1

George Washington

Image: Priscilla Gyamfi

The first name on the list belongs to the Father of Our Nation and first president. As commander of the colonial troops during the Revolutionary War, Washington led the struggle against Great Britain with intelligent military strategy and unwavering leadership.

Quite possibly, his greatest contribution lies in his refusal to become a king or dictator , instead choosing to lay the foundations of a democratic republic.

2

Martin Luther King Jr.

Image: Unseen Histories

This icon of the civil rights movement used nonviolent resistance to combat racial discrimination. Through peaceful protest strategies , King led demonstrations, boycotts, and marches that helped transform the social landscape of America.

His "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 in Washington, D.C. became a huge milestone in the struggle for equality and an inspiration for millions all over the world.

3

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Image: Jessica Tan

A steady guide through challenging times, Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. Through his New Deal programs, he introduced revolutionary social and economic reforms, including the creation of social safety nets like Social Security.

His leadership during World War II helped establish the United States as a global power committed to supporting democracy.

4

Susan B. Anthony

Image: Giacomo Ferroni

A relentless activist in the struggle for women’s suffrage , Susan B. Anthony organized campaigns, wrote extensively, and spoke passionately in support of gender equality. Although she did not live to see it passed, her efforts laid the groundwork for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

5

Thomas Edison

Image: Robert Wiedemann

Life as we know it would not be the same without his inventions. And, while the lightbulb would have been reason enough for him to be present on this list, Edison was responsible for numerous innovations—he held over 1,000 patents, including for the phonograph, motion picture camera, and electric power distribution systems—that helped change the course of history forever.

6

Margaret Mead

Image: Stephen Andrews

Margaret Mead’s pioneering work in psychology and anthropology helped develop the understanding that children learn through imitation , particularly by observing their parents and community.

In addition to her academic contributions, she was a vocal advocate for women’s rights and greater sexual openness, influencing the cultural shifts that led to the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

7

Henry Ford

Image: Dan Dennis

Thank him for the popularization of the automobile and the introduction of the 40-hour, five-day workweek . America would not be the same without Henry Ford and his revolutionary industrial ideas, which transformed manufacturing and daily life.

8

Betty Friedan

Image: Deniz Demirci

Women’s rights owe much to Betty Friedan, whose groundbreaking work challenged the limited roles assigned to women in mid-20th-century America . Her book The Feminine Mystique gave voice to the dissatisfaction of the American housewife and sparked a national conversation about the validity of traditional gender roles.

9

Andrew Carnegie

Image: Denis Chick

Largely considered as one of America’s greatest self-made men, Andrew Carnegie played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's industrial identity. His leadership in the steel industry helped propel the United States into a position of global economic dominance in the early 20th century.

10

Orville and Wilbur Wright

Image: History in HD

Transportation would never have been the same without Orville and Wilbur Wright, brothers from Ohio, who changed the world forever by inventing powered flight on the shores of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

11

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Pavan Trikutam

That black rectangular device near you is the modern evolution of Alexander Graham Bell’s original invention, one that would change the way humans communicate in profoundly lasting ways.

12

Walt Disney

Image: Travis Gergen

Walt Disney’s influence on the childhoods of generations of Americans is undisputed. He forever changed the world of entertainment for both children and adults through his iconic characters and innovative theme parks, which now exist all over the world.

1

Casinos

Image: Kvnga

A casino might not be the first place one has in mind when thinking about going out to eat, but these establishments usually have a variety of dining options, from buffet-style areas to casual eateries and upscale, more traditional restaurants, with good prices and good food, to attract gamblers .

2

Hotels

Image: Francesca Saraco

Unlike a regular restaurant, where clients come and go, hotel kitchen staff is used to serving the same guests more than once in short periods of time . This motivates them to enforce a higher standard of service since their clients will return soon and are more likely to hold them accountable for any previous issues.

3

Delicatessens

Image: Simona Sergi

Other than being a place where you buy ingredients, a delicatessen store, known as a deli, is also known for its sandwiches and often offers other meal options like soups and salads .

4

Sporting venues

Image: Mick Haupt

Eating a hot dog or a hamburger with a beer on a sunny day, while sitting on the benches during a baseball game, is an experience that everyone should attempt at least once in their lives.

5

Department stores

Image: mostafa meraji

Department stores are convenient. These places offer many different services, grouped together, in a controlled environment, including meals. In their food courts, you can choose your menu from a variety of stands, take your tray to your selected table, and eat undisturbed .

6

Colleges and universities

Image: Michael Marsh

College and university campuses usually have dining halls or food courts that are open to students, faculty, and staff. But some are also open to the general public. Their meals tend to be healthy and balanced , prepared by catering companies that work with nutritionists.

7

Bowling alleys

Image: Persnickety Prints

Many bowling alleys have snack bars or restaurants where you can get food and drinks to enjoy while you bowl . Or you can enjoy it without bowling, as well.

8

Train stations

Image: Michał Parzuchowski

Train stations often have a selection of restaurants and cafes for travelers where you can watch the passengers and dream of going places while you enjoy a snack .

9

Bookstores

Image: Pauline Loroy

Many bookstores, especially larger chains or independent ones, now include cafes. These offer a relaxing and quiet environment to enjoy a coffee and a light meal or snack while browsing a book.

10

Hospitals

Image: National Cancer Institute

Hospitals are places where people spend long periods, maybe waiting for somebody else, and have areas where they can grab a bite in a usually quiet place. And, since the food is usually prepared in the hospital kitchens, hygiene and health tend to be especially respected .

11

Hardware stores

Image: Oxana Melis

Believe it or not, some larger hardware stores, particularly those in rural areas, have a small cafe or deli counter serving basic meals . It's often a local gathering spot for the community.

12

Cooking schools

Image: Odiseo Castrejon

Some cooking schools offer demonstration classes that include a meal, or they might have a small cafe open to the public, where students offer their creations .

1

George Washington had wooden teeth

Image: Todd Trapani

Washington suffered from dental problems throughout his adult life and did wear several sets of false teeth. However, he did not wear wooden ones.

They were made from materials like ivory, metal, and springs . The "wood" myth probably comes from the staining of ivory and from 19th-century caricatures.

2

Salem witches were burned at the stake

Image: Sofia Holmberg

We hold the long-standing belief that the accused Salem "witches" were burned like European witch victims.

However, in the Salem (and colonial New England) trials of 1692–1693, convicted witches were almost always executed by hanging ; burning at the stake was not the legal penalty under English law in the colonies.

3

Paul Revere rode and shouted, "The British are coming!" alone

Image: Mikhaël Noury

He may be riding alone in the Boston statue that represents the dramatic midnight ride in which he warned of the British troop movements.

But in reality, Revere was one of several riders who spread word of the British troop movements; Longfellow’s 1860 poem amplified and simplified the story, including the shouted line, which would have been unlikely among colonists.

4

Betsy Ross designed the first American flag

Image: Heather Newsom

We have heard again and again the myth that Betsy Ross stitched the first Stars and Stripes after being asked by George Washington. In reality, this tale grew from a family tradition promoted more than a century after 1776. Historians have found no contemporary documentation proving that she designed the first official flag.

The flag’s creation was likely more complex and collective. Ross has always remained a folk symbol, but there is no proof that she was the sole designer.

5

Mrs. O’Leary’s cow started the Great Chicago Fire

Image: raquel raq

The myth: a cow kicked over a lantern in Catherine O’Leary’s barn and caused the 1871 conflagration. The cow story originated in sensational newspaper reporting and later became part of folklore.

Investigations have never produced conclusive proof, and modern historians treat the O’Leary–cow tale as an unfair scapegoating and probably apocryphal. The fire’s precise origin remains a mystery.

6

"Molly Pitcher" was a famous woman who operated a cannon at Monmouth

Image: Foysal Razu

The story of Molly Pitcher, a single heroic woman who supposedly took over a cannon when her husband fell, may have been created to represent several women . The best documented candidate is Mary Ludwig Hays, but the legend also reflects the broader contributions of women who supported troops during the Revolutionary War, with or without having been widowed.

7

Davy Crockett died fighting to the last at the Alamo

Image: Eric Francis

Did Crockett heroically fight to the death amid hand-to-hand combat at the Alamo? Well, that was indeed the location of his death, but sources conflict about the manner.

Some eyewitness accounts and Mexican records suggest he may have been captured and executed; other accounts describe him dying in combat. The neat heroic portrait was shaped by 19th-century myth-making.

8

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776

Image: The New York Public Library

It is widely believed that all signers of the Declaration of Independence scribbled their names on it on July 4, which is why we celebrate that date.

Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, but most delegates did not sign the parchment copy until August 2 of that year (and a few added their names even later). July 4 became the commemorative date for adoption and celebration, not the universal signing day.

9

The Pilgrims’ "First Thanksgiving" centered on a big roast turkey, like today

Image: Tyler Donaghy

No, the 1621 harvest meal at Plymouth did not feature the same turkey-centered feast we picture now.

Accounts mention venison and wildfowl, but the menu and ritual context were very different from modern Thanksgiving dinners. The idea of an annualized, turkey-centered national holiday developed much later (19th century onward).

10

Thomas Edison single-handedly invented the light bulb

Image: Tamas Pap

Many believe that Edison alone invented the incandescent light bulb out of whole cloth. But electric light was the product of decades of work by many inventors (from Humphry Davy to Swan and others).

Edison’s contribution was significant improvements and the critical development of a commercially viable, manufacturable system, but he did not "invent" electric light in isolation.

11

Pocahontas dramatically saved John Smith from execution

Image: EricThriller

The myth holds that Pocahontas heroically rescued Captain John Smith by throwing herself over him at the moment of execution.

Disney may have amplified the romantic and dramatic aspects of this story. John Smith’s account of a dramatic rescue appears in later writings and is debated by historians. Many scholars now interpret the scene as a ritual adoption or a ceremonial act rather than a literal rescue, or they suspect Smith embellished the story.