decades, Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t travel through most of it. Nearly 85% of the original highway is still drivable, with many signs marking where the original route once stood.

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Route 66 State Park

Image: Federico Lancellotti

As we mentioned before, there are plenty of spectacular landscapes to explore along Route 66 if you’re a fan of nature. With that in mind, did you know there’s a state park in Missouri named after Route 66?

Route 66 State Park is located at the site of the former town of Times Beach, Missouri, along the Meramec River. In addition to offering beautiful views and hiking trails, visitors might also enjoy seeing the old Route 66 bridge, which is currently undergoing restoration.

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The music of the road

Image: Miguel Alcântara

We’ll end this article with a Route 66 fact you might not know. Route 66 has inspired many iconic songs, but did you know that a small part of Route 66 actually plays music on its own?

To encourage drivers to stick to the 45-mile-per-hour speed limit, the New Mexico Department of Transportation came up with a rather ingenious idea: by placing rumble strips at strategic points, cars driving under the speed limit will play " America the Beautiful "!

1

E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The friendship between Elliot and E.T. didn't just capture our hearts: it broke audience records, selling approximately 142 million tickets domestically, beating the incredibly successful Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). It held that record for over a decade, until Jurassic Park snatched the title in the 90s.

This Steven Spielberg classic starred Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore when she was still a child, and it featured a soundtrack by composer John Williams that made the audience feel like they were flying on a bicycle along with Elliot and his extraterrestrial friend.

2

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back contains one of the most famous lines in film history: "I am your father." The first installment of the Star Wars saga (later retitled as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) had been the biggest film of the 70s. As soon as the decade changed, Empire brought millions of fanatics to the theatres again. It sold around 98 million tickets in the US and Canada.

Directed by Irvin Kershner and produced by George Lucas, the film reunited audiences with Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. The story follows the Rebel Alliance on the run. Though slightly less commercially dominant than its predecessor, it was still one of the top-grossing films of the decade.

3

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

By the time Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hit theaters in 1989, the fedora-wearing archaeologist was already a global icon, having charmed audiences in the first two installments.

Three of the big names that were involved in this production have already been mentioned on this list: Director Steven Spielberg, producer George Lucas, and star Harrison Ford. This time, he was joined by the great Sean Connery playing his father. This installment sold an estimated 49 million tickets domestically.

4

Batman (1989)

When director Tim Burton took over the superhero’s story for this late-eighties movie, he gave a darker, stylized touch to the genre. Starring Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight alongside Jack Nicholson as the Joker, this film was a great departure from the comic book storytelling that audiences had gotten used to with the 60s iconic series in which Adam West played Gotham’s hero alongside Burt Ward as Robin.

The film sold around 62 million tickets locally and became the biggest commercial success of that year. Combined with an album filled with hits by superstar Prince, this movie was one of the first superhero blockbusters.

5

Back to the Future (1985)

This movie took the concept of time travel and worked it into one of the most beloved films of an era. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean built by the eccentric Doc Brown , played by Christopher Lloyd.

It was the highest-grossing movie of ‘85, selling 59 million tickets domestically. Its mix of comedy, science fiction, and heartfelt scenes made it a classic viewers love to rewatch.

6

Top Gun (1986)

Naval aviation had never stirred as much popular interest as when Tom Cruise played the daring pilot Maverick in this film. It was the most successful film of 1986, selling approximately 47 million tickets.

The action film, with high-speed aerial sequences and a strong focus on competition and camaraderie, boosted Navy recruitment in the years that followed its release . It also popularized songs like "Take My Breath Away" and "Danger Zone," and cemented Ray-Ban’s aviator sunglasses as a cultural icon.

7

Ghostbusters (1984)

"Who you gonna call?" Directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver, this film became one of the most beloved and memorable comedies of the decade. It earned nearly $300 million worldwide and sold 71 million tickets in North America alone, making it a huge success for the era.

Its theme song, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr., became a chart-topping hit, and the film’s imagery, from the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to the proton packs, became instantly iconic.

8

Rain Man (1988)

This one film managed to make an impact without lightsabers, time-traveling machines, spaceships, aliens, ghosts, or men in capes. Rain Man showed Hollywood that character-driven stories could still become big hits.

Directed by Barry Levinson, the film stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman as newfound brothers who must embark on a cross-country journey. Selling around 43 million tickets, it was the highest-grossing film of its year, which meant the audiences loved it. It also went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman, which meant the critics loved it, too.

9

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Blending live action with animation had worked very well for Mary Poppins in 1964. Who Framed Roger Rabbit pushed boundaries of the technology and put it in the service of a film aimed at an older audience.

Directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, respectively, it starred Bob Hoskins amid a world shared by "toons," cartoon characters, which included Roger Rabbit and Jessica Rabbit.

It was a major box office success, selling around 38 million tickets. It also won four Academy Awards, which praised its technical achievements.

10

Fatal Attraction (1987)

Directed by Adrian Lyne, this film was a huge triumph for Paramount: Its production cost only $14 million, and it went on to earn $320 million globally. Infidelity and obsession are the main themes of this dramatic thriller that stars Michael Douglas and Glenn Close in a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination.

The film sold around 40 million tickets domestically. Its box office popularity was thanks to word of mouth, as people recommended this adult suspense movie in conversations.