1

"Sic Semper Tyrannis"

Image: Scott Pruett

You’ve probably come across this motto many times—it belongs to one of the most historically significant states in our country. In fact, this state is sometimes called the "Mother of States"!

Eight U.S. presidents were born here, including none other than George Washington himself. Can you guess which state we’re talking about?

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"Excelsior"

Image: Matheus Cenali

Many iconic landmarks make this state one of the most famous—Times Square, Broadway, and Wall Street, to name a few. It’s also known for its apple and maple syrup production.

When it comes to history, this state played a fundamental role. The Federalist Papers , which helped shape the Constitution, were written here! We bet you know which state we’re talking about—don’t you?

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"Live Free or Die"

Image: Brian Wangenheim

Home to Mount Washington, this state is renowned for its stunning landscapes. Its impressive quarries and granite formations earned it the nickname "The Granite State."

This state played a key role in the American Revolution , serving as an early center of resistance against British rule. It later became the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution. So, what's your guess?

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"Dum Spiro Spero"

Image: Dylan Mullins

This state is home to historic Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War officially began . It’s also the birthplace of Andrew Jackson, the seventh US president—though some historical debate remains.

On the other hand, this US state is known as "The Palmetto State" for its beautiful palmetto trees, which are also featured on its flag. Think you've got it?

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"Friendship"

Image: Lori Stevens

Known as "The Lone Star State," this state was once an independent republic before joining the US. It’s home to the Alamo , the historic site of a pivotal battle in its revolution.

In addition to Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson, famous figures like Beyoncé and Farrah Fawcett were also born here!

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"Eureka"

Image: Jake Blucker

This is the splendid motto of a state famous for its wine and citrus fruit production. It's also considered a tech hub for being home to the iconic Silicon Valley, a global center for tech innovation.

Known as "The Golden State," it boasts famous landmarks like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign. Got the answer?

7

"Sic Semper Tyrannis": Virginia

Image: Richard Hedrick

You got it right! Sic Semper Tyrannis is Virginia’s state motto, meaning "Thus always to tyrants" in Latin. Chosen in 1776, this phrase symbolizes Virginia’s historic stand against tyranny, reflecting its key role in the Revolutionary War.

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"Excelsior": New York

Image: Luke Stackpoole

If you guessed New York, congratulations! Excelsior , meaning "Ever Upward" or "Higher," has been the state’s motto since 1778 . True to its meaning, New York chose this motto to symbolize its relentless ambition and drive for progress. Did you know that?

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"Live Free or Die": New Hampshire

Image: The New York Public Library

New Hampshire adopted "Live Free or Die" as its official state motto in 1945. The phrase was coined by General John Stark , a hero of the American Revolutionary War . In 1809, Stark was invited to an anniversary reunion of the Battle of Bennington, where he had fought and led New Hampshire militiamen. Unable to attend due to poor health, he sent a letter with his toast: "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."

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"Dum Spiro Spero": South Carolina

Image: Leo Heisenberg

Dum Spiro Spero is South Carolina’s official state motto! Officially adopted in 1776, this Latin phrase means "While I Breathe, I Hope." Pretty inspiring, isn’t it? But that’s not all—South Carolina actually has 2 mottos ! The other, also adopted in 1776 and engraved on the original Great Seal, is Animis Opibusque Parati ("Prepared in Mind and Resources").

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"Friendship": Texas

Image: Avi Werde

Texas chose a powerful word as its state motto! "Friendship" has symbolized Texas since 1836, when it declared independence from Mexico and became a republic. The motto remained even after Texas joined the US in 1845 .

Representing the state’s unity and diplomatic intentions, the word was officially adopted as the state motto in 1930 .

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"Eureka": California

Image: Maarten van den Heuvel

You were right! Eureka is California’s state motto, meaning "I have found it" in Greek. But why this phrase? Well, California's state motto takes inspiration from the Gold Rush that kicked off in 1848, after the precious metal was discovered in the state's lands.

1

I Love Lucy

Image: Nick Fewings

Airing from October 15, 1951 , to May 6, 1957, I Love Lucy was undoubtedly a pioneering sitcom that marked the way people produce and watch TV. This show was one of the first to be filmed using a multi-camera setup and in front of a live studio audience!

Lucy Ricardo , portrayed by Lucille Ball, was the protagonist who won the hearts of many Americans with her enthusiastic and funny personality. In addition, her ambition to reach stardom inspired many women to fight for their dreams beyond the diverse impediments that society put in their way.

2

All In The Family

Image: Lucrezia Carnelos

All in the Family , which first aired in 1971 , was among the first shows to bring to television the controversial social, cultural, and political issues that were central during the 1960s.

With a humorous tone, All in the Family put on the screen some topics that other sitcoms didn’t dare to handle, with characters that embodied different ideas very well.

Thus, this sitcom marked American TV, influencing other shows that came later, including some spin-offs of the series itself, such as the iconic The Jeffersons.

3

Barney Miller

Image: Pavan Trikutam

While there are many series and shows about police departments and detectives today, in 1975, TV gave us Barney Miller , one of the sitcoms that would pioneer the genre.

Set in New York City, the show focuses on the lives of detectives Barney Miller (Hal Linden), Philip K. Fish (Abe Vigoda), Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz (Max Gail), Ron Harris (Ron Glass), and Nick Yemana (Jack Soo); characters with personalities as varied as they are funny.

What made Barney Miller stand out was the realistic way it narrated the lives of the different detectives, all influenced by their peculiar jobs.

4

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Image: Senad Palic

The 70s were years of premieres. And one of them was The Mary Tyler Moore Show , a sitcom that came to revolutionize television.

With an independent , smart, career-focused, and single woman as the main character, this show stood out in those days. This aspect led the sitcom to win several Emmys and Golden Globes for its acting, writing, and impact on TV and society.

Mary interacted in the show with funny, witty, and adorable characters, such as Rhoda and Murray.

5

The Golden Girls

Image: Lance Asper

Airing for seven years, The Golden Girls is undoubtedly one of those sitcoms that all Americans remember. Four grown women sharing a house in Miami is enough premise to create countless scenes and comedic situations. Among them, the legendary Betty White fills the screen with sweetness and grace, playing "Rose."

The Golden Girls drew attention at the time for being one of the first sitcoms to show women of their age living different aspects of life like any other adult, without restrictions of any kind. If you haven't seen it yet, run to the TV and turn on an episode!

6

Cheers

Image: Edgar Chaparro

Boston, Massachusetts, is the setting of Cheers , the sitcom that ran for more than ten years, from 1982 to 1993.

"Cheers" is the name of the bar where the main characters work: Sam, Diane, Carla, Coach Ernie (later replaced by Woody Boyd), Cliff, and Norm. All kinds of stories, encounters, misunderstandings, and much more unfold there, all highlighted by a witty script and hilarious performances.

Winner of several Emmys, the series marked an era, leaving jokes that were repeated on TV throughout the decades that followed.

7

Seinfeld

Image: Patrick Tomasso

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld together created one of the funniest sitcoms this country has ever seen.

First aired in 1989 , Seinfeld was humorously described as "a show about nothing," as it portrayed the daily lives of four friends in New York. However, the characters were enough of a driving force to make things happen. Jerry Seinfeld, a stand-up comedian, and his three friends -George, Elaine, and Kramer- brought to life a series of hilarious situations, each character more eccentric than the last.

Seinfeld stood out because it focused more on each comic situation than on the long-term development of its characters. In addition to that, the show consistently used an ironic tone to critique social norms and stereotypes !

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Friends

Image: Ilse Orsel

One of the sitcoms influenced by Seinfeld was the iconic Friends , which aired for ten years, from 1994 to 2004.

Which was your favorite character: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, or Joey? Each of these quirky guys living in New York had a huge fan base in the 90s when the series aired on NBC. The success of Friends was undeniable, and its actors went on to earn sums of money that few comedy actors had ever earned before.

Although it has been criticized in recent years for its lack of diversity, there is no denying that this sitcom has given us a good dose of laughs and touched the hearts of many Americans over the years!

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The Office

Image: Adolfo Félix

You'd think a run-of-the-mill office wouldn't have much to give the viewer, right? Well, The Office appeared in 2005 to prove that's not true at all.

To achieve the success it enjoyed (and continues to enjoy), this sitcom only needed a great script, superb direction, and some seriously exceptional actors.

While the American version of this mockumentary is an adaptation of the British original, it was the American one that went around the world. That was largely thanks to actors like Steve Carell as the unusual boss Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as the hilarious Dwight, and the talented John Krasinski as Jim. They, along with the rest of the cast, made this series a comedic masterpiece.

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The Simpsons

Image: Stefan Grage

When it comes to iconic animated characters, The Simpsons instantly comes to mind.

Probably the most famous animated family in the world, the Simpsons have been on our screens for many years, debuting in 1989 and continuing to this day. The mastermind behind the show, Matt Groening, created characters that, while hilarious and charming from their first appearance, evolved to reveal complexity and depth over the years.

The biggest fans may say that the series is no longer what it once was. While this may be true, no one can deny that Homer , Marge, Bart , Lisa, Maggie, and other iconic characters like Flanders, Crusty, Barney, Burns, and Skinner will always be part of American culture.

1

Bannerman Castle, New York

Image: Erim Berk Benli

This crumbling fortress sits on a tiny island in the Hudson River, looking like something straight out of a Gothic novel . Francis Bannerman VI built it in 1901 to store his surplus military weapons because, apparently, his wife refused to keep thousands of munitions in the basement anymore.

The castle partially exploded in 1920 when some gunpowder got a little too excited, and it's been slowly deteriorating ever since. You can kayak out to the island or take a boat tour to see the ruins up close, where nature is slowly reclaiming the stone walls in a beautiful, apocalyptic sort of way.

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Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania

Image: Leyla M

Henry Mercer built this concrete monstrosity between 1908 and 1912. The guy was obsessed with tiles and built his castle as a showcase for his handmade ceramic collection , resulting in 44 rooms, 32 stairwells, and 18 fireplaces.

The castle has no blueprints because Mercer apparently just made it up as he went along, adding rooms and towers whenever the mood struck.

3

Gillette Castle, Connecticut

Image: Darya Tryfanava

William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, built this eccentric castle in the 1910s and filled it with spy mirrors, secret doors, and wooden locks he carved himself . The place looks like someone dropped a medieval fortress into a blender with a detective novel.

The castle has 47 doors, none of which work like normal doors should, because Gillette apparently thought regular doorknobs were for boring people. Now it's a state park where you can wander through rooms designed by someone who clearly never met a quirk he didn't like.

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Boldt Castle, New York

Image: Pascal Bernardon

George Boldt started building this Rhineland-style castle in 1900 as a Valentine's Day gift for his wife Louise . Then she died suddenly in 1904, and he immediately halted construction and never returned, leaving behind a monument to heartbreak on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands.

The castle sat abandoned for 73 years until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority took it over and began restoration. Today you can visit via ferry and explore the grand halls, the powerhouse, and the perfectly intact bowling alley.

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Castello di Amorosa, California

Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

This one's a bit of a cheat since it was built in 2007, but it's so ridiculously authentic that it deserves a spot . Winemaker Dario Sattui spent 14 years and $40 million building a 13th-century Tuscan castle in Napa Valley, complete with a moat, drawbridge, and torture chamber, because apparently wine tastings needed more medieval flair.

The castle used 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled stone and over a million antique bricks imported from Europe. You can tour the dungeons, great hall, and of course, taste wine in a setting that makes you feel like you should be wearing chainmail instead of your Costco polo shirt.

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Belvedere Castle, New York

Image: Birmingham Museum Trust

Perched on Vista Rock in Central Park, this miniature castle was built in 1869 as a Victorian folly —basically an expensive decoration that serves no practical purpose. It's now home to the Henry Luce Nature Observatory and offers panoramic views of the park, which is considerably more useful than its original job of just looking pretty.

The castle got a major renovation in the 1980s after decades of neglect left it looking more "haunted" than "enchanting." Today it's one of Central Park's most popular spots.

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Bishop Castle, Colorado

Image: Art Institute of Chicago

Jim Bishop started building this castle by himself in 1969 and worked on it for over 55 years until his death in 2024 . The hand-built stone structure rises 160 feet into the Colorado sky and includes towers, walkways, and a dragon that breathes actual fire—all constructed by one incredibly dedicated (and possibly slightly unhinged) man.

There are no railings on many of the precarious walkways because Bishop didn't believe in them. Admission is still free, though you might want to update your will before climbing to the top of the tallest tower, where the views are spectacular, and the safety regulations remain charmingly absent.

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Searles Castle, Massachusetts

Image: John Phelan

Edward Searles built this castle in 1888 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, creating a 40-room mansion that combined Romanesque and Gothic styles into something that can only be described as "aggressively architectural." The castle features stained glass windows, carved woodwork, and enough turrets to repel a small army.

After changing hands several times, the castle is now home to the John Dewey Academy. You can't tour the interior since it's a school, but you can admire the exterior and imagine what it's like to do algebra homework in a building that looks like it should contain dragons.

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Kip's Castle, New Jersey

Image: Birmingham Museum Trust

This English Tudor-style castle was built in 1902 by textile businessman Frederic Kip on a mountain in Montclair . The castle features towers, battlements, and spectacular views of Manhattan, proving that even early 1900s commuters wanted homes with dramatic flair and manageable drive times.

The castle has been through various owners and purposes, including a brief stint as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, because apparently nothing says "secret illegal bar" like a castle. Today it's used for private events, but the grounds are part of a county park where you can hike around and pretend you're visiting distant relatives who happen to be slightly eccentric nobility.

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Chateau Laroche (Loveland Castle), Ohio

Image: ConlonTT

Harry Andrews started building this medieval castle in 1929 using stones from the Little Miami River , spending over 50 years creating his dream fortress. Andrews was inspired by his time in Europe during World War I and decided Ohio needed more castles, which is hard to argue with.

He built most of it himself using ancient techniques, including a primitive pulley system and sheer determination. Today, the castle is maintained by the Knights of the Golden Trail, a Boy Scout-like organization Andrews founded. You can tour the castle for a few bucks and marvel at what one man with too much time and enough river rocks can accomplish.