Discover the Unexpected: Top 9 Fun Facts About US History You Never Knew!

1. Ben Franklin's Turkey Defense

Gobble, gobble, Ben Franklin strikes again: Although often mistakenly credited with proposing the turkey as America's national bird, Franklin merely stated in a letter to his daughter that the turkey was a more respectable bird than the bald eagle, and a true native of North America. Defending its honor, however, didn't result in Ben pushing for a formal feathered switcharoo.
Source => fi.edu

2. NYC's Musical Name Game

Before it took a bite out of the Big Apple and became the concrete jungle of dreams, New York City was caught in a strange game of musical names: New York City was originally called New Amsterdam by Dutch settlers in 1624, but when the English seized control in 1664, they decided to shake things up and name it New York in honor of the Duke of York, although New Orange and New Albion were also in the running. Just be grateful they didn't go with Gotham!
Source => history.com

Discover the truth behind John Hancock's audacious autograph and the myth of a price on his head. It's more about pride and defiance than you might think! 🔍🖋️✍️

=> Fun Facts about The-Declaration-Of-Independence

3. John Quincy Adams' Skinny Dips

Before Michael Phelps and tight Speedos, there was a commander-in-chief breaststroking au naturel in the Potomac River: John Quincy Adams was an adamant swimmer who, despite nearly drowning and facing protests from his spouse and friends, regularly swam naked in the river, only donning a black cap and green goggles—busting the myth that he was entirely in his birthday suit.
Source => shannonselin.com

4. Truman's Presidential Piano Serenade

Before tickling the ivories tickled the First Lady's ire: Vice President Harry S. Truman serenaded silver screen siren Lauren Bacall atop a piano at the National Press Club in February 1945, only to have his wife disapprove due to the Club's male-only membership policy and her own distaste for the performance. The photograph of this moment and the piano itself are now displayed at the Club in the Truman Lounge.
Source => press.org

5. Texas Chili Showdown

Once upon a Texas standoff, when two culinary cowboys dueled with their pots and spices: The inaugural chili cook-off in Terlingua, Texas, occurred in 1967, with Texas writer Wick Fowler and Eastern humorist H. Allen Smith tying for first place and sparking a chili revolution that has since held nearly 700 cook-offs annually, raising approximately $100 million for charity over the last 30 years.
Source => washingtonpost.com

6. Lincoln the Bartender

Before Honest Abe sent the nation a tab to abolish slavery, he was just a humble barkeep, mixing drinks and serving grub: Abraham Lincoln co-owned a tavern in New Salem, Illinois with his friend William F. Berry, where they offered food, booze, and lodging, until Berry's alcoholism led to debt and the partnership dissolved, a fact later brought up by Lincoln's political rival, Stephen A. Douglas.
Source => chicagoist.com

7. Wrestling with Honest Abe

You may know Honest Abe as the great emancipator, but did you know he could also toss men around like rag dolls? His appetite for grappling put our 16th President in a league of his own: Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished catch-as-catch-can wrestler, becoming the county champion at 21 and winning over 300 matches in 12 years. His single known defeat occurred during the Black Hawk War of 1832, but even that didn't tarnish his reputation. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognized him as an "Outstanding American" in the sport, and he shares this athletic legacy with fellow wrestling Presidents George Washington, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Taft.
Source => olympics.com

8. Lady Liberty's Colorful Makeover

Before her extreme green makeover and long before starring in Ghostbusters II: Lady Liberty was a dedicated sunbather, catching some serious harbor rays in a ravishing red copper ensemble. The surprising metamorphosis: Originally, the Statue of Liberty boasted a reddish-brown exterior upon arriving in the United States from France, but due to chemical reactions with the air in New York City harbor over 30 years, she went from penny red to chocolate brown and finally transformed into that iconic, verdigris green goddess we know and love today.
Source => acs.org

9. Revolutionary Spy Chef

Before Yelp could ever criticize the Queen's Head tavern's uncertain hours of operation, its owner was busy cooking up a revolutionary storm: Samuel Fraunces not only provided shelter for Patriot groups such as the Sons of Liberty, but he also parlayed his culinary skills to work as a spy, helping American prisoners escape captivity during the British occupation of New York City, one soufflé at a time.
Source => frauncestavernmuseum.org