1

Early childhood

Image: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being born into a prominent family, Eleanor Roosevelt’s childhood was not easy. She became an orphan when she was still very young. Her mother, Anna Hall, passed away in 1892, and her father died in 1894 from injuries sustained during a suicide attempt.

Following these tragic events, young Eleanor was left in the care of her maternal grandmother, Valentine Hall, before she was sent to a school for girls in England at the age of 15.

2

Family ties

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Eleanor had presidential connections way before her marriage to FDR. Her father was Elliott Roosevelt, the younger brother of former President Theodore Roosevelt. Franklin D. Roosevelt, in turn, comes from a different branch of the Roosevelt family. The family was divided into two distinct clans, both based in New York, each with its own unique culture. Franklin belonged to the Hyde Park Roosevelts and was Theodore Roosevelt’s fifth cousin, while Eleanor was Theodore’s fifth cousin once removed .

Theodore was very fond of his niece and treated Eleanor like a daughter. In fact, in 1905, just a few months into his second term, the president gave her away at her wedding to Franklin D. Roosevelt. There’s nothing like keeping the name in the family!

3

American Red Cross volunteer

Image: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From a young age, Eleanor Roosevelt was actively involved in volunteer work. In 1917, when the United States entered World War I, women’s roles shifted dramatically. For Eleanor, this meant volunteering with the Red Cross and visiting wounded naval soldiers.

During her husband’s presidency, in the midst of World War II, Eleanor would inspire others to join the Red Cross and help raise funds to improve care and assistance for soldiers and their families. In August 1943, she even embarked on a month-long journey through the South Pacific to visit hospitals and infirmaries on military bases and ships.

4

An adventurous First Lady

Image: National Portrait Gallery, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being an introvert, Eleanor Roosevelt was an adventurer at heart. She liked to travel and throughout her life practiced different sports. What did Eleanor consider the happiest day of her life? The day she made the field hockey team at her private school!

During the 1930s, she became close to American aviator Amelia Earhart . The pilot took the First Lady on a flight from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore in 1933 and even inspired Eleanor to apply for her own pilot’s license. After Earhart vanished during her attempt to fly around the world, Roosevelt told reporters, "I am sure Amelia’s last words were ‘I have no regrets.’"

5

Women's advocate

Image: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States, Eleanor redefined the role of the First Lady. Unlike her predecessors, she led a very active political life, participating in a multitude of events advocating for women's rights.

For example, before FDR’s presidency, female journalists were often excluded from media events at the White House. Eleanor helped reverse this injustice by hosting a series of women-only press conferences . This courageous and revolutionary act eventually pressured newspapers to hire more female reporters and helped Eleanor win over female voters on behalf of her husband.

6

Newspaper columnist

Image: Douglas Chandor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a syndicated newspaper column for 27 years? From 1935 until her death in 1962, Roosevelt penned six articles a week about her political views and personal life.

Simply titled "My Day," the column featured her thoughts on hot topics such as prohibition, Pearl Harbor, and Joseph McCarthy’s communist witch hunt. In all that time, Eleanor missed only a single week's worth of deadlines after her husband died in 1945.

7

Civil rights activist

Image: National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Eleanor Roosevelt was notably more progressive on civil rights than her husband. During the era of segregation, the First Lady became a crucial ally to the African-American community .

For example, she regularly invited African-American guests to the White House, breaking established protocols. In 1938, she even attended the inaugural meeting of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare in Birmingham, Alabama. On that occasion, after learning that segregationist policies prohibited white and African-Americans from sitting together at public functions, Eleanor protested. "They were afraid to arrest her," one witness recalled.

8

J. Edgar Hoover's public enemy

Image: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Because of her support for civil liberties and promotion of social programs, Eleanor Roosevelt was labeled a communist by the most conservative wing of American society. She was especially unpopular with J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, which viewed her as a threat to the status quo.

In fact, the First Lady was the subject of one of the largest single FBI files, totaling around 3,000 pages . She publicly criticized Hoover’s abusive tactics, calling them "Gestapo-ish."

9

The first influencer

Image: Evert F. Baumgardner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1959, Eleanor Roosevelt made a surprising appearance in a TV commercial that helped popularize margarine as a preferred spread in America.

Her endorsement of the product not only had a significant impact on consumer choices but also earned her a substantial income of $35,000. As evidence of her commitment to social causes, Eleanor used the earnings to purchase 6,000 care packages for families in need , providing critical support and assistance.

10

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Image: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1946, President Harry S Truman appointed Eleanor Roosevelt as the U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council. In this influential role, she played a key part in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Along with 50 other members, Eleanor worked tirelessly to establish a comprehensive framework that protected and upheld the fundamental rights and dignity of individuals worldwide. Her dedication to this important endeavor marked a significant milestone in the advancement of human rights on a global scale. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains, without a doubt, one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s greatest legacies.

1

A Presidential curse

For almost 140 years, U.S. presidents elected in years ending in zero died while in office. It happened to William Henry Harrison (elected in 1840, died in 1841), Abraham Lincoln (elected in 1860, died in 1865), James A. Garfield (elected in 1880, died in 1881), William McKinley (re-elected in 1900, died in 1901), Warren G. Harding (elected in 1920, died in 1923), Franklin D. Roosevelt (elected to a third term in 1940 and a fourth in 1944, died in 1945), and John F. Kennedy (elected in 1960, died in 1963). Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980, broke the curse by surviving an assassination attempt.

2

Mark Twain and Halley’s Comet

In the year Mark Twain was born, 1835, Halley’s Comet passed by Earth. The great writer famously predicted he’d "go out with it" as well . Indeed, he passed away in 1910, the next time the comet appeared.

3

Jefferson and Adams

A patriotic yet somber coincidence, indeed. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third U.S. presidents, both died on July 4, 1826 —exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

4

Hoover Dam’s first and last casualties

The construction of the Hoover Dam was a long and difficult process, claiming over 100 lives. The first person to die was J.G. Tierney , and the last recorded death was his son , Patrick Tierney.

5

Lincoln and Kennedy

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were elected 100 years apart (1860 and 1960). Both suffered fatal head wounds and were succeeded by presidents named Johnson. Their assassins each had three names: John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. Both were assassinated on a Friday while sitting next to their wives at the time that it happened.

6

Charles Francis Coghlan’s last journey

Actor Charles Francis Coghlan died in Texas in 1899. But his casket was lost at sea during a hurricane. Eight years later, his coffin washed ashore near his birthplace in Prince Edward Island, Canada, more than 3,000 miles away.

7

The Titanic coincidence

A few years before the Titanic sank, Morgan Robertson wrote a short book called Futility , about a massive "unsinkable" ship called the Titan that hit an iceberg and sank. The tale describes a ship with a similar size and a similar lack of lifeboats to the famous vessel.

8

Dennis the Menace

Two comic strips featuring a character named Dennis the Menace debuted in British and American outlets, respectively, on March 12, 1961—only a few hours apart. However, the two creators did not know each other and had no idea of the other’s work.

9

Jim Lewis and Jim Springer

Identical twin brothers separated at birth , Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, were reunited at age 39 and discovered many coincidences: both married women named Linda , divorced, and then remarried women named Betty. Both had dogs named Toy and drove the same model of car. Both grew up with an adopted brother named Larry and had sons whom they named James Allan.

10

Disney magic

A soon-to-be-married couple, Alex and Donna , were looking through old photos to include in their wedding video. They found one photo of Donna posing on a childhood trip to Disney World in 1980. And in the background, they spotted Alex being pushed in a stroller by his father.

11

Moped meets taxi, twice

In 1975, 17-year-old Erskine Lawrence Ebbin was struck by a taxi in Bermuda while riding his moped. A year later, his brother Neville , also 17 at the time, was riding the same moped when he was struck by the same taxi —with the same passenger—on the same street.

12

Lightning strike survivor

Being hit by lightning is an extremely rare occurrence. Park ranger Roy Sullivan was struck not once, but seven times between 1942 and 1977 —and survived them all. The strikes hit him in a fire tower, in his truck, in his yard, while patrolling, and more. His unusual record earned him the nickname "Human Lightning Rod."

1

Point Roberts, WA: The 49th parallel accident

Imagine if you had to cross two borders just to get to the market for a gallon of milk. That’s actually a reality for residents of Point Roberts, Washington. That’s because, following the Anglo-American Convention of 1818, the 49th parallel divided Canada and the U.S. In 1846, the line was extended westward and then officially recognized by the International Boundary Commission in 1925.

However, a tiny tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula poked out just below that line. Since then, the locals have lived in a boundary quirk. To get to the rest of Washington State by land, they must drive through Canada, show their passports, and do it all over again on the way back.

2

Statue of Liberty: Common misconception

If you want to start a friendly argument at a dinner party, ask whether the Statue of Liberty lives in New York or New Jersey. The funny thing is, both answers are technically right . While the statue physically sits in the waters of the Garden State, Liberty Island is legally an exclave of New York. This dates back to a 1664 land grant by the Duke of York in a document so vague and confusing that it took a 1834 Compact between the two states to settle the deal. New Jersey gets the water and the submerged lands, but New York keeps the monument.

However, the Federal Government actually manages the site through the National Park Service (NPS), providing security and maintenance.

3

The State of Franklin: Failed 14th state

If you think Tennessee was the 14th state to join the Union, there’s a catch. Before Tennessee, there was Franklin. In 1874, three counties in North Carolina felt neglected by their government and decided to strike out on their own . They even elected a governor, John Sevier, and printed their own money. They came just two votes short of being recognized by Congress as a formal state. Eventually, things got heated, and North Carolina sent troops, leading to a small civil war between the locals. By 1879, the dream of Franklin was dead and buried, and the territory became part of Tennessee.

4

Kentucky Bend

If you look closely at a map, there’s a piece of Kentucky that looks like it doesn’t belong. That’s the Kentucky Bend, also called the New Madrid Bend, a tiny peninsula in Fulton County that is almost completely separated from the rest of the Bluegrass State . The strange situation was the consequence of the massive series of earthquakes that took place in that area between 1811 and 1812, which were so violent they famously caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for several hours. When the dust settled, the river had carved a new path that looped around this small patch of land, surrounded by Missouri and Tennessee instead of Kentucky. The 9 residents living there today go through Tennessee just to get to their home state.

5

The State of Deseret: The empire that almost was

Imagine a state so big it makes Texas look tiny. That almost happened back in 1894, when Mormon pioneers proposed the State of Deseret. The territory comprised what we now know as Utah, most of Nevada, parts of Arizona and Colorado, and a massive chunk of the California coast, including San Diego.

Had it been formalized, it would have been a powerhouse with its own seaport and total control over the West. However, Washington, D.C. wasn’t so keen on one group having that much territory and power, so they whittled it down, and we ended up having the states we know today.

6

The lawless "No Man's Land"

Have you ever wondered what happens when two governments simply give up on a piece of land? Between 1806 and 1821, there was a strip of land in what is now western Louisiana that was, literally, No Man’s Land. Neither the U.S. nor Spain, which owned part of the territory, could agree on the border, so they declared it "Neutral Ground" to avoid armed conflicts . The plan backfired as, with no laws to contain it, it quickly became a favorite for the outlaws in the West —meaning deserters and bandits hiding there were legally untouchable. The conflict was resolved by the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty, which officially set the Sabine River as the legal boundary.

7

The Republic of the Indian Stream

In the early 1830s, people living in a small area between New Hampshire and Quebec were fed up, and in this case, taxes were the problem. Both Canada and the US were trying to collect taxes, and nobody likes being double-billed . In 1832, the residents essentially said "neither of them can tax us" and formed their own country called the Republic of the Indian Stream. They had their own constitution and Capitol for four years, until 1836, when the militia marched on the disputed territory to reclaim the land. It wasn’t until 1842, when the land dispute and the double-taxation was definitively resolved by the Webster–Ashburton Treaty, which assigned the land to New Hampshire.

8

The Northwest Angle: Mapping mistake of 1783

When the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 to end the Revolutionary War, the mapmakers used a chart that was flat-out wrong. They thought the Mississippi River started much further north than it actually did. Because of that mistake, a piece of Minnesota got cut off from the rest of the country . To this day, the "Northwest Angle" is the only place in the lower 48 states north of the 49th parallel. Much like Point Roberts, you have to cross a massive lake or drive through Canada just to visit it.

9

The District of Columbia’s "lost" corner

If you look at a map of D.C., you’ll notice it’s missing a chunk; it’s not a perfect square as it was originally intended. Originally, the capital was a perfect ten-mile square diamond , taking land from both Maryland and Virginia. But by 1846, things got tense. Residents in the Virginia portion, which included Alexandria and Arlington, were worried the federal government would abolish slavery in the District, which was the backbone of their economy. They successfully petitioned to have Virginia "take back" that portion of the land and subsequently changed the shape of the national capital forever.

10

UN Headquarters: International territory

If you want to feel international, go to the United Nations Headquarters on the East River in midtown Manhattan, New York. Once you cross that gate onto the 18-acre site, you are technically leaving the United States. You don’t need to show your passport, but that’s international territory, which means it has its own laws , its own security force, and even its own postal service. It is a legal hole in the middle of New York City.