Discover the Empire State: Top 11 Fun and Fascinating Facts About New York You Never Knew!

1. Carvel's Ice Cream Origins

Before there was Netflix and chill, there was Carvel and thrill: New York State proudly houses the first Carvel ice cream shop, a scrumptious sanctuary established by Tom Carvel in Hartsdale in 1929, which churned out frozen delights for over 70 years and served as the blueprint for all future Carvel locations.
Source => carvel.com

2. Niagara Falls: Honeymoon Haven

Before swiping right was a thing, newlyweds swiped left all the way to Niagara Falls as the ultimate honeymoon paradise: The first honeymooners visited Niagara Falls in 1801, solidifying its reputation as a romantic destination for high-society lovers and even inspiring the 1841 song "My Niagara Falls Honeymoon." This honeymoon hotspot's appeal flourished with the opening of the Erie Canal and railways, making it accessible for middle-class couples, and today it continues to enchant spouses from around the globe.
Source => niagarafallstourism.com

Did you know NYC has about 4 million pigeons with incredible homing and distance-trekking skills? But beware, they might also carry diseases! Discover more fun facts about the Big Apple.

=> Fun Facts about New-York

3. Lily Dale: Spiritualist Sanctuary

Forget Madame Leota and her seance from Disney's Haunted Mansion – there's a real town you need to visit where even Miss Cleo would feel right at home: Lily Dale, New York, is a key location for Modern Spiritualism, and the City of Light Spiritualist Church founded in 2005 not only practices mediumship and healing but is also pet-friendly, supporting local charities with their donations.
Source => cityoflightspiritualistchurch.com

4. NYC Alligator Rescues

Forget the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the real heroes in a half-shell might just be lurking down below: Despite the urban myth being debunked, around 100 alligators are, in fact, rescued from New York City each year, snatched from their homes as outlaw pets and possibly preventing an alligator-themed takeover of the city's underground network.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. NY Sleep Schedule Shocker

It turns out that the "city that never sleeps" might actually hit the snooze button more often than you think: New Yorkers have an average bedtime of 11:46 pm to 12:07 am, getting around 6.8 hours of sleep per night, a sleep duration surprisingly similar to other major US cities and not living up to its insomniac reputation, according to data from Jawbone blog.
Source => secretnyc.co

6. Ellis Island's Property Spat

Who knew border control could be so wacky? New Yorkers and New Jerseyans share a centuries-old property spat that puts even the feistiest of suburban lawn disputes to shame: In a 1998 U.S. Supreme Court case, it was ruled that about 83% of Ellis Island actually belongs to New Jersey, with the original 2.74-acre island remaining part of New York State, all thanks to a 1834 compact between the two states. However, day-to-day operations remain unbothered, as the federal government ponies up to the plate, owning and operating Ellis Island as a national monument.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Adirondack's Water Wonderland

If you thought the only way to kayak to your heart's content was by majoring in Water Sports at Hogwarts, then Adirondack Park in New York is nothing short of a magical revelation: Boasting over 2,800 lakes and ponds, as well as more than 1,500 miles of rivers, this enchanting park is the ultimate playground for aspiring boaters, canoeists, and kayakers seeking wand-free adventures.
Source => adirondackcouncil.org

8. Ghostly Encounters at NY Capitol

Who you gonna call? Ghost-tourers! Fear not, for at the New York State Capitol, some specters prefer policymaking over haunting: The Capitol building in Albany houses the Hauntings Tour, started by education coordinator Stuart Lehman eight years ago. Covering the tragic tale of a 19th-century fruit vendor's demise, the chilling aftermath of a 1911 fire that destroyed half a million books, and the eerie accounts of unexplained cold spots and flickerings surrounding a hidden artwork, this tour attracts more than 1,000 history buffs and spine-tinglers alike each year.
Source => nytimes.com

9. NY's Milk-Producing Prowess

Got milk? New York State sure does - it's udderly impressive: As the third-largest milk producer in the United States, New York supplied over 15 billion pounds of milk in 2021, thanks to its 3,500 dairy farms and their trusty Holstein-Friesian cows.
Source => statista.com

10. Hart Island's Hidden Secret

If the Big Apple knew how to keep a secret, this one would be buried six feet under: Hart Island in New York City has functioned as a Potter's Field since the late 19th century, holding mass graves of over a million souls, ranging from the indigent and homeless to disease victims and those unclaimed by families or not given private funerals.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. New York's Massive Salt Mine

The salt must flow: it turns out that New York State is not only the birthplace of Gotham City's caped crusader, but also home to an epic salt mine under Cayuga Lake providing enough seasoning to keep every superhero's dinner perfectly flavored. The Cayuga Rock Salt Company mines over 18,000 acres and produces a titanic 10,000 tons of salt per day, with a good chance of it spicing up your own meal.
Source => tompkinsweekly.com