Discover the Top 8 Unbelievable Fun Facts About States and Capitals for Your Next Trivia Night

1. Devilish Destinations: Hell, Michigan

In a town where the devil himself dons a parka and snow boots annually, but never quite manages to frost over its fiery namesake: Hell, Michigan was coined in jest by its founder, who reportedly proposed "Hell" for its moniker out of indifference, and has since embraced their wicked reputation, even offering visitors a chance to rule as mayor for the day with official documents and the deed to an entire square inch of hellish land.
Source => maps.roadtrippers.com

2. Real-life Miss Daisy in Atlanta

Buckle up, buttercup: we're driving down Memory Lane with an unexpected pit stop in the land of truth! In the heart of Atlanta, where peaches are aplenty and Southern charm is abundant, lies the surprisingly factual inspiration for the beloved character, Miss Daisy from "Driving Miss Daisy." Caroline Hunt, grandmother of the play's author Alfred Uhry, rode shotgun in the real-life story, from her relationship with her driver, Hoke, to inspiring Uhry's theatrical creation.
Source => funtrivia.com

Did you know Puerto Rico has its own "ghost" frog, the coquí guajón? Discover the mysterious creature that's now at the center of conservation efforts on the island! 🐸👻

=> Fun Facts about Puerto-Rico

3. Roswell's Cosmic Timeshare

In case E.T. was looking for a cosmic timeshare, Roswell, New Mexico must have been a prime location: This southwestern state city gained notoriety in 1947 when a rancher discovered an otherworldly debris, speculated to be a crashed "flying saucer", only to be later disclosed as remains of the top-secret Project Mogul — a United States military mission aimed at detecting Soviet nuclear tests using airborne listening devices. Alas, conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts were left starry-eyed, forever igniting a galactic fervor in popular culture!
Source => washingtonpost.com

4. Albany's Dutch Mayoral Dynasty

What did the Dutch founding fathers say as they elected Albany's first mayor? "You're a Schuyler in, Pieter!": Little did they know, the quaint town of Albany went on to become the bustling capital of New York State. From its origins as Fort Orange to its present-day status, Albany has been led by 75 mayors, including a remarkable 34 of Dutch descent, since its 1686 charter. Proud of its history as a Revolutionary War supply center, Albany continues to be a prime spot for military planning and political action.
Source => albanyny.gov

5. Elvis sings Monterey Capital Blues

As Elvis Presley might have crooned if he'd found himself lost in Cali history: "I left my heart in Monterey, for it once called the shots in a whole lot more than just the music scene": Monterey was the political and religious capital of Mexican California from 1781 to 1846, hosting the first Constitutional Convention in 1849 and even had Colton Hall as the backup location for legislative sessions after San Jose took center stage as the new state capital.
Source => library.ca.gov

6. Santa Fe, Older than the Pilgrims

Before Santa Fe was a fancy artsy town with a penchant for turquoise jewelry, it was busy beating the Mayflower Pilgrims to the punch at setting up shop on American soil: Santa Fe, New Mexico, actually holds the title for being the oldest capital city in the United States, as well as the oldest European community west of the Mississippi! Established in 1607 by Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Peralta, Santa Fe's rich cultural heritage and historic milestones make it a must-visit spot for history buffs and a shining star of American urban legends.
Source => santafe.org

7. Bridger's Great Salt Ocean Mishap

Before GPS and Google Maps led us astray, trusty explorer Jim Bridger single-handedly traversed the wilderness, mistaking Utah's Great Salt Lake for California's backyard surf spot: In 1824, Jim Bridger discovered the Great Salt Lake while exploring South Pass and Cache Valley, thinking he had finally reached the Pacific Ocean, and later played a vital role in guiding the Mormons to their new home in the Salt Lake Valley.
Source => savagesandscoundrels.org

8. Boston's Beanpot of Championships

Boston: where the beans are baked, the tea is in the harbor, and the championships pile up like snow in the winter! Seriously, folks: Boston is one of only eight U.S. cities with titles in all four major American sports leagues, boasting 39 championships as of 2019 and an impressive twelve between 2001 to 2018 alone. Not too shabby for Beantown, eh?
Source => en.wikipedia.org