1

New York, The Empire State

Probably the most famous and recognizable state nickname, no one really knows who was the first to call New York State the "Empire State", but everyone agrees on the reason for the nickname. The state of New York has always been one of the richest, most developed, and strategically important territories in America , a powerhouse akin to an empire. George Washington himself had described it as "the seat of the Empire" in 1785, and many believe that these words were the source of the nickname.

2

Indiana, The Hoosier State

Another instantly recognisable nickname, the origin of the term ‘Hoosier’ is also widely debated. Believed to have emerged in the 1830s, some say that it is a deformation of the phrase "Who's here?". No matter its actual origin, the term was popularized by John Finley's 1833 poem "The Hoosier's Nest" , a description of rugged but welcoming Indiana pioneers, and it became a source of pride for the state, so much so that ‘Hoosier’ was officially adopted as a demonym by the state of Indiana in 2017.

3

Delaware, The First State

Delaware was not the first colony to exist or to become a state. In fact, Delaware wasn’t even a colony: it was technically part of Pennsylvania. The ‘first’ referenced in the nickname alludes to Delaware’s role in the ratification of the U.S. Constitution , a task that took time and political compromise, as several states had concerns about the document and its articles. But while it took nearly two years for all the states to ratify the Constitution, it took less than three months for Delaware to do so unanimously, setting a precedent for other states.

4

Virginia, The Old Dominion

Probably the oldest state nickname still in use, Virginia’s ‘Old Dominion’ nickname has existed for more than 400 years. The first English colony in America, Virginia was also the main colony to remain faithful to the monarchy during the English Civil War , supporting the exiled King, inviting him to take refuge in their territory, and resisting the siege from the Parliamentary fleet for a long time. After the restoration, King Charles II conferred the colony the title of ‘dominion’ —similar to a kingdom in rank— and affectionately called it "the most Ancient Colloney and Dominion."

5

Oklahoma, The Sooner State

Although it is now used as a symbol of a competitive and pioneering attitude, the term ‘Sooner’ was not always seen as positive. During the Land Rush of April 22, 1889, the U.S. government opened a territory —freed by the forced displacement of thousands on ative Americans— for pioneers to take. At noon, a bugle would signal that settlers could enter and claim areas of land. However, several pioneers broke the rules, entering the territory ‘sooner’ , before the signal. Initially a pejorative nickname, the people of Oklahoma eventually owned the term as a symbol of their ‘can-do’ attitude.

6

Connecticut, The Constitution State

Unlike what many people think, Connecticut’s nickname is not related to the U.S. Constitution. In fact, the ‘constitution’ referenced in it predates the American Constitution by more than a century. Unlike other colonies, established by royal charters, the Connecticut Colony was established through The Fundamental Orders , a document delineating a representative government based on "the free consent of the people". The Fundamental Orders are considered to be the first written constitution in Western modern history, a fact that gave Connecticut its nickname.

7

Tennessee, The Volunteer State

Out of the many things that showcase Tennessee’s patriotism, none is as old or as well-documented as its volunteer vocation. Starting during the Revolutionary War, with the Appalachian Overmountain men volunteering to fight during the Battle of King's Mountain, Tennessee’s men's willingness to volunteer as soldiers became known during the War of 1812 , with hundreds fighting under Andrew Jackson’s command and earning Tennessee the name of the Volunteer State. To further solidify it, when President James K. Polk asked Tennessee for 2,800 volunteers during the Mexican-American War of 1846, the state responded to the call by sending 30,000 volunteer troops.

8

Vermont, The Brave Little State

A relatively more recent nickname than others in this list, the description of Vermont as a ‘brave little state’ dates back to 1928. After a flood in 1927 resulted in nearly 100 casualties and millions of dollars in damages, President Coolidge, a Vermont native, visited the state to assess the situation. Coolidge, often seen as calm and taciturn, gave an emotional speech praising the efforts and the resilience of his fellow Vermonters , and their ties to a land that gave them sustenance but posed the hazard of natural disasters. Coolidge ended his speech by acknowledging the generosity of the people of "this brave little state of Vermont", a phrase that became so popular that it was later inscribed in the Vermont State House and became a common nickname for the state.

9

Wisconsin, The Badger State

Though badgers can be found across Wisconsin, they are far less common than one would think, especially considering the state’s nickname. But this nickname has little to do with real badgers and much to do with people behaving like a badger. In the 1820s, prospectors all over America travelled to Wisconsin to look for lead ore. Working all day in the mines and lacking proper housing, the miners usually ended up living in the mines or digging holes in the hillsides to serve as shelter , which led people to compare them with burrowing badgers. Eventually, the ‘badger’ nickname became a symbol of the tenacity of the miners, and a point of pride for all Wisconsinites, who campaigned in 1957 to officially adopt the badger as their state animal.

10

Nebraska, The Cornhusker State

Though this famous nickname for Nebraska has ties with the agricultural identity of the state, it actually originated in the world of college football. Before 1900, the University of Nebraska football team had used several nicknames, such as Bugeaters, Tree Planters, or Rattlesnake Boys. Following a rough patch and wanting to give the team a new direction, sportswriter Charles Sherman suggested the nickname ‘cornhusker’ as a homage to the traditional corn husking done by hand by the Nebraska settlers . The name caught on and was eventually made extensive to all Nebraskans, being officially adopted by the state in 1945.

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.

1

The disappearance of Amelia Earhart (1937)

The first entry on our list is dedicated to a world-renowned flight pioneer, Amelia Earhart, who vanished while attempting to become the first woman to fly around the globe , leaving behind only fragments of her plane and endless speculation. Radio failure, poor visibility, and fuel issues are speculated to be contributing factors to her disappearance.

Even with modern technology and repeated searches, no one has ever found definitive proof of what happened to Amelia or her aircraft.

2

The D.B. Cooper hijacking (1971)

In 1971, Dan Cooper, a seemingly quiet man, boarded a plane in Portland, Oregon, which he promptly hijacked when the aircraft was in the air. He demanded $200,000 over the radio.

The plane landed in Seattle, where authorities met his demands. Cooper released all 36 passengers in exchange for the cash and parachutes. He then ordered the remaining crew to fly toward Mexico City at a low altitude and slow speed. Somewhere over southwest Washington, he lowered the aircraft's aft stairs and jumped into the freezing night, never to be seen again.

3

The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (1975)

The powerful union leader left a Detroit restaurant in 1975 and simply vanished . Witnesses last saw him standing by his car in the restaurant’s parking lot, and investigators believe he was coaxed into a car by people he recognized, thinking the meeting location had changed. He was never seen again. Searches in fields, lakes, and construction sites turned up nothing. To this day, it remains one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in American history.

Rumors range from mob connections to government cover-ups, but none have been proven. Ever since then, Hoffa’s name has become shorthand for anything that disappears without a trace.

4

The Yuba County Five (1978)

In what came to be known as "America’s Dyatlov Pass", five friends vanished after attending a basketball game in the town of Chico, California. Months later, the bodies of four members of the group were found in the mountains under mysterious conditions .

The remaining member of the original party was never located, and their strange route into deep snow remains unexplained.

5

The Sodder Children (1975)

A fire destroyed the Sodder family home in West Virginia, but five children were never found among the remains of the house. Because of physical inconsistencies at the scene and strange sightings afterward, the family always believed they survived.

Over the years, strange sightings and letters fueled hope and confusion alike, but no real evidence has ever been found. Because of these clues, the Sodders never held a funeral and instead famously erected a billboard on Route 16, offering a reward for information and keeping the case in the public eye for decades.

6

The Springfield Three (1992)

On a warm summer night in 1992, Sherrill Sherrill Levitt, her daughter Suzie, and Suzie's friend Stacy vanished from their home in Springfield, Missouri, leaving behind their cars, purses, and even the family dog .

Friends arriving the next morning found the house empty but unlocked. Despite thousands of leads, no evidence or remains have surfaced. The case remains one of the most talked-about disappearances in small-town America to this day.

7

The Gardner Museum Heist (1990)

Back in 1990, two men dressed as police officers entered Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and stole 13 works of art worth over $500 million .

No piece has ever been recovered. Empty frames still hang on the museum walls, a quiet tribute to one of history’s most expensive thefts.

8

The Max Headroom broadcast hijack (1987)

1980s television viewers might remember Max Headroom as a somewhat clumsy computer AI TV personality and ad spokesperson. In 1987, Chicago viewers were startled when a strange figure wearing a Max Headroom mask interrupted TV broadcasts with odd messages .

The stunt lasted only seconds, but no one was ever caught or identified. It remains one of the strangest unsolved moments in television history.

9

The Great Lakes ghost ships

Over the years, s everal ships have vanished or been found adrift on the Great Lakes , their crews gone without explanation. Cold weather, sudden storms, and superstition all play roles in the stories, but some cases defy logic. The vast inland seas are simply too big to be accessible with the current technology.

Among the most notable unsolved cases, we can mention Le Griffon, a ship that vanished during her maiden voyage in 1679, the SS Banockburn, known as the "Flying Dutchman of Lake Superior," disappeared during a storm in 1902, or the SS Chicora, a luxury steamer lost in a violent winter gale while carrying a cargo of flour, in 1895.

10

The Dulce Base Mystery

Beginning in the 1970s, a constant array of strange lights, unmarked aircraft, and talk of secret tunnels near the town of Dulce has fueled decades of conspiracy theories in this otherwise quiet area to this day.

While skeptics blame radar tests or imagination, locals still report odd sightings in the desert skies.