1

Museum tickets

Image: Moralis Tsai

Many libraries in the U.S. and worldwide offer free passes to museums, zoos, and cultural centers . It's a great way to explore local attractions without spending any money.

Check with your local library to see what’s available. Some even let you reserve passes online.

2

Language classes

Image: Ling App

Many libraries offer free language classes, either in person or through online platforms .

It's a great way to start learning a new language or improve your existing skills. Be sure to check what your local library offers.

3

Wi-Fi

Image: Franck

Many public libraries have partnered with companies like Verizon to offer Wi-Fi hotspots for checkout, helping those without internet access at home or travelers stay connected.

This service helps bridge the digital divide and ensures patrons can access important online resources and services.

4

State Park passes

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Several libraries across the U.S. offer free passes to local and state parks . This is a great way to explore nature without the added cost.

5

Telescopes

Image: Patrick Hendry

Local astronomical societies and clubs have teamed up with libraries to offer telescopes , just like books.

This gives visitors the chance to explore the night sky in remarkable detail—perfect for beginners and astronomy enthusiasts alike.

6

Video and board games

Image: Karthik Balakrishnan

Many libraries offer game collections to their visitors, including both classic board games and popular video games .

This provides a fun, free way for patrons to enjoy games without needing to buy them.

7

Early literacy programs

Image: Michał Parzuchowski

Librarians are passionate about promoting early literacy and getting kids excited about reading. Many libraries offer age-specific programs at different times, often featuring fun themes and activities to keep young readers engaged.

8

Concerts

Image: BRUNO CERVERA

Many libraries host free concerts throughout the year, featuring a variety of musical genres.

These performances cater to different audiences, providing a great way to enjoy live music without spending a dime .

9

Genealogy

Image: June Hansen

Some libraries offer free access to the library edition of Ancestry.com, allowing users to explore their family history .

Available on-site, it provides the same features as a personal subscription, including access to global records and historical documents.

10

Movies

Image: Marius GIRE

Many libraries not only lend movies but also host free movie screenings. These events often include kids' films during school breaks, holiday specials, and midday showings for all ages .

11

Printers

Image: Mahrous Houses

No printer at home? Some libraries let you email documents for printing at a small fee . They may also offer faxing and copying services. Additionally, many libraries provide access to a range of tools, such as 3D printers, scanners, and more.

12

Computers

Image: Keith Kasaija

Many libraries offer desktop computers with internet access for their patrons to use, free of charge. These stations give visitors a quiet space to complete online tasks, work, or study.

1

The trains that changed what time it was

The railroads helped establish standardized time zones, ending the mayhem of thousands of local times. On November 18, 1883 (dubbed "The Day of Two Noons" ), U.S. and Canadian railroads adopted a system of standard time zones to coordinate railroad schedules.

This private initiative greatly reduced the chaos caused by hundreds of local, sun-based times and helped make railroad travel safer. Congress would not formally establish standard time nationwide until 1918.

2

The mailmen who sorted letters at full speed

The U.S. Railway Mail Service (1860s—1970s) operated Railway Post Office (RPO) cars, where specially trained clerks sorted non-local mail on moving trains. Using a system called "mail on the fly" , clerks sometimes exchanged mail pouches without the train stopping. At its peak, the service handled 93% of the nation's non-local mail.

They would memorize complex routing diagrams to toss letters into narrow pigeonholes while on the move. A trackside crane held an incoming pouch while a steel catcher arm on the moving train snatched it in milliseconds. This continued until June 30, 1977, when the service finally ended.

3

The train that became Truman's campaign headquarters

Harry Truman’s 1948 whistle-stop presidential campaign was a massive train journey that helped produce one of the most shocking results in U.S. election history. It included thousands of miles of travel across the country, during which Truman gave hundreds of fiery speeches from the rear platform of the Ferdinand Magellan, a heavily armored presidential railcar originally built in 1928. It is said he delivered 356 speeches during the 35-day tour .

4

The four-minute mistake that changed railroad watches

What’s generally known as the 1893 Great Kipton Train Wreck actually occurred in 1891 and led to stricter timekeeping rules, including standardized railroad watches to prevent collisions.

Here’s what happened: a conductor’s pocket watch stopped for four minutes and restarted, contributing to a fatal head-on collision between two trains. This disaster led to the appointment of jeweler Webb C. Ball as Chief Time Inspector. He subsequently developed strict standards for railroad watches and regular inspections.

5

The sleeper cars that changed travel forever

Pullman sleeper cars were created by George Pullman in the 1860s, revolutionizing long-distance travel with onboard beds and luxury service , including his first model, the 1864 Pioneer.

This comfort fueled rapid national expansion, but also sparked major labor and social shifts across the United States.

6

The railroad that turned America into one nation

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869 and relied heavily on Chinese and Irish immigrant labor, which often involved dangerous working conditions. Workers blasted through rocks and mountainsides , carved paths across difficult terrain, and endured brutal weather as they laid tracks across the country.

This massive project changed travel and trade forever, cutting cross-country travel to roughly a week and helping transform the nation’s economy by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

7

The Civil War trains that carried wounded soldiers to safety

Civil War hospital trains helped transform how wounded soldiers were evacuated and treated . Early hospital trains were often converted freight or passenger cars, but they gradually became specially outfitted with stretcher racks, medical personnel, kitchens, and other equipment.

By 1864, purpose-designed hospital cars were being used by Union forces to transport wounded soldiers from battlefields to larger hospitals.

8

The trains that kept America’s war effort moving

During World War II, the U.S. railroads played a crucial role. They carried vast quantities of military freight and personnel, making the railroads a crucial lifeline of the domestic war effort .

Gasoline and rubber shortages at the time also forced more of the car-driving public onto trains, pushing passenger traffic to historic peaks. Unlike in World War I, the federal government left daily operations under private rail control while coordinating closely through the Association of American Railroads.

9

The women who kept America’s railroads running

During World War II, women took on a much greater role in railroad work across the country, covering diverse occupations such as telegraphers, station agents, and workers who maintained and cleaned massive steel locomotives.

They replaced men who had entered the military service and helped keep the nation’s rail system running.

10

The Gold Rush that helped put the West on the rails

The California Gold Rush of 1849 ignited a massive, never-before-seen western migration, but coast-to-coast travel still took months via dangerous sea routes or wagon trains.

That changed dramatically on May 10, 1869, when the previously mentioned First Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Summit in Utah. The railroad made it far easier to move people, goods, and valuable cargo between the coasts, although the Gold Rush itself had begun long before the railroad existed.

1

Elvis & Priscilla

Image: pasja1000

Elvis (2022) is an original script based on the life of Elvis Presley, directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. On the other hand, Priscilla (2023) is based on the autobiography Elvis and Me, written by Priscilla Presley and directed by Sofia Coppola.

Although based on the life of the same public figure, the two films have their unique tone, extremely distinct executions, and different goals in mind. While Elvis focuses on the King of Rock and Roll himself and covers a lot more ground, Priscilla is much more intimate and has his wife and her experience at the center of the plot.

2

Top Gun & Iron Eagle

Image: LCdr. David Baranek, U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

You've almost certainly seen Top Gun at some point. The 1986 hit that launched a young Tom Cruise to stardom as naval aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell was the highest-grossing title of that year, even though it was not only competing with a very similar film but wasn't even the first to be released.

Four months earlier, Iron Eagle , the story of brave fighter pilots battling in the skies, had been premiered. Although the Jason Gedrick-starring film had three sequels, none came close to the $1 billion mark that Top Gun grossed.

3

The Truman Show & EDtv

Image: Nathy dog

The Truman Show (1998) and EDtv (1999), both about a man whose life is filmed 24 hours a day for a TV show, were inspired by the then-emerging reality television.

While Truman is unaware that his life has been broadcast since he was a baby, Ed Pekurny is fully willing to air his daily life on TV —at least at first. Perhaps that lack of mystery, combined with a premiere just a few months after The Truman Show , meant that EDtv couldn't win over the audience. Would it be more popular if it had premiered earlier? Maybe, but it's hard to deny that The Truman Show is a masterpiece that will go down in cinema history.

4

Capote & Infamous

Image: Eric Koch for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Truman Capote was a seminal writer in American literature. His life is full of exciting stories, so it's not surprising that his biography inspired several movies and TV series. Yet, in the case of Capote (2005) and Infamous (2006), this happened almost simultaneously.

Even more unusual, both films chose to tell the author's process that led him to interview the killers of the Clutter family and that would later become his most successful work, In Cold Blood . Capote stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toby Jones gives an excellent performance in Infamous . Which was your favorite?

5

Deep Impact & Armageddon

Image: Javier Miranda

In the summer of 1998, Deep Impact hit the cinemas, and just a few months later, Armageddon was released. Since both movies have similar plots —basically a comet or asteroid threatens to destroy the Earth—we can focus on which one had the better cast. On one side, you have Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Tia Leone, and Morgan Freeman. On the other, Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi, and Liv Tyler team up to save the world.

Looking at the box office returns, however, it's clear which one reigned supreme. Armageddon became the highest-grossing film that year, even though it received mostly negative reviews and was criticized for its scientific inaccuracies. All that said, Armageddon and Deep Impact are the pairing to go with if you're ever in the mood for a double feature.

6

Saving Private Ryan & The Thin Red Line

Image: Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHOM) Robert F. Sargent, U.S. Coast Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1998, Saving Private Ryan was one of the defining films of the year and captivated audiences with its heart-wrenching story and realistic portrayal of World War II. Shortly after making a fortune at the box office and scoring 11 Oscar nominations, The Thin Red Line hit the cinemas.

Both films feature similar themes and setups, but while Steven Spielberg’s take is a bit commercial and has a more straightforward narrative, the nearly three-hour-long version of Terrence Malick is more on the artistic side. That said, and despite the unfortunate coincidence, both movies are worth seeing if you like crude, realistic depictions of war.

7

The Prestige & The Illusionist

Image: jasper benning

For some reason, magic, a centuries-old form of entertainment, had its revival at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to cinema. While The Illusionist (2006) tells the story of Eisenheim, a Viennese magician who must confront Prince Leopold to avoid being discredited, The Prestige (2006) focuses on two rival magicians competing to win over late 19th-century London audiences. The two films, though different in style and tone, are excellent for any magic enthusiast.

8

Churchill & Darkest Hour

Image: Barthelemy de Mazenod

England's most famous Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is one of the most revered leaders of World War II. Proof of that are the biographical films Churchill and Darkest Hour , released in 2017. Although both follow the same historical figure, they are very different in style, tone, and setting.

Churchill , starring Brian Cox, focuses on the last period of his wartime career, before the Normandy invasion. Released later but set earlier in time, Darkest Hour portrays Winston Churchill, played by Gary Oldman, as he holds the fate of Western Europe at the beginning of the war. The latter film turned out to be the more successful of the two, even winning an Academy Award for best actor.

9

K-9 & Turner and Hooch

Image: Martin Podsiad

In 1989, there were not one but two films that portrayed police officers teaming up with a dog to fight crime. The first was K-9 , starring Jim Belushi as the angry police detective Michael Dooley. Instead of taking a human partner, Dooley decides to get a German Shepherd named Jerry Lee. From there, all kinds of antics ensue.

Just a few months later, Tom Hanks played a meticulous police investigator who's forced to take a troublesome dog who's the only witness to a horrible crime in Turner and Hooch . Obviously, a lot of the humor from both of these movies stems from the erratic behaviors of their titular canines. So, if you are into dog jokes, then you'll probably find something to like here.

10

No Strings Attached & Friends with Benefits

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In 2011, two romantic comedies were released centered around the idea of friends casually hooking up to end up realizing they were in love. No Strings Attached had Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in the leading roles, while Friends with Benefits starred Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake.

Although they are practically the same movie, they had some success. Both of them made about 150 million at the box office. However, if you have a problem telling them apart, don't worry, you are not alone!