1

Chili

From Nahuatl chīlli , referring to the hot pepper central to Mesoamerican cuisine.

Chili peppers shaped food traditions across the Americas. The word—and the plant—spread globally, influencing flavors from Asia to Europe.

2

Chocolate

"Chocolate" comes from the Nahuatl word xocolātl , used by the Aztecs for a bitter cacao drink.

Cacao was central to Mesoamerican culture, used in rituals, trade, and even as currency. Europeans adapted it—sweetening it and spreading it worldwide. Today, chocolate is a global industry worth billions.

3

Canoe

From the Carib kana:wa , "canoe" described small, lightweight boats used by Indigenous peoples across the Americas.

European explorers borrowed both the vessel and the word for river and coastal navigation. Today, "canoeing" is a popular recreational activity worldwide.

4

Hurricane

From the Taíno hurakán , meaning "god of the storm," the word was adopted by Spanish explorers.

Hurricanes shaped Caribbean history, influencing trade, settlement, and agriculture. English speakers retained the term, giving rise to a scientific and meteorological vocabulary.

5

Barbecue

From the Taíno barbacoa , describing a framework for slow-cooking meat over fire.

Barbacoa influenced American culinary traditions, evolving into the modern barbecue. The word traveled with colonists, preserving its Indigenous culinary roots.

6

Opossum

From the Powhatan apasum , meaning "white animal," early colonists mispronounced it as "opossum."

North American opossums became part of colonial diets and local ecosystems. The word also illustrates how Indigenous terms influenced wildlife terminology in English.

7

Pecan

From Algonquian pakan , meaning "nuts requiring a stone to crack."

Pecans were staple foods for Indigenous peoples, and European settlers adopted both the nut and its name. Today, pecans are central to American desserts like pies and pralines.

8

Squash

From Narragansett askutasquash , meaning "eaten raw or uncooked."

Squash was a foundational crop in the "Three Sisters" agricultural system alongside maize and beans. Europeans embraced the plant, retaining the Indigenous name.

9

Chipmunk

From Ojibwe ajidamoo , meaning "one who descends trees headfirst."

Colonists adapted both the word and the animal’s name, preserving the Ojibwe reference. Today, chipmunks are iconic North American wildlife.

10

Tomahawk

From Powhatan tamahak , describing a small axe used for hunting and combat.

European colonists adopted both the tool and the word, which became iconic in North American frontier history. Today, tomahawks are primarily ceremonial or sporting tools.

11

Coyote

From Nahuatl coyotl , describing a canid known for its adaptability and cunning.

Coyotes thrive in both urban and rural environments. The word entered English through Spanish, reflecting both biological and cultural observation.

1

National Mall’s hidden tunnel (Washington, DC)

The National Mall landscape in Washington, DC, is so familiar that it’s hard to imagine anything hidden beneath it, but there is more going on below the surface than most visitors realize.

Beneath parts of the Mall, a network of underground tunnels connects buildings like the Smithsonian Institution Building, a.k.a "The Castle", with other Smithsonian facilities, including the National Museum of Natural History. They’re mainly used for utilities, secure staff access, and behind-the-scenes operations that keep the museums running smoothly.

2

Mount Rushmore’s secret chamber (Keystone, SD)

When you look at Mount Rushmore, the first thing you notice is the four faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, but there’s more than meets the eye. Hidden behind Lincoln’s head is a secret chamber known as the "Hall of Records," a place visitors have rarely ever seen. It was the idea of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who imagined it as a grand room to hold important US documents and tell our story as a country. Construction began with that goal, but the project was never completed. Today, the chamber remains unfinished, but it's there, waiting to be visited someday.

3

The Las Vegas sign is in another city (technically, Paradise, NV)

Do you have the classic picture in front of the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign? If you snapped it and then drove to another city, we hate to break it to you, but you weren’t in Las Vegas.

The famous sign, installed in 1959, actually sits a couple of miles outside the city limits. In fact, the sign and most of the Strip are technically located in the towns of Paradise and Winchester, unincorporated communities in Clark County, Nevada, not within Las Vegas itself. And that’s no accident: much of the Strip and its casinos were originally developed outside the city in the 1950s to avoid municipal taxes and regulations.

4

Fragments of the Antarctic ice sheets (Denver, CO)

Did you know that the Mile High City stores miles of ice from Greenland and Antarctica? Ok, but how?

At Denver’s National Ice Core Laboratory, part of the Federal Science Center, the ice is kept at around -32.8°F. Researchers study it not just to understand Antarctica itself, but also to inspect Earth’s history. Some of these blocks of ice are hundreds of thousands of years old, and from them, scientists can reconstruct ancient temperatures, track greenhouse gas levels, and even identify major volcanic eruptions preserved in the layers.

5

The hatch at the top of City Hall Tower (Philadelphia, PA)

Counting the statue of William Penn at its summit, the tower of Philadelphia City Hall rises about 548 feet, making it the tallest municipal building in the United States. But hidden high above the street, the statue conceals a little-known secret.

At its base is a small hatch, originally built to give workers access for maintenance. It offers an incredible vantage point over the city, but getting there isn’t easy. To reach it, you have to climb narrow stairways and walk through tight, elevated passageways. Would you dare give it a try?

6

A 112,544 square-foot underground bunker (White Sulphur Springs, WV)

The tense atmosphere and threats of the Cold War led to the construction of thousands of underground bunkers across the US. And one of the most impressive is right beneath the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Buried 720 feet into the hillside, this 112,544-square-foot bunker was created to shelter all 535 members of the US Congress in the event of a nuclear attack. Built between 1958 and 1961, it was sealed behind a 25-ton blast door, and it remained a protected secret for more than 30 years.

7

Catacombs underneath City Market (Indianapolis, IN)

In downtown Indianapolis, the City Market has been a gathering place since 1886, filled with local vendors, cafés, and shops. But there’s more to it than what you see above ground. Beneath the market lies a network known as the City Market’s "catacombs."

Despite the name, the reality isn't quite so macabre; they’re a series of brick archways that once supported Tomlinson Hall, a huge market building demolished in the mid-20th century. Today, this underground space remains as a hidden piece of the city’s past, but unlike many places on this list, it’s occasionally open for guided tours.

8

One of history's biggest art heists (Boston, MA)

We all know Boston as the "birthplace of the American Revolution," home to events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. But there’s another chapter of its history you don’t hear about as often.

Just over 30 years ago, Boston was the scene of one of the biggest art heists in history. In the early hours of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, overpowered the guards, and stole 13 invaluable works of art, including pieces by Vermeer, Degas, Rembrandt, and Manet. To this day, the case remains unsolved, and a multi-million-dollar reward is still offered for information.

9

One of the quietest places on Earth (Minneapolis, MN)

Where do you think the quietest places on Earth are? You might imagine remote landscapes far from civilization, but one of them is actually right in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Inside Orfield Laboratories, there’s a room with no windows or natural light, an anechoic chamber that absorbs nearly all sound. That’s right: it blocks almost every noise, making the space even quieter than a vacuum. Visitors say the silence is so intense that you can hear your own heartbeat and even the faintest movements of your body. Simply incredible.

10

A strange law (Los Angeles, CA)

Why would a city actually pass an ordinance saying that licking toads is a bad idea? That’s Los Angeles, a place full of quirks, some charming, some downright strange. Even its laws can be unusual.

The Colorado River toad, found in parts of California, secretes chemicals that can have powerful psychoactive effects on humans. Because of the risks, both possession and use of this substance are illegal statewide. In 1994, cases occurred, including a teacher who was arrested for possessing the toad substance. But Los Angeles went a step further, passing an ordinance that specifically bans licking these amphibians. And let’s be honest, the poor toad probably doesn’t enjoy it either.

1

Cattails

Image: Vlad Tchompalov

If you’ve ever seen a cattail and thought it looked kind of yummy, you were on the right track! Cattails grow abundantly in marshy areas across the U.S., and nearly every part of this plant is edible. Often called the "supermarket of the swamp," cattails are incredibly rich in carbohydrates and are a highly versatile food source. These plants not only provide nutrition but also materials for shelter and fire-starting, making them a top resource for wilderness survival in America.

The roots, once cleaned and cooked, have a potato-like quality and can also be dried and ground into flour. Impressively, they even outperform potatoes in starch yield per acre. Young shoots are edible as well, offering a fresh bite when raw or a tender taste when boiled, much like asparagus.

2

Dandelions

Image: Keegan Houser

Often dismissed as a pesky weed, dandelions are actually among the most nutritious plants you can find in the wild. In fact, dandelions are considered even more nutritious than broccoli or cabbage! Every part of the dandelion is edible, from the leaves to the roots. With a taste and texture similar to chicory, the leaves are packed with vitamins A and C and be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach.

The bright yellow flowers can also be used to make tea, while the roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute. Dandelion tea is loaded with powerful antioxidants, including beta-carotene and polyphenols, and studies suggest it may benefit heart health.

3

Wild Asparagus

Image: Gil Ndjouwou

Who knew you could harvest your own asparagus in the wild? Wild asparagus grows across much of the U.S., particularly in moist, sunny areas. While it looks similar to its cultivated cousin, wild asparagus tends to be thinner and tougher. When foraging, look for young shoots, which are more tender and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Like its commercial counterpart, wild asparagus is high in fiber and vitamins, offering a nutritious snack or even a potential side dish in a survival situation.

4

Acorns

Image: Annie Spratt

You’re likely already familiar with acorns, the nuts of oak trees. Found abundantly across the U.S., particularly in forests and woodlands, these wild nuts are indeed edible after some processing. Acorns contain bitter tannins, which can be toxic and need to be removed by repeated boiling or soaking in water.

Once safe to eat, acorns can be either roasted or ground into flour. Though they don’t taste like much, they’re packed with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Historically, acorns were a staple food for Native Americans and ancient cultures worldwide, proving their value as a survival resource.

5

Cactus (Prickly Pear)

Image: George Pagan III

In the arid landscapes of the American Southwest, prickly pear cacti offer both nourishment and hydration. The pads (nopales) and the fruit (tunas) are not only edible but are also staples in Mexican cuisine.

The cactus fruit, known as a prickly pear, is super sweet and can be eaten raw right off the plant. Depending on ripeness, the flavor ranges from mildly sweet to syrupy. Packed with vitamin C and water, prickly pear cacti can be a true lifesaver if you find yourself stranded in the desert.

6

Wild Onions

Image: Zoe Schaeffer

Wild onions grow widely across the U.S., thriving in fields, forests, and even backyards. Their bulbs, stems, and leaves are all edible and can be used just like store-bought onions to add flavor and nutrition to any meal. But foragers, beware—there’s an important distinction to keep in mind!

A highly toxic lookalike called death camas can be easily mistaken for wild onions, and as its name kindly suggests, it can have potentially lethal effects if consumed. The easiest way to tell them apart? Wild onions have a strong onion scent, while death camas has no odor. When in doubt, always trust your nose. That being said, unless you are 100% confident in your ability to identify wild onions, it’s wise to consult an expert or avoid foraging them altogether.

7

Pine Nuts

Image: Leila Issa

Pine trees are scattered across America, and their seeds—pine nuts—are a nutritional powerhouse. These small seeds, found inside pine cones, are rich in fats and proteins, making them a concentrated source of energy. In fact, pine nuts have sustained Native American tribes for centuries.

While they are labor-intensive to harvest, the effort is worthwhile. Packed with calories and bursting with flavor, they are an abundant and reliable food source. But it doesn't end there—surprisingly, most parts of a pine tree can be consumed, including the bark, needles, cones, and resin, either as food or for medicinal purposes.

8

Chicory

Image: Christopher Luther

Chicory is often found along roadsides and in open fields throughout the U.S. The plant is recognizable by its bright blue flowers, and while its leaves can be eaten like lettuce, its roots are also useful—they can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute.

During the American Civil War, soldiers used chicory to stretch their coffee supplies, and even today some beer brewers occasionally use roasted chicory to add a bitter flavor to stout varieties.

9

Blackberries

Image: Eric Prouzet

Who hasn't enjoyed picking a few blackberries during a walk? Blackberry bushes thrive across the country, especially in sunny, open areas. These delicious berries are loaded with vitamins C and K, along with fiber, making them an excellent survival food when in season. Additionally, their leaves can be brewed into a soothing tea.

Wild raspberries and strawberries are similarly plentiful in the American backcountry. Their unmistakable appearance and sweet flavor make them a great choice for novice or inexperienced foragers to safely enjoy nature’s pantry.

10

Clover

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Who knew that stumbling upon a clover patch could bring more than just good luck? Clover grows abundantly across the U.S., from lawns to meadows, and both its leaves and flowers are edible. The flowers are often dried to make tea, while the leaves can be tossed directly into salads or soups an added nutritional boost.

Rich in protein and minerals, clover has historically served as fodder for livestock, but it can also provide essential nutrition for humans, especially in a survival situation! Its versatility certainly makes it a valuable addition to any forager's repertoire.