1

The Cardiff Giant

Image: Anton Ivanov

In 1869, workers digging a well in Cardiff, New York, uncovered what appeared to be a 10-foot-tall petrified man. Locals rushed to see the "giant," paying admission to witness history in the soil.

But, as it turned out, it wasn’t ancient at all. A man named George Hull had buried the statue as a prank and made some quick money from the curious crowd.

2

War of the Worlds Broadcast

Image: Michal Balog

This very famous hoax took place on the eve of Halloween 1938. Orson Welles’s radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds aired as if it were breaking news . Many listeners tuning in late thought Martians had really landed in New Jersey.

Some packed up their cars or called the police in panic. Though no invasion occurred, the broadcast became a legend in media history.

3

The Balloon Boy

Image: Ankush Minda

In 2009, Americans watched live TV coverage of a silver balloon drifting across the skies of Colorado , fearing that a six-year-old boy was trapped inside . The story gripped the nation for hours.

When the balloon finally landed empty, police discovered the child hiding safely at home. His parents later admitted it was a publicity stunt gone wrong.

4

The Feejee Mermaid

Image: Nsey Benajah

In 1842, showman P. T. Barnum unveiled a marvel: a preserved "mermaid" supposedly from the South Seas . Crowds lined up to see the half-fish, half-woman curiosity.

The truth was stranger still. It was the upper body of a monkey sewn onto a fish tail and covered in papier-mâché.

5

The Great Moon Hoax

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

6

Readers of The New York Sun in 1835 were astonished by reports claiming that scientists had spotted bat-like people and crystal palaces on the Moon through a powerful new telescope.

The story was pure invention, but circulation went up. By the time the truth came out, the paper’s readership had reportedly increased dramatically.

7

The Crop Circles Craze

Image: Agent J

When perfect circles began appearing overnight in wheat fields , people talked about UFO landings. The shapes seemed too precise to have been made by human hands.

But, in 1991, two Englishmen confessed they’d used boards and ropes to flatten the crops. While this revelation explained many of the formations, the mystery lives on in popular imagination.

8

Alien Autopsy Film

Image: Leo_Visions

In 1995, a grainy black-and-white video surfaced, showing doctors dissecting what seemed to be an alien recovered from the 1947 Roswell crash. The footage spread quickly worldwide.

Years later, the filmmaker admitted that the film was staged, using latex models and fake organs.

9

The Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax

Image: Kaleb Becker

 Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o captured hearts when he revealed that his girlfriend had died of leukemia . Sports fans wept over the tragic love story.

But reporters later learned that the woman never existed. It was an elaborate online catfishing scheme.

10

The Patterson–Gimlin Bigfoot film

Image: Jon Sailer

In 1967, a short film shot in California showed a large, hairy creature striding through the woods . Many viewers thought this was real proof of Bigfoot´s existence.

Decades later, one participant claimed it was a man in a gorilla suit, but that claim failed to convince many people who prefer to believe in the existence of this creature.

11

The Drake’s Plate of Brass

Image: David Dibert

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In 1936, a shiny brass plate found in California seemed to confirm that explorer Sir Francis Drake had landed there in 1579. Historians called it a priceless relic.

For decades, the plate was displayed proudly, until metallurgical tests in 1977 proved it was modern . It had been made as a practical joke among historians that went too far.

13

Paul Is Dead

Image: Jiamin Huang

The final entry on our list might not be American per se, but it drew much attention on these shores. In 1969, rumors spread that Beatle Paul McCartney had died and been secretly replaced by a double . Fans scoured album covers for "clues" like hidden messages and backward songs.

Paul, very much alive, later joked about it. The bizarre theory became a lasting pop-culture phenomenon.

1

Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina

Image: Alano Oliveira

The largest collection of figurative American sculpture in the world –over 2,000 works– can be seen at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina.

Everything is displayed outdoors, in gardens laid out in 1931 in the shape of a butterfly by the sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband, rail magnate Archer Milton Huntington. The gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2

Laumeier Sculpture Park, St. Louis

Image: Nathaniel Shuman

With 105 acres and over 70 works, Laumeier is one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the nation . It has some really big pieces, including works by Alexander Liberman, Tony Tasset, Jonathan Borofsky, Odili Donald Odita, and more.

3

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis

Image: Meizhi Lang

The massive sculpture of a cherry atop a huge spoon prompts visitors to photograph it using perspective tricks to make it look like they’re eating the cherry. As spectacular as this artwork is, the garden has many more world-class sculptures, including important pieces by Alexander Calder, George Segal, Judith Shea, and Roy Lichtenstein.

4

Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas

Image: Zalfa Imani

Taking a walk through the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas feels like being inside a prestigious world-class museum, but outdoors . Works by Rodin, Picasso, Brancusi, Koons, Calder, de Kooning, Giacometti, Matisse, Serra, and other masters can be found on the premises.

These grounds offer an uncrowded, intimate experience in which the sculptures feel like they're in conversation with one another.

5

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.

Image: Andriy Oliynyk

If you happen to visit the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. in the winter months, you will find a skating rink along with Louise Bourgeois' Spider with a light dusting of snow, a Chagall mosaic, a variation by Robert Indiana on his famous LOVE statue , and 17 other important works of modern art. The garden is one of the most serene places in the city.

6

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City

Image: Omar KH

Being at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, in Kansas City, feels a bit like walking through a land of giants, amidst their huge everyday objects . Visitors will find mammoth shuttlecocks, amongst other monumental works of art.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum's outdoor sculpture park was originally named after Henry Moore because it contains a large number of bulbous works by that artist. His pieces eventually were joined by a fanciful glass labyrinth by Robert Morris, as were sculptures by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Alexander Calder, Mark di Suvero, and others.

7

Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle

Image: Elham Abdi

The Olympic Sculpture Park treats its visitors with sweeping views over Elliott Bay . The monumental sculptures complement the view in both directions. And, if you stand in just the right spot, Alexander Calder’s Eagle frames the Space Needle perfectly.

The park also features notable works by Louise Nevelson, Roxy Paine, Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, Mark di Suvero, and Beverly Pepper.

8

Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, New York

Image: Mike Hindle

With 500 acres, Storm King is the largest sculpture park in the United States , offering its visitors several distinct ecosystems —woodlands, meadows, and lakes among them.

The park boasts works by numerous 20th-century art stars, including Maya Lin, Isamu Noguchi, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Richard Serra, Andy Goldsworthy, Anthony Caro, Louise Bourgeois, Sol LeWitt, and David Smith.

9

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Michigan

Image: Albert Dehon

The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, boasts Victorian gardens with pieces by famed artists Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin , a collection of carnivorous plants, sweeping outdoor gardens (which include a 1930s-era farm garden), a Japanese garden, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts famed musicians every summer.

10

The Stuart Collection, California

Image: Is@ Chessyca

The Stuart Collection is an amazing grouping of artworks by world-famed artists like Michael Asher, John Baldessari, Mark Bradford, Jackie Ferrara, Do Ho Suh, and more. One of the collection’s goals is to reexamine conventional views of public art in playful and thought-provoking ways as it showcases experimental art to the public and the community.

1

The Big Apple: New York City

Image: Nik Shuliahin

Everybody knows "The Big Apple" refers to New York— the city that never sleeps . But why, exactly? Is it because there’s a worm (the subway) underneath it? Or is it a metaphor for something we strive for?

2

The Big Easy: New Orleans

Image: mana5280

It sure feels easy to stroll through New Orleans, a city known for its laid-back atmosphere and rich cultural energy, where jazz bands can spontaneously form on any corner and lively public celebrations are always just around the bend. But what’s the story behind its nickname?

3

Motor City: Detroit

Image: Doug Zuba

The most populous city in Michigan, the nickname "Motor City" certainly feels right for its bustling streets and large industrial background —but what exactly led to the adoption of this powerful nickname?

4

Sin City: Las Vegas

Image: Grant Cai

We all know the famous adage: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Given the city’s notorious nightlife and gambling scene , it’s understandable—you might prefer to forget how you lost all your savings on a slot machine. But is that the only reason it earned its infamous nickname?

5

The Windy City: Chicago

Image: Ozzie Stern

Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago's nickname might seem to stem from its exposure to harsh weather —but sometimes, the obvious answer isn’t the correct one. Is it really the weather, or is something stranger at play?

6

The Mile High City: Denver

Image: Emmanuel Appiah

Is Denver really a "Mile High" city because of its geographical proximity to the towering Rockies, or is it just a nod to its ever-expanding skyline? Keep reading to find out!

And now, the answers:

7

The Big Apple: Horse-racing origins

Image: Taylor Sondgeroth

The nickname originated in the 1920s as horse-racing slang , where "The Big Apple" informally referred to New York’s prize racetracks. Jazz musicians later popularized it, and a 1970s tourism campaign ultimately cemented it as a symbol of the city’s cultural and financial prominence.

8

The Big Easy: Chill and jazz

Image: Robson Hatsukami Morgan

If you followed our line of thought—you were right! This nickname emerged from the city's reputation for its relaxed lifestyle and vibrant jazz scene . While there are many theories about who first used the term—and whether it was originally meant to be derogatory—one thing is certain: all New Orleanians agree it 100% reflects the city’s unique blend of music, culture, and laissez-faire attitude.

9

Motor City: Infinite assembly lines

Image: Austrian National Library

Detroit earned its nickname as the birthplace of the American auto industry. Henry Ford’s revolutionary assembly line and the rise of car manufacturing giants cemented the city’s status as the global automotive capital of the 20th century. In fact, it remains home to the headquarters of America’s largest auto manufacturers—General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

10

Sin City: Prohibition defiance

Image: Jakub Dziubak

For a city founded by religious missionaries, "Sin City" is certainly an ironic nickname. In truth, its origins trace back to the construction of the nearby Hoover Dam in the 1930s. Thousands of workers flocked to the city in search of lodging and—presumably—entertainment. This led to the rapid rise of casinos and a thriving underground alcohol industry that—during Prohibition—was as profitable as it was illegal.

11

The Windy City: Long-winded speeches

Image: Kristina Paparo

While many assume it refers to Chicago’s weather, the nickname was actually coined by journalists mocking the boastful speeches of local politicians as they aggressively promoted the city as the ideal location for the World’s Fair. The term was meant to highlight the "hot air" of their rhetoric rather than the city's literal windiness.

12

The Mile High City: A matter of altitude

Image: Bill Griepenstroh

Denver sits exactly 5,280 feet — one mile — above sea level , earning its nickname, the "Mile High City," quite literally. Its natural elevation, combined with stunning Rocky Mountain views, makes it truly unique. Even more interesting, Denver’s altitude leads to some unusual effects: golf balls can travel up to 10% farther than at sea level, and alcohol tends to hit harder since high altitudes reduce the body's ability to process it efficiently.