1

New Hampshire: Constitution and potatoes

New Hampshire was a pioneer in colonial America: They were the first colony to establish its own constitutional government. But its tastiest contribution? Potatoes!

In 1719, Scotch-Irish immigrants near Londonderry planted the first permanent potato crops. The tubers quickly became a staple and spread across the colonies, only to become the most consumed vegetable in the country. Plus, New Hampshire even declared the potato its official state vegetable in 2013. Who knew potatoes had such historical roots?

2

Massachusetts: Named after the original inhabitants

When English settlers arrived on the Mayflower in 1620, they weren’t stepping onto empty land. Indigenous peoples had called the area home for thousands of years.

The colony’s name, Massachusetts, honors the Massachusett tribe. Derived from the Algonquian word Massa-adchu-es-et , it translates to "great hill-small place." Even as history tells a more complicated story about their interactions with the settlers, it’s a nice tribute to the land's original inhabitants.

3

Connecticut’s secret tree

Connecticut’s colonial history has a touch of mystery and rebellion . In 1662, the colony was granted a royal charter ensuring its right to self-govern by King Charles II. After his death, in 1686, King James II tried to revoke it.

Legend has it that, during a heated debate, the charter was spirited away during a momentary blackout and hidden in the hollow trunk of a white oak tree. The "Charter Oak" became a symbol of freedom and self-determination, and it’s now honored as Connecticut’s official state tree.

4

Rhode Island: Refuge for the rejected

The colonies were revolutionary, but some views were too progressive for the era. That is why Roger Williams, Rhode Island’s founder, was banished from Massachusetts . He had progressive views on religious freedom, and so he found sanctuary in what later became Rhode Island.

In 1636, he purchased land from the Narragansett people and founded a colony based on the separation of church and state. It became a haven for minority religious groups like Baptists, Quakers, and Jews.

5

New York: From New Netherland to a global capital

Before it was New York, it was New Netherland, a bustling Dutch colony founded in 1624. The Dutch established New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, but in 1664, the English seized the territory and renamed it after the Duke of York.

New York grew rapidly, eventually becoming the first capital of the United States after the Revolutionary War. It’s amazing to think this vibrant city started as a modest Dutch trading post.

6

New Jersey’s devilish legend

The Pine Barrens of New Jersey are home to one of America’s oldest and creepiest legends : the Jersey Devil. Do you know how it goes?

According to folklore, a woman named Mother Leeds cursed her 13th child, who was born as a monstrous creature, and fled into the forest. The tale, rooted in both colonial superstition and Indigenous folklore, has been passed down for centuries, keeping imaginations alive and visitors on edge in the Garden State.

7

Pennsylvania: The King’s debt becomes a colony

Pennsylvania owes its existence to a royal, and quite big, IOU. King Charles II granted William Penn the land in 1681 as payment for a debt owed to Penn’s father.

Penn established the colony as a safe haven for Quakers, emphasizing religious tolerance and fair dealings with Indigenous peoples. Pennsylvania, clearly named after the family’s name, became a model of diversity and coexistence, attracting settlers of all faiths and backgrounds.

8

Delaware: The First to Declare Independence

Independence from Britain? They all did that, but Delaware took it a step further! Though initially governed as part of Pennsylvania, Delaware established its own legislature in 1704.

On June 15, 1776, this colony declared independence not just from Britain but also from Pennsylvania, making it the first colony to break away formally . Known as the "First State" for ratifying the US Constitution in 1787, Delaware’s pioneering spirit is woven into its history.

9

Maryland: A pirate colony?

Maryland’s early days weren’t all peaceful. William Claiborne , a man of the Virginia Council, refused to accept that his settlement on Kent Island was part of Maryland after the colony’s charter was granted in 1632.

Claiborne launched pirate raids on Maryland’s trading posts, leading to charges of piracy and murder. While he eventually lost his claim, Claiborne’s defiance adds a plot twist to Maryland’s story.

10

Virginia: Witch trials in the South

Did you think witch trials only happened in Salem? Think again. Virginia held about two dozen trials between 1626 and 1730, including the infamous case of Grace Sherwood. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe "The Witch of Pungo" does.

While we’re not going to get into the details of how they proved she "was a witch," she was convicted of witchcraft and spent several years in jail before she was released.

11

North Carolina: The Mystery of Roanoke

North Carolina’s Roanoke Colony remains one of America’s greatest mysteries. In 1587, over 100 settlers vanished without a trace , leaving behind only the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree.

As you can imagine, there are plenty of theories surrounding this event: Did they join local Indigenous tribes, or succumb to the harsh environment? While we may never know, the "Lost Colony" keeps historians and treasure hunters quite captivated.

12

South Carolina’s "Blue Gold" boom

South Carolina’s indigo trade, led by Eliza Lucas Pinckney in the 1730s, turned the colony into an economic powerhouse. This vibrant blue dye, vital for textiles, was so lucrative it earned the nickname "blue gold."

Despite the challenges, which included sabotage by rivals, the crop’s success transformed South Carolina’s economy. However, its growth came at the cost of enslaved labor, a sobering reality of the colony’s prosperity.

13

Georgia: A colony for a cause

Founded in 1732 by James Oglethorpe, a prison reformer, Georgia was established as a social experiment . It was designed to provide a fresh start for England’s "worthy poor," and to that end, the colony outlawed slavery and large landholdings.

However, settlers soon pushed back, and by 1751, many of the original restrictions were lifted. Despite its challenges, Georgia’s idealistic beginnings make it a unique addition to the 13 colonies.

1

He served hot dogs to British Royalty

In 1939, for the first time ever, a sitting US president hosted the reigning British monarchs on American soil. And it wasn’t just a formal state meeting; it was a picnic.

On June 11 of that year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt welcomed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to their home in Hyde Park, New York. Instead of an elaborate diplomatic banquet, the menu was unexpectedly simple and quintessentially American: hot dogs and beer. According to FDR, the queen politely tried hers with a knife and fork, while the king ate several with his hands and seemed to enjoy them. Behind the scenes, the visit was more than symbolic, yet folksy hospitality. With war already looming in Europe, both sides were quietly strengthening ties that would soon become crucial during WWII.

2

The first sitting president to fly on a plane

While FDR made history in many ways, one of his lesser-known firsts took place thousands of feet above the ground.

On January 11, 1943, in the middle of WWII, he became the first sitting US president to fly in an airplane. At a time when air travel was still far from routine, he embarked on a secret 7,000-mile journey from Miami, Florida, to Bathurst, Gambia, before continuing to Casablanca, Morocco. The trip wasn't taken for leisure; German U-boats had made Atlantic sea travel risky, so Roosevelt crossed the ocean aboard a Boeing 314 flying boat known as the Dixie Clipper . His destination was the Casablanca Conference, where he met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to discuss wartime strategy.

3

Highly superstitious

Are you the type to knock on wood to avoid bad luck? Or would you walk under a ladder without a second thought? If you're in the first group, you would have fit right in with Franklin D. Roosevelt.

FDR famously declared that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself," but he also had a surprisingly superstitious side. According to people who worked with him in the White House, Roosevelt kept his desk and personal items arranged in a precise order that he believed brought good luck. He also disliked the number 13: family members and aides recalled that he avoided hosting dinners with 13 guests and was reluctant to begin important trips on Friday the 13th. He even had a lucky charm, a brown felt fedora that he wore during all four of his presidential campaigns. We can't say it didn't work.

4

He loved practical jokes

With all his responsibilities, talents, and interests, FDR still found time to joke around.

According to his biographers, Roosevelt loved practical jokes and kept his playful streak throughout his life, even pulling pranks well into his presidency. In the tense world of politics, that sense of humor became one of his trademarks. He enjoyed classic gags, including putting bubbling powder in drinking glasses to surprise White House guests, or slipping completely made-up words into conversations and then watching with delight as his staff scrambled to check the dictionary. Friends and aides also noted that he had a unique ability to laugh off rumors, criticism, and political attacks that might have rattled other leaders.

5

Peculiar work schedules

Jokes didn't distract FDR from his work. If anything, they helped him cope, and he certainly had plenty of work to do. In fact, Roosevelt was known for his unusual working hours.

Unlike many other presidents who were early risers, he often worked late into the night and typically didn't begin his day until around 9 am. During WWII, while overseeing a global conflict, he regularly spent his evenings reviewing reports, making decisions, and meeting with advisers long after most Americans had gone to bed. What makes this even more impressive is that he maintained this pace as his health steadily declined. Doctors urged him to slow down and limit his workload, but Roosevelt frequently ignored that advice. For a wartime commander-in-chief, there was always one more decision to make.

6

He appointed the first female cabinet member

Among his many historic firsts, FDR was the inaugural POTUS to appoint a woman to a Cabinet position, a decision that reflected both his political instincts and his willingness to recognize talent and intelligence where he found it.

In 1933, he chose labor advocate Frances Perkins as Secretary of Labor. It turned out to be one of the most consequential appointments of his presidency. Perkins served from 1933 to 1945, making her the longest-serving Secretary of Labor in American history. And as if that weren't enough, she became one of the chief designers of the New Deal.

7

11 presidential relatives

Most people know that Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt were related: the 32nd president was a distant cousin of the 26th. But few realize just how extensive FDR’s presidential family tree really was.

In fact, genealogists have traced Franklin Roosevelt’s family connections to at least 11 US presidents. FDR was not only related to Theodore Roosevelt and his own wife, Eleanor Roosevelt (his fifth cousin once removed), but also to an impressive number of other commanders in chief. Among those connected to him by blood were George Washington (with whom he shared ancestors from English nobility and the early settlers of Virginia), John Adams, John Quincy Adams, James Madison, and William Harrison. Through marriage and extended family ties, he was also related to Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Martin Van Buren, and William Howard Taft.

8

His illness may not have been polio

As is well known, FDR was struck by a serious illness in 1921 at age 39 that left him permanently unable to walk unaided. But during his presidency, he worked hard to keep public attention focused on his leadership rather than on his body, so while Americans understood he had been diagnosed with polio, few knew about the paralysis.

To stand at public events, Roosevelt relied on heavy steel leg braces and canes that helped him project confidence and strength throughout his presidency. However, although doctors at the time diagnosed him with polio, some modern medical researchers have suggested that his symptoms may have been more consistent with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder.

9

He didn’t graduate from law school

FDR was a bright and curious man who threw himself into subjects that fascinated him, but when something failed to hold his interest, he wasn't afraid to move on.

After earning a History degree from Harvard University in 1903, he enrolled at Columbia Law School, but he found that he simply didn't enjoy it. According to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia, Roosevelt showed little enthusiasm for the legal profession, and maybe that’s why he never achieved a Law degree. Even so, he passed the New York bar exam and began practicing after it, but the experiment lasted only a few years. Then, in 1910, an opportunity came along that interested him far more: local Democrats in New York asked him to run for the state Senate. Roosevelt eagerly accepted, and his political career was underway.

10

Expert in many fields

Politics and wartime strategy weren't FDR's only talents. Long before he entered the White House, he acquired a deep interest in nature.

Growing up in Dutchess County, New York, Roosevelt developed a fascination with birds that went far beyond a childhood hobby. By age 11, he was already learning taxidermy, eventually becoming a skilled self-taught naturalist and bird expert. Over the years, he identified and cataloged roughly 300 bird species. His detailed field journals and collection of more than 300 Dutchess County specimens are still considered some of the most complete records of local bird life from that era.

1

It was invented in Switzerland

While the name suggests a US origin, the technology that created American cheese actually began in the heart of the Alps. It was developed in 1911 by Swiss researchers Walter Gerber and Fritz Stettler, who were looking for a way to extend the shelf life of their country’s famous Emmental cheese.

The problem with traditional cheese is that it eventually dries out, molds, or separates into a greasy mess when heated. By shredding the cheese, adding sodium citrate, and heating it, the Swiss duo discovered they could create a stable, smooth product that didn't separate. While they weren't trying to create "American" cheese as we know it today, their emulsification process laid the foundational science for every single-wrapped slice produced today.

2

It was popularized by a Canadian

The man responsible for the global dominance of American cheese was James L. Kraft. Ring any bells? Kraft was a Canadian immigrant who moved to Chicago in 1903. While he didn't invent the concept of processed cheese, he perfected the industrial scale of its production and marketing.

Kraft noticed that retailers struggled with cheese spoilage; if a wheel of cheddar didn't sell quickly, it was a total loss. He experimented with various methods of heating and blending cheese until he found a formula that could be canned and shipped long distances without spoiling. In 1916, he received a patent for his "processed cheese," and during World War I, the U.S. government purchased millions of pounds of it for soldiers, cementing its privileged place in the American diet.

3

It was almost called "Embalmed Cheese"

When processed cheese first hit the market, it had its detractors. Traditional cheesemakers were horrified, and so were pure food advocates. These critics argued that the product shouldn't even be called cheese. They’ve even gone so far as to call it "embalmed cheese" because of its unnaturally long shelf life and the chemical emulsifiers used to keep it stable. Yet, Kraft’s marketing prowess and the sheer convenience of the product ultimately won the naming battle. At least in the court of public opinion.

4

Technically, it isn’t cheese

Kraft may have won the battle among the people, but legally, American cheese is not considered cheese. If you look closely at the packaging, you will rarely see the word "cheese" on its own. Because of strict FDA regulations, most varieties are legally classified as "Pasteurized Process Cheese Product" or "Pasteurized Process American Cheese Food."

To be labeled "cheese," a product must be made primarily of milk, salt, and enzymes. Processed American cheese, however, is made by blending real cheese—usually cheddar or Colby—with emulsifying salts, whey, and sometimes extra milk or fats.

5

Any cheese can be made into American cheese

The term "American cheese" refers more to a process than a specific flavor. In theory, you could make "American-style" brie, blue cheese, or parmesan. The defining characteristic is the addition of an emulsifier, which breaks down the proteins and allows the fats and water to stay together.

In fact, some high-end chefs now make their own artisanal American cheese with aged cheddars processed with sodium citrate to create a slice that has the complex flavor of an expensive block but the melting point of a Kraft Single.

6

It isn’t naturally yellow

The vibrant orange-yellow hue of American cheese is entirely a cosmetic choice. Traditionally, cheese color varied by the season; when cows ate fresh grass in the summer, their milk contained more beta-carotene, leading to a naturally yellowish cheese. To make their cheese look high-quality all year round, cheesemakers began adding dyes.

American cheese takes this tradition to the extreme. It is typically colored with annatto, a seed from the achiote tree. Without this dye, American cheese would be a pale, creamy white, which is how it is sold in many delis as "White American". Yes, that’s right, there is no flavor difference between the white and yellow versions.

7

It has an extremely low melting point

The scientific superpower of American cheese is its meltability. Traditional cheeses have a protein structure that tightens when heated, which is why a slice of aged cheddar on a burger often results in an oily puddle and a rubbery clump.

Because of the emulsifying salts, the proteins in American cheese can withstand heat without clumping together. This gives it an incredibly low and stable melting point, transforming the slice into a silky sauce. This is why it remains the undisputed king of grilled cheese sandwiches.

8

It’s been in space

When you're hurtling through orbit in a cramped capsule, you need food that is stable, easy to eat, and won't crumble into thousands of tiny, electronics-clogging pieces. American cheese fit the bill perfectly for early NASA missions.

Processed cheese in tubes or cubes was a staple of the Apollo missions. Because it doesn't separate or sweat oil in varying temperatures and pressures, it was one of the few dairy products that could reliably provide flavor and calcium to astronauts.

9

It helped bring cheese to the masses

Before the advent of processed cheese, cheese was often a seasonal luxury. It was difficult to transport, expensive to store, and highly variable in quality. James L. Kraft’s invention changed that. By creating a product that was uniform in flavor and shelf-stable, he made cheese affordable and accessible to every corner of the United States.

10

The U.S. Government once gave it out

The U.S. government not only bought tons of American cheese during World War I. In the 1980s, the term "government cheese" became a thing. During a period of dairy surpluses, the government bought millions of pounds of cheese to prop up prices for struggling farmers.

To avoid letting it rot, the Reagan administration began distributing five-pound blocks of cheese to low-income families, seniors, and schools. For many who grew up in that era, that pale orange processed cheese was a lifesaver.