1

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Based on Margaret Mitchell's bestselling novel of the same name, this emotional depiction of Civil War and Reconstruction-era Georgia follows the impoverished Scarlett O’Hara as she strives to overcome the reality of post-war Southern U.S .

With a massive budget and as one of the first films to use Technicolor, the movie broke attendance records and is considered to be one of the greatest American films.

2

Stagecoach (1939)

One of the many Westerns directed by the legendary John Ford, Stagecoach not only cemented John Wayne as an A-list actor but also elevated the concept of the Western film.

Considered a "perfect textbook of filmmaking" by Orson Welles, its characters and plot have often been described as an extraordinary representation of American archetypes and of the nation's ongoing struggle for political equality.

3

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles’s first film, and considered by many to be the greatest film of all time, this semi-biographical drama follows the life of Charles Foster Kane, loosely based on several American tycoons.

Welles’s filmmaking style featured new and innovative techniques that would later become standard in the industry. Filmed in just 82 days, the film was a critical success despite being suppressed in the media.

4

12 Angry Men (1957)

Adapted from a Reginald Rose play, this legal drama critiques the American jury system through the portrayal of 12 jurors as they deliberate whether to convict or acquit a teenager charged with murder, in a case where reasonable doubt exists.

The debate among the jurors, which leads them to question their values and morals, becomes a study of 1950s America and the dangers of mob mentality.

5

Psycho (1960)

A horror classic by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho follows the encounter of a secretary on the run with a disturbed mother-and-son motel owners. Despite its controversial subject matter, the film was a resounding success, becoming Hitchcock’s most financially successful movie.

Considered to be the first slasher film, it is one of the most influential horror movies of the 20th century , inspiring several sequels and remakes.

6

The Graduate (1967)

An atypical romance-drama for the time, The Graduate was a success because it captured a generational break with its anti-heroic main character, who was disillusioned with the prior generation’s worldview.

Supported by innovative film techniques and featuring several Simon & Garfunkel songs, the film changed how music and marketing were used in cinema.

7

All the President’s Men (1976)

Based on the Watergate scandal and the journalists who investigated it, this film is considered a landmark political thriller.

A massive success, both critically and commercially, All the President’s Men won four Academy Awards and is considered one of the best portrayals of investigative journalism .

8

The Breakfast Club (1985)

One of the most influential teenage movies of its time, The Breakfast Club was a huge success despite its low budget and limited production.

Its deconstruction of the mainstream high school stereotypes, along with its discussion of adolescent concerns and insecurities, made the film an all-time classic coming-of-age story.

9

Schindler's List (1993)

Based on the life of Oskar Schindler, a German factory owner who saved the lives of thousands of Jews during World War II, Schindler's List is considered a cinematic masterpiece that depicts a harrowing story with compassion and humanity.

A resounding critical and commercial success, the film has been praised by survivors and scholars alike for its role in raising global awareness of the Holocaust.

10

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Following a group of soldiers on a mission to locate and retrieve the last surviving son of a family during World War II, this film was praised for its authenticity, especially its opening sequence depicting the Omaha Beach landing on D-Day.

Widely considered to have redefined the war film genre , Saving Private Ryan distanced itself from other movies that glorified and idealized World War II, showcasing the suffering and struggles of individuals during the conflict.

1

He was of French descent

While we think of Paul Revere as an early American icon, his roots lay across the Atlantic. His father, Apollos Rivoire, was a French Huguenot (a member of the French Reformed Church) who fled religious persecution and immigrated to Boston as a teenager.

To fit in his new home, Apollos Americanized the family name to "Revere". Paul was born in late 1734 or early 1735, the son of Apollos and a Boston local called Deborah Hichborn. Apollos was so interested in blending in that he never taught his children to speak and read French. In fact, a young Paul Revere even fought against the French as part of the colonial forces during the French and Indian War.

2

He was an accomplished artisan

Before he was a revolutionary, Revere was a master craftsman. He learned the art of silversmithing from his father and quickly gained a reputation as an accomplished artisan. He designed seals, coats of arms, plate engravings, and silver teapots.

Revere also used his engraving skills to create sharp political cartoons that mocked the British. His most famous artistic work was a sensationalized engraving of the 1770 Boston Massacre. It wasn’t entirely historically accurate, but it spread through the colonies, stirring up the anti-British sentiment that laid the groundwork for the Revolution.

3

He worked as an amateur dentist

When silversmithing work ran slow, Revere picked up a side hustle: dentistry. He started cleaning teeth and crafting dental prosthetics out of animal teeth and walrus ivory for the people of Boston.

This amateur dental career actually led to a major moment in American history. In 1775, Revere’s close friend, Dr. Joseph Warren, was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill and buried in an unmarked mass grave by British soldiers. A year later, when the bodies were exhumed, the remains were unrecognizable. Yet, Revere was able to identify Warren’s body by recognizing the specific ivory tooth and custom wire bridge he had personally crafted for his friend. It’s widely considered one of the earliest documented cases of forensic dentistry in the United States.

4

He played a key role in early intelligence efforts

Long before the CIA existed, Paul Revere was working as a pioneer of organized American espionage. As a member of the Sons of Liberty, Revere wanted to track British movements closely. In 1774, he helped form a spy group known as "the mechanics" or the "Liberty Boys".

These men were Bostonian blacksmiths, artisans, and laborers who used their ordinary routines to watch British troops, listening for rumors of upcoming military actions. The spies would gather at the city’s historic Green Dragon Tavern to trade secrets and map out British movements.

5

Longfellow's inaccurate poem

If your knowledge of Revere comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous 1861 poem, "Paul Revere's Ride," you’ve been given a romanticized version of history. Longfellow wrote the poem nearly a century later, on the brink of the American Civil War, to stir up national pride.

In reality, Revere wasn’t a lone rider. The night of April 18, 1775, Revere set out with two other main horsemen: William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott. As they triggered local alarms, dozens of other riders joined the effort. By midnight, more than 40 people were racing across the country, spreading the word. Furthermore, Revere never actually made it to his final destination of Concord. He was captured and briefly detained by a British patrol.

6

He didn’t even own a horse for his midnight ride

It’s hard to imagine the midnight ride without Revere’s faithful steed, but the truth is, Revere didn’t even own a horse when the fateful night arrived. Because he had to be quietly rowed across the Charles River, bringing a horse from Boston was out of the question.

Once he reached Charlestown, he had to find a ride. He ended up borrowing a horse from a sympathetic local merchant called John Larkin. Legend has it that this borrowed mare was named "Brown Beauty". Sadly, after Revere was captured later that night, the soldiers confiscated the horse, and she was never seen again.

7

He didn’t actually say THAT

"The British are coming!" is one of the most famous quotes in American history, but Revere never said it. The countryside was crawling with British soldiers, so his mission had to be very quiet. Yelling at the top of his lungs would have landed him in military prison before he even left town. Instead, he went door to door delivering the warning quietly to specific patriots.

Also, the phrase wouldn’t have made sense to the colonists. At the moment in 1775, the colonists still considered themselves British citizens. Instead, historical accounts indicate that Revere used the phrase, "The Regulars are coming out!" "Regulars" was the standard colonial term for the standing British army troops.

8

His military record wasn't outstanding

Although Revere was a phenomenal community organizer and courier, his transition into traditional military leadership didn’t go smoothly. During the war, he served as a major and later a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts State Artillery. His military career hit a disastrous low point in the summer of 1779 during the Penobscot Expedition in modern-day Maine.

The mission was a total failure for the Americans. In the aftermath, Revere was accused of cowardice, laziness, and disobedience. He faced a court-martial and spent several years fighting to clear his name. He was ultimately acquitted of all charges in 1782, but the incident permanently tarnished his dreams of military glory.

9

Fatherhood came early… and often

If you think managing a household today is stressful, consider Paul Revere’s domestic life: he fathered an astonishing 16 children.

He had his first eight children with his first wife, Sarah Orne. Following her death in 1773, he remarried a woman called Rachel Walker, with whom he had another eight children. They crammed this huge family into a small townhouse at 19 North Square in downtown Boston. Amazingly for the 18th century, 11 of his 16 children survived to adulthood.

10

Revere Copper Products, Inc. is still in operation

After the Revolution ended, Revere left politics and went back to industry with some success. He opened a hardware store, a foundry, and the first rolling copper mill in the United States.

In fact, his business supplied the copper used to protect the hull of the USS Constitution. He also cast nearly 1,000 church bells, many of which still ring across New England today. Amazingly, the company he founded, Revere Copper Products, Inc., is still in business. Paul Revere passed away in 1818 at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy more industrious than a single night’s ride.

1

Raven Rock Mountain Complex

Image: Ilagam

Did you know that in the 1950s, the US government carved out a secret underground city that could survive a nuclear attack? It’s called an "underground Pentagon", and very much like Area 51, it is one of the government's most classified projects.

This military complex and nuclear bunker is located near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, 768 feet below the ground. It’s protected by 23.5 ft thick 30-ton doors built on top of springs to survive the shock from a blast. Raven Rock has five buildings with 15 floors big enough to live and work. The base has everything it needs to keep running, like a cafeteria, a barbershop, water generators, and even a medical center.

2

SubTropolis

Image: mwewering

Below Kansas City, Missouri, lies the world's largest underground business complex. SubTropolis is a structure located inside a mine north of the Missouri River. It was carved out of limestone some 135 to 185 feet underground and covers a total of 55 million square feet.

Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt built this subterranean city in the 1960s. It has offices, storage space, and even factories. Over 1,600 people work here every day, largely because SubTropolis remains cool all year, making it an ideal location for businesses. Fun fact: some of Hollywood’s most beloved masterpieces are kept here, including the original film reels of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.

3

Underground Atlanta

Image: Ronny Sison

Underground Atlanta is a historic spot in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It was built in the late 1800s, right after the Civil War, as a commercial district centered around the railroad. In the 1920s, viaducts were built and the streets were raised, creating a second level of streets, buildings, and shops.

During Prohibition, the abandoned underground space served as the best spot for speakeasies and juke joints. For decades, people forgot about the hidden city, but in the 1960s, it was brought back to life as a fun place for music bars and nightlife.

4

New York City Subterranean World

Image: Photographer: unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Under America’s most populous city, there's a whole hidden world. For example, beneath Little Italy and the Public Library, there are secret vaults. Beyond the subway millions of people use daily, there is City Hall station, opened in 1904 and closed in 1945. It's a hidden gem with stained glass and mosaics that you can still visit by staying on the 6 train past the last stop.

But that’s not all! There are trading tunnels in SoHo and old cattle tunnels in the Meatpacking District. Also, in 1897, there were mail tubes built around the city to send letters between post offices that operated until the 1950s. Some of these underground spaces go as deep as 800 feet!

5

Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility

Image: Paxson Woelber

A large part of the land in the northern hemisphere is Permafrost, so it makes sense that there is a research facility specially built to study it. The Permafrost Tunnel in Alaska is the best place to learn about frozen soil that's over 40,000 years old.

The long tunnel was dug from 1963 to 1969 to study how to build and mine in frozen environments. Inside the facility, scientists study ice, ancient plants, and even bones from animals like mammoths. The tunnel shows different layers of earth, uncovering frozen ground from different time periods that help scientists anticipate what might happen as the world gets warmer.

6

The Greenbrier Bunker

Image: Alex Holzreiter

The Greenbrier Bunker in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is a secret underground facility beneath a luxury hotel that has hosted numerous US presidents and famous guests. It was built during the Cold War to protect the US Congress in the event of a nuclear attack. The bunker was designed to house all 535 members of Congress and their staff for a long time.

This classified underground facility remained a secret until 1992, when a Washington Post article exposed it. Today, visitors can take tours to see special rooms, blast doors, and decontamination areas.

7

The Caverns

Image: jymy duhomme

Would you attend a concert underground? If you travel to Tennessee is totally possible! The Caverns, formerly known as Bluegrass Underground, is a very cool spot in Grundy County, Tennessee. Lying deep in a cave 333 feet underground, this concert venue with natural acoustics is the perfect place for live music.

People come from all over to hear a variety of performances, especially Bluegrass music. The Caverns can accommodate up to 1,200 people standing up and are equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lights. The cave's cool and quiet atmosphere makes the experience extra special!

8

Crystal City Underground

Image: Gustavo Alejandro Espinosa Reyes

Beneath the neighborhood of Crystal City, near Washington, DC, lies a network of shops, restaurants, and offices. It opened in 1976 and was designed to feel like an old shopping village with cobblestone streets and antique glass windows.

The underground space covers 150,000 square feet and connects several buildings. It's a popular spot for office workers and visitors, especially when the weather is bad. Unfortunately, in 2024, the shops closed, ending their retail era. Yet, the underground walkways and connections to the Metro remain open for pedestrians.

9

Los Angeles Prohibition Tunnels

Image: Alpha Perspective

In the 1920s, during Prohibition, people had to find ingenious ways around the restrictions on selling and consuming alcohol. That's why they built about 11 miles of underground tunnels right under Los Angeles.

Many of these subterranean sites are now closed, but you can still find a few hidden entrances around the city. You can even go on a tour to explore the tunnels and learn about their secret history.

10

Havre Beneath the Streets

Image: Đào Việt Hoàng

After a big fire in 1904 destroyed Havre’s business district in Montana, many shops moved underground. They used the old steam tunnels to stay safe from fires and bad weather. For years, the tunnels were busy with people and stores, such as saloons, drugstores, laundromats, and even a brothel. But today it is completely silent.

Fortunately, you can still visit what is left of this hidden city to see old shops and learn how people stayed safe and worked over 100 years ago. It's like going back in time!

11

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the safest places in the world is right here in America, more specifically in El Paso County, Colorado. Hidden inside a mountain, Cheyenne Mountain Complex was built in the 1960s to protect the US military from nuclear attacks.

The bunker stands under 2,000 feet of solid Granite, making it super strong and safe. It was once the command center for NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). The complex has blast doors that weigh 25 tons each and can withstand a nuclear blast. It also has its own power, water, and food supply. People could survive there for months!

12

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Image: Levi Clancy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Sicilian immigrant called Baldassare Forestiere spent 40 years digging and building a series of subterranean structures by hand in Fresno, California. Inspired by Roman catacombs and old wine cellars, he created around 65 rooms, tunnels, and courtyards to escape the hot summer sun.

The Gardens have fruit trees, grapevines, fishponds, and even a chapel. Some of the trees are more than 90 years old! Today, Forestiere Underground Gardens is a Historical Landmark you can visit if you want to discover a true underground paradise.