1

First president to live in the White House

Image: Raymond M.E. Aguirre

In 1790, President George Washington signed an act of Congress declaring that the government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square […] on the river Potomac." Today, we all know what stands at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, DC. That's right! We're talking about the White House, an enduring symbol of the US presidency.

But it hasn't always been that way. The construction of the White House began in 1792 and only had its first resident 8 years later. He was President John Adams, who moved into the Executive Mansion with his wife Abigail in 1800.

2

First president with telephone in Office

Image: Carlos Eduardo

Nowadays, many of us can’t imagine getting anywhere without our cell phones. But in the 19th century, things were entirely different.

The landline telephone arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the late 1870s, during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, shortly after Alexander Graham Bell had unveiled the communication device. It's said that President Hayes was interested in the technology and recognized its potential.

However, because the invention was so new, calls from the White House were rare. The first president to use the telephone frequently and regularly is considered to be William McKinley, who took office in 1897.

3

First president to serve two non-consecutive terms

Image: Josh Carter

Several men have had the honor of serving as president of the United States on more than one occasion, starting with none other than George Washington. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and others have served two consecutive terms.

But there was someone who, for the first time, served two non-consecutive terms as president: Grover Cleveland. That's right, Cleveland first took office in 1885 after defeating Republican candidate James G. Blaine in the election. In 1888, he lost the presidency to Benjamin Harrison. However, in 1892, Cleveland won again, assuming his second mandate in 1893.

4

First president to win the Nobel Peace Prize

Image: Sunguk Kim

Winning a Nobel Peace Prize is not something that happens every day, right? Fortunately, four US presidents have achieved this remarkable recognition.

The first was Theodore Roosevelt, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his role in negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War. The other three presidents who received the Nobel were Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter (who was awarded the prize after leaving office), and Barack Obama.

5

First president born in the 20th century

Image: Florida Memory

The turn of the century is always a momentous and exciting event, and the first decades of the last century were quite... shall we say, "busy." The first president to serve during the 20th century was William McKinley, who was already in office at the turn of the century. But here’s a different question: who was the first future president born in the 20th century?

We're referring to none other than John F. Kennedy, who was born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts. At the age of 29, he won a seat in the House of Representatives, and six years later, he secured a position in the Senate.

Finally, in 1961, JFK was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States.

6

First president to light the National Christmas Tree

Image: Gaby Dyson

The lighting of the National Christmas Tree by the president of the country has become a cherished tradition that beautifully reflects the American Christmas spirit.

This tradition began on December 24, 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge became the first to light the National Christmas Tree located at the Ellipse near the White House. The imposing tree stood 48 feet tall and was decorated with over 2,500 electric lights. Beautiful!

Fortunately, the presidents who followed Coolidge have continued this delightful Christmas custom, keeping the tradition alive for generations to enjoy.

7

First president on TV

Image: Yle Archives

In the 1930s, it wasn't common to see the president's face on TV. In fact, before 1939, no president had ever appeared on television while in office.

The first American president on TV was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who made his television debut on April 30, 1939, at the New York World's Fair. Although this might not seem so revolutionary today, at the time, it marked a turning point in political communication and how leaders connected with citizens. His speech is remembered for addressing important issues, such as the future of the nation and the world.

8

First president on color TV

Image: Aleks Dorohovich

Yes, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first US president to appear on TV, but Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first sitting US president who was lucky enough to appear on color television!

This detail, which seems trivial today, was a radical change at the time. When color TV arose, everything people watched on their living room screens began to better reflect the reality outside. Eisenhower made his color TV debut during the 1950s , delivering a speech as part of his re-election campaign—a moment that symbolized the merging of politics and modern technology.

9

First president to visit all 50 states

Image: David Lusvardi

We know that the United States of America is a big country. In fact, we're one of the largest countries in the world in terms of territory. For this reason, it can be a challenge to get to visit all 50 states that make up our nation in a short period of time. However, one president managed to accomplish this feat for the first time.

The president who achieved this milestone was Richard Nixon, the 37th president (1969-1974), when he visited Maine on October 22, 1972, marking the completion of his goal.

It’s worth noting, in fairness to all previous presidents, that Hawaii and Alaska didn’t become states until 1959.

10

First president on the internet

Image: Anthony Massaro

Although the origins of the Internet can be traced back to the 1960s, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that it became a widely popular and accessible phenomenon.

In line with global technological advances, the White House decided to incorporate the use of the Internet during the presidency of Bill Clinton, who officially became the first president to use the Internet for work purposes while in office.

But that wasn't all! Clinton also hosted an event that seemed unimaginable before —he organized a live chat from the White House. With that, Clinton was establishing the first direct communication between a US president and the public through the Internet.

1

New York’s many names…

Image: ian dooley

Did you know that New York has had several names throughout its history? The first documented European visit to New York Harbor was in 1524 by Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian explorer who claimed the area for France and named it Nouvelle Angoulême (New Angoulême), after the French city located on the banks of the Charente River.

Almost a century later, English explorer Henry Hudson rediscovered New York and claimed it for the Dutch East India Company, who christened Manhattan Island as Nieuw Amsterdam (New Amsterdam). In 1664, due to the war between The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the British took over the area and renamed it New York , as a tribute to King Charles II's brother, James, Duke of York.

2

…and nicknames

Image: Artem Zhukov

In addition to its various official names, New York City has earned a good number of nicknames over the years. For example, Canvas Town, The Empire City, The City of Churches, Second City of the World, The Melting Pot, The City that Never Sleeps, The Center of the Universe, The City So Nice They Named It Twice, The Five Boroughs, and Metropolis, among many others.

But perhaps the most iconic New York City monikers are Gotham —coined by writer Washington Irving in 1807— and, of course, The Big Apple . In May 1921, sportswriter John Joseph Fitz Gerald of the New York Morning Telegraph first used The Big Apple in a feature on horse racing. As he later explained, that was the way New Orleans grooms' referred to New York City. Later, in the 1970s, an advertising campaign revived the nickname, and the rest is history.

3

National capital

Image: Cornelius Tiebout, artist and engraver of the original; this copy engraved by Hatch & Smillie and printed by J. &. G. Neale., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Given its cultural, political, and financial richness, it's curious that New York is not the capital of the United States. However, although it was only for five years, at one point in history it became a reality. Between January 11, 1785, and August 12, 1790, The Empire City served as the last capital under the Articles of Confederation and the first capital under the U.S. Constitution .

While the capital resided in New York, the representatives of Congress met in Federal Hall, a building located close to the current site of the Wall Street Stock Exchange. In fact, this is where George Washington was sworn in as president in 1789. However, a year later the Residence Act established the temporary seat of government in Philadelphia until the construction of the new capital, Washington, DC, was completed. Congress met for the first time in its new and current location on November 17, 1800.

4

Linguistically diverse

Image: Dan Gold

Did you know that New York is one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world? It’s like a modern-day Tower of Babel, which is no surprise given its nickname, The Melting Pot . It is estimated that up to 700 different languages are currently spoken in New York, many of them endangered. For example, in Queens, there is a small community that speaks Tagalog, the language on which Filipino is based. In the Bronx, on the other hand, several families still speak Laotian at home.

Alongside these lesser-known dialects, other more widespread languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and Italian, are spoken daily by communities that migrated to New York from their native countries. And that today, after several generations, still have a relevant representation in the most cosmopolitan city on the planet.

5

First pizza

Image: Jon Tyson

Not surprisingly, the first pizzeria in the United States is located in New York. The Italian immigrants who arrived in the city at the end of the 19th century brought with them their language, customs, and of course, their delicious food. One of these immigrants, Gennaro Lombardi, used leftover dough from the bread he sold in his Little Italy grocery store to make "tomato pies," following his Neapolitan family's recipe.

This pizza was so successful that in 1905, Lombardi converted his store into a pizza place. Little by little, he adapted his pizza to American ingredients and tastes, and lo and behold in a short time he had created what we now know as New York-style pizza. Lombardi's Pizza, today one of the most legendary pizzerias in New York, is the oldest in the United States. Be sure to grab a slice next time you visit The Big Apple — you won’t regret it!

6

Golden city

Image: Zlaťáky.cz

A city of firsts and mosts, New York is also home to the world's largest known depository of monetary gold. Buried 80 feet below street level, on the bedrock of Manhattan Island, hides an incredible treasure. Established in 1924, the vault of the main building of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, located in the Financial District, stores more gold than The United States Bullion Depository, better known as Fort Knox.

As of 2024, it houses approximately 507,000 gold bars. This reserve is enclosed in a 140-ton steel-and-concrete frame protected by a state-of-the-art security system. About 98% of the gold belongs to foreign governments, while the rest is owned by the U.S. government and other financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund.

7

Unique ZIP codes

Image: William Wachter

Apart from being home to major companies, the most photographed building in the world, and getting struck by lightning about 25 times a year, the Empire State Building is also notable for having its own ZIP code: 10118.

Although located in South Midtown, the building is so large that the U.S. Postal Service needed to assign it a unique zone improvement plan—ZIP for short—to handle its high volume of mail more accurately and efficiently. To be fair, other buildings in New York also have their own ZIP codes , including 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Chrysler Building, The Pavilion, Park Avenue Plaza, and the Pennsylvania Building, among others.

8

Birding paradise

Image: Laila Zouaki

New York has something for everyone, but wildlife? Who would have thought! When it comes to fauna, New York is much more than just rats, squirrels, and cockroaches. In fact, this concrete jungle has had animals at its heart since the beginning: two beavers adorn the official city seal. But not many New Yorkers know that Central Park is one of the nation's top spots for bird-watching.

The city is located at a concentration point on the Atlantic Flyway bird migration route, making it possible to observe birds year-round. In 1886, the park's first official bird census counted 121 species. Since then, 282 have been observed, including cuckoos, warblers, sparrows, owls, gulls, and Peregrine Falcons, among many others. Some of the best places in Central Park for birding are North Woods, The Ramble, Hallett Nature Sanctuary, and The Pond.

9

Times Square

Image: graphicsdays1989

The busiest street in the Big Apple owes its current name to a newspaper . Formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street, this area is now a spectacle of lights, screens, neon signs, theaters, and hordes of people. However, it was once the center of New York's horse carriage industry. For this reason, in the late 19th century it was known as Longacre Square.

In the early 20th century, The New York Times moved its offices to a skyscraper on 42nd Street. A new subway station soon followed and the area was given the name we know it by today, Times Square. Although the newspaper moved out a few years later, that building is still famous for the Times Square Ball drop on its roof every New Year's Eve.

10

Film mecca

Image: Marta Wave

Declared a National Historic Landmark, Central Park is a staple of New York City. It’s no wonder that this area, in addition to its natural beauty, is a world cultural icon. Central Park is, in fact, the most-filmed location in the world , having been featured in movies as far back as 1908.

With silver screen classics like An Affair to Remember or Breakfast at Tiffany's and modern films including Home Alone and The Avengers , more than 300 productions have chosen this 843-acre park in the heart of the bustling city to film some of the most iconic scenes in movie history. Have you ever spotted Central Park in a film or TV show? Now you won't stop seeing it everywhere!

1

Disneyland

Image: David Guerrero

Let’s start with "The Happiest Place on Earth" itself. The first theme park to be envisioned and built by creative tycoon Walt Disney was Disneyland, the one still located in Anaheim, California. It features a range of themed lands such as Fantasyland or Adventureland, and includes main attractions that are widely famous. Who hasn’t heard the "It’s a Small World" song, whether or not they’ve been on the ride?

Five more Disney parks went on to be opened in the United States, including Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. All of them feature parades, character meet-and-greets, and attractions that invite visitors to immerse themselves in the spirit of Disney films .

2

Legoland

Image: Clyde He

Legos began as small, colorful playthings for children—but they have grown into a whole subculture of their own. Fans who have spent decades inventing and carrying out new designs for their colored blocks dream of visiting the theme park one day. The first Legoland opened in Europe, but the California park debuted over 20 years ago and has been expanding ever since.

It features 9 sectors with over 60 rides, shows, and attractions, all themed around popular Lego sets and characters, such as the Dragon Coaster and Lego Ninjago The Ride. A standout feature is Miniland USA, which displays miniature Lego replicas of famous American landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and New York City. The park was so successful that similar resorts have since opened in Florida and New York.

3

The Big E

Image: Zachary DeBottis

The Big E, officially known as the Eastern States Exposition, is held between September and October in West Springfield, Massachusetts . It’s the largest agricultural fair in the northeastern United States, aiming to boast the best of New England culture, food, agriculture, and entertainment.

The fair features state-specific buildings representing all six New England states, each offering regional foods and crafts. The fairgrounds also host a large midway with rides, games, and live performances, as well as livestock shows, parades, and a variety of exhibitions. One of the biggest favorites of the 1.5 million visitors who attend each year is the Big E Cream Puff , a popular treat that’s been served since 1926.

4

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Image: Aditya Vyas

A round-the-clock fire-breathing dragon , spell-casting spots, immersive stores and alleys, along with themed rides and roller coasters—these can all be found at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, located within Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood in California.

The park's concept is to transport visitors into the magical universe of J.K. Rowling's books and films, featuring recreated settings such as Hogsmeade Village, Hogwarts Castle, and Diagon Alley. Guests can also enjoy interactive experiences, like purchasing magical wands or sampling "butterbeer," a beverage made using a closely guarded secret recipe.

5

Arizona State Fair

Image: PONCIANOMX

Arizona State Fair is held annually in Phoenix. It traditionally combines agricultural exhibits, concerts, and carnival rides, with attractions such as livestock shows, rodeos , and demolition derbies, as well as thrilling roller coasters and rides for all ages.

The fair receives around 1 million visitors a year, who love its diverse range of deep-fried and unique fair foods. A main attraction is the iconic "La Grande Wheel," one of the largest traveling Ferris wheels in North America, standing at an impressive height of 130 feet.

6

Dollywood

Image: Adam Kring

The only singer-songwriter to have her own theme park is Dolly Parton. Dollywood is located in her home state of Tennessee, in Pigeon Forge. It is open from March to early January, with seasonal festivals and special events throughout the year. The family-friendly theme park is nestled in the Smoky Mountains , themed around Appalachian culture and the life of country music star Dolly Parton.

Originally, it was a small attraction called "Rebel Railroad," until it was purchased and rebranded by Dolly Parton in the 1980s. Today, it boasts a mix of roller coasters, craft demonstrations, and live entertainment, including bluegrass and gospel music. Dolly herself is known to make surprise appearances at the park, events affectionately referred to by fans as " Dolly Sightings. "

7

Hersheypark

Image: mjimages

Hershey's Chocolate Bar is another American favorite with its own theme park. Hersheypark is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is a family-friendly amusement park that blends thrilling rides, water attractions, and entertainment, all themed around "The Great American Chocolate Bar. "

"Candymonium" is one of its iconic rollercoasters, and it also features a large water park called The Boardwalk. Hersheypark offers live shows, character meet-and-greets, and a range of dining options that highlight Hershey's chocolate and sweets. It opened in the early 1900s as a leisure area for employees of Hershey, starting as a small picnic area with a carousel. Now, it receives around 3 million visitors yearly!

8

State Fair of Texas

Image: Zabdiel Gonzalez

The State Fair of Texas is celebrated every year in Dallas, Texas. Another fair to celebrate the large state's rich history and cultural heritage, traditionally held in its home Fair Park , which has been expanded over the years to accommodate the growing attendance.

Beyond the live music and carnival rides, the fair is known for its iconic "Big Tex," a 55-foot-tall cowboy figure that serves as the fair's mascot. Another classic of the fair is the competition for the best new fried food item; past winners have included fried butter and fried Coca-Cola.

9

Puyallup Fair

Image: Scott Webb

The Puyallup Fair, officially known as the Washington State Fair, is held annually in Puyallup, Washington. One of the largest fairs in the Pacific Northwest, it features popular attractions like thrilling rides on the Midway , concerts by famous artists, and unique competitions such as pie-eating contests and rodeos.

The fair is also known for its iconic "Giant Pumpkin Contest," where the growers of the largest pumpkins are rewarded. Additionally, the fair hosts a "Food Truck Frenzy," offering a chance to try various local food trucks alongside traditional fair fare. The fair also includes a unique event called the "Farm & Garden Show," where visitors can learn about sustainable farming and gardening practices.

10

Seaworld

Image: J.U.L.Ö

SeaWorld can be found in Florida and Texas, but the first and most iconic park is the one in San Diego, California. This amusement and marine zoological park is known for its aquatic life exhibits, thrilling rides, and live entertainment featuring sea animals. Visitors can enjoy roller coasters like "Mako" and "Kraken," as well as interactive exhibits where they can get close to dolphins, sea lions, and other marine animals.

The park also hosts educational shows about animal behavior and conservation efforts. SeaWorld has played a significant role in animal preservation and has rescued thousands of marine animals over the years, including seals, sea turtles, and birds. In recent years, the park has also introduced virtual reality experiences to immerse visitors into underwater worlds.