1

LeConte Lodge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Image: Mitchell Bowser

It’s hard to imagine this massive lodge once being a tent camp, but in 1925, that was its humble beginning. Over the years, it has transformed into the comfortable hotel with grand halls we see today. Built atop Mount LeConte in 1926, this lodge provides breathtaking views of the surrounding areas and all the amenities of a modern establishment.

2

The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park, California

Image: Hanbyul Jeong

Built in 1925, The Ahwahnee is a 121-room hotel nestled in a picturesque meadow at the base of the Royal Arches in Yosemite Valley. Its dining hall, featuring 34-foot-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, along with its elegant suites and magnificent lounges complete with vintage fireplaces , offers the perfect retreat after a day of hiking in the park.

3

Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Montana

Image: Michael Kirsh

The largest inn in Glacier National Park, Many Glacier Hotel is a 215-room Swiss-style chalet boasting breathtaking lounges with stunning views , exposed log beams , and a majestic three-story lobby . Its generous dining room offers a panoramic backdrop of the northern Rockies for its guests to enjoy while sipping a local brew or a delicious meal.

4

El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Image: James Lee

Perched on a high ledge along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, overlooking the Colorado River, El Tovar was designed to resemble a Scandinavian-style villa. With 78 rooms, a grand lounge wrapped in hewn Oregon pine , cobblestone fireplaces , and a dining room adorned with dark wood paneling , vintage light fixtures , and murals , El Tovar offers the perfect retreat after a full day of hiking and taking in the breathtaking views.

5

Lake Crescent Lodge, Olympic National Park, Washington

Image: Georg Eiermann

The Lake Crescent Lodge was built in 1915 and features 55 rooms and it is ideally situated between firs and hemlocks, in the mountainous Hurricane Ridge area. Guests are greeted by a Victorian-era sunroom , an antique-furnished lobby , and a welcoming stone fireplace —an ideal retreat for those eager to soak in the views or explore the numerous hiking trails.

6

Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Image: Becky Winner

Big Meadows Lodge, a charming 1930s hotel , boasts beautiful craftsmanship and is set near a grassy meadow where deer often graze. The lodge features 29 rooms in its main building , along with 72 additional accommodations spread across its outer cabins and lodges .

7

Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Image: Judy Beth Morris

The 1904 Old Faithful Inn is celebrated as the largest log structure in the world , stretching 700 feet in length and rising seven stories high. This iconic hotel was strategically positioned to offer stunning views of the renowned Old Faithful geyser.

It has an awe-inspiring 92-foot-high lobby , and its Obsidian Dining Room has a mouth-watering menu complete with locally sourced bison burgers and smoked-trout ravioli.

8

Zion Lodge, Zion National Park, Utah

Image: James Lee

The 100-year-old Zion Lodge was thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings, constructed from untreated logs and locally sourced sandstone . With 76 rooms and 40 cozy cabins , the lodge serves as the perfect base for exploring the park’s diverse hiking trails, offering adventures for visitors of all skill levels.

9

Paradise Inn, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Image: Rich Martello

Located 19 miles from the southwestern Nisqually Entrance at Mount Rainier National Park, Paradise Inn was built between 1916 and 1917 and once featured one of the region’s first ski lifts . The inn’s 121 rooms still showcase some of their original rustic charm , with showers and restrooms located down the hall.

10

Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Image: Josh Carter

The Wukachi Lodge, built in 1999, is the first hotel in the area not constructed over 80 years ago. It boasts 102 rooms and modern amenities , including private baths , mini-fridges, spacious accommodations , central heating , and more.

11

Chisos Mountains Lodge, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Image: Intricate Explorer

The 72-room Chisos Mountains Lodge is nestled at the base of Casa Grande Peak, in the heart of the hiking area. Guests can step right out of their rooms and onto the famous Window Trail , summit Emory Peak , or spend a full day on the South Rim Trail .

1

Beware of the banana peel!

Image: SHVETS production

It might sound like a scene straight out of The Three Stooges , but we assure you, this was once a legitimate concern. It’s no myth that residents of Waco, Texas are forbidden from eating bananas and tossing the peels into the street. Lawmakers feared horses could slip on the peels and injure themselves.

This is also true for Elmira, New York. A city ordinance from 1899 stated that no person could throw any banana peels—or any other fruit skins—onto the sidewalk. As it happens, back when bananas were introduced to the northern states, they were very cheap and people usually bought them in bulk. The surplus was huge and the waste was becoming a problem. In fact, in 1893 a woman sued the city after slipping on a banana peel, falling on the sidewalk, and breaking her leg.

2

Dueling candidates

Image: various illustrators, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It may sound old-fashioned, but this law is still in effect in West Virginia. To be eligible as governor, a candidate must not only be at least 30 years old and have resided in the state for at least five years preceding the election, but they must also never have participated in a duel.

According to §6-5-7 of the West Virginia Code, any citizen who sends or accepts a challenge or participates in a duel with deadly weapons "shall ever thereafter be incapable of holding any office of honor, trust or profit in this state." By the end of the American Civil War dueling had become almost obsolete, but for some reason, The Mountain State is one of the few states that still hasn’t repealed its dueling laws.

3

Extraterrestrial exposure

Image: Bradley Dunn

Despite popular opinion, Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations did not make it illegal for Americans to have contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles. Instead, the law was enacted just before the Apollo 11 mission to give the government authority to quarantine astronauts in case they became contaminated with an alien virus during their moonwalk.

This regulation, best known as the Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law was adopted by NASA in 1969. It stipulated that astronauts be kept in isolation for 21 days after their liftoff from the Moon in case there was a remote possibility that they were harboring "unknown lunar organisms that might endanger life on Earth." The rule was revoked in 1977 and formally repealed in 1991.

4

Women vote

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that although American women were not universally granted the right to vote until 1920, state laws in New Jersey allowed them to vote as early as 1776 ? In 1790, when the New Jersey State Constitution was reformed, it formalized what the previous constitution had only implied: that propertied women could vote.

A few years later, a law expanded the previous election reforms and allowed women without "clear estate" to vote too. So, after the adoption of this 1797 law, the number of women voters at the polls significantly increased. New Jersey women enthusiastically exercised their rights until 1807, when the state finally restricted voting to white men.

5

Keep it classy

Image: Clay Banks

If you want to live in North California, you have to follow some rules of good taste. In 1998, the city of Wilson outlawed the keeping of upholstered furniture on front porches, on the basis that the practice was unsightly and tacky.

A year later, the town of Morganton followed suit, outlawing couches, recliners, and similar indoor furniture from verandas and yards. Mel Cohen, the city mayor at the time, said that outdoor furniture was drawing many complaints, so the city embarked on a quest to "beautify" the neighborhoods. Violators of the ordinance could be fined up to $300 for their offense.

6

Three-second hugging

Image: Mary Taylor

By the beginning of the 21st century, the rules of public displays of affection seemed to be changing and left previous generations in a state of confusion. In 2009, after noticing an increasing number of students embracing in the hallways, school officials in Hillsdale, New Jersey, implemented a "three-second hugging" rule. Apparently, adults were concerned that the constant displays of affection could disrupt the flow of hallway traffic.

Teenagers argued that the gesture was entirely unromantic and merely a way of saying "hello." However, schools preferred to go back to the old handshake in order to maintain an atmosphere of academic seriousness and to prevent any instances of unwanted physical contact.

7

Blue sundaes

Image: Markus Spiske

Ever heard of "blue laws"? Blue laws are rules that once banned certain activities on Sundays, adopted originally for religious reasons. Blue laws often restricted business and recreational activities to encourage observance of the Christian day of worship.

For example, buying ice cream on Sundays was once illegal in Ohio because it was thought to be frivolous and luxurious. To circumvent this law, ice cream vendors began adding fruit toppings to disguise the frozen treat below and make it appear more "nutritious." This clever workaround ultimately led to the creation of the ice cream sundae.

8

Poking turkeys

Image: RDNE Stock project

Finding the perfect Thanksgiving turkey can be an artistry or a real challenge. How can you ensure that the well-rounded breast you pick up in the supermarket’s poultry section will turn into a delicious, juicy treat?

Everyone has their own strategy, but depending on which state you are in, your method might actually be illegal without you even knowing it. For example, did you know that in Los Angeles, California, it is prohibited to poke a turkey for sale in a meat market to check its tenderness? Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

9

Permanent marks

Image: Linda Xu

Carrying a marker in your pocket, purse, or backpack while walking the streets of California could land you in trouble. In the Golden State, it’s illegal to possess "broad-tipped indelible markers" —a.k.a. permanent markers—in a public space. Any person carrying a chisel, an awl, an aerosol paint container, or a harmless felt tip marker can be accused of committing vandalism.

The law is in place to curb graffiti and other forms of unauthorized street art. It is considered a misdemeanor and can be punished with up to 90 hours of community service, typically scheduled outside of school or work hours.

10

Go nuts!

Image: Vladislav Nikonov

Nuts can be a real problem for many people with food allergies. But even so, these laws prohibiting the consumption of nuts in public places may surprise you. For instance, in Boston, Massachusetts, it’s illegal to eat peanuts in church . Meanwhile, in Charleston, South Carolina, eating nuts on a public bus can result in a fine of up to $500 and as much as 60 days in jail.

If you thought it couldn't get any more specific than that, hold your horses! In Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, people are not allowed to eat peanuts while walking backward in front of the Barnstormers Theater during a performance. Probably the craziest law on this list, don’t you think?

1

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Image: Nik Shuliahin

It sounds crazy today, but the Louisiana Purchase almost doubled the size of the United States overnight. Thomas Jefferson, at the time, the third to occupy the position of President of the United States, bought the massive 828,000 sq mi territory from France for $15 million, securing vital land and resources.

The purchase, however, didn’t mean that the United States also gained control of the totality of the territory, as it was inhabited by Native Americans. But in any case, the acquisition paved the way for westward expansion, providing a vast area for exploration and settlement, while enhancing America's geopolitical influence.

2

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

Image: Charles Marion Russell

Commissioned by Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark then embarked on a mission to map the newly acquired lands and find a viable route to the Pacific. Their legendary journey revealed the rich diversity of the western territories and established crucial relationships with Native American tribes.

Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, played a crucial role as an interpreter and guide, helping the expedition navigate difficult terrain and gain trust with native tribes, significantly contributing to the mission's success. Ultimately, their detailed reports opened the frontier to future explorers and settlers.

3

The Oregon Trail (1811-1869)

Image: Dana Davis

Originally laid around 1811 by fur trappers and traders, the Oregon Trail soon became a critical route for thousands of emigrants moving west. Spanning over 2,000 miles from Missouri to Oregon, it was a perilous journey marked by harsh landscapes and, more often than not, disease.

Despite the hardships, the trail was improved to become passable by wagons, and it facilitated the mass migration of over 400,000 settlers during its peak, significantly contributing to the population growth and development of the Western United States.

4

California Gold Rush (1848-1855)

Image: Viviana Rishe

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 triggered a massive influx of fortune seekers to California. The Gold Rush not only boosted the economy but also accelerated California's admission claim as the 31st state in 1850.

While prospectors initially used simple techniques like panning, the increasing complexity of gold extraction eventually required significant financing, favoring mining companies. And though the gold rush generated wealth worth tens of billions in today's dollars, only a few became rich; most participants earned little more than they had started with.

5

Homestead Act (1862)

Image: Kevin Butz

Signed by President Abraham Lincoln, the Homestead Act offered 160 acres of public land to settlers willing to farm it for five years. The policy primarily encouraged individual farmers who were looking to operate their own farms, as opposed to slave owners who sought to buy large tracts of land and use slave labor.

The legislation encouraged widespread migration to the Great Plains, accelerating agricultural development and expanding American settlements across the West.

6

Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (1863-1869)

Image: Johannes Plenio

The completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 revolutionized transportation in the United States. Connecting the East and West coasts, it facilitated trade, travel, and communication.

The extensive railroad network was built by three private companies on public lands, financed with federal bonds and various subsidies. Instrumental in the nation's economic growth, the Transcontinental Railroad also helped forge a sense of national unity and identity in the American consciousness.

7

The Great Sioux War (1876-1877)

Image: Popular Graphic Arts

Also known as the Black Hills War, the Great Sioux War was a series of conflicts between the United States and the Sioux tribes. The war was sparked by the encroachment of settlers and gold prospectors on Native lands, a conflict that had been escalating since the early 19th century.

Despite many Native American victories, such as the Battle of Little Bighorn - better known as Custer's Last Stand -, the war ultimately ended in the tribes' displacement. The conflict officially finished with the Agreement of 1877, in which the Sioux tribes were forced to cede property rights of their lands to the federal government, while clearly demarcated Indian reservations were established.

8

Oklahoma Land Rush (1889)

Image: Raychel Sanner

On April 22, 1889 - soon after the signing into law of the Indian Appropriations Act, which freed over two million acres of land for settlement - thousands of settlers raced to claim land in the Oklahoma Territory during the first of several land rushes.

Those who followed the rules and waited for the official start of the land rush were known as "boomers," while "sooners" sneaked into the territory before the designated time, risking penalties but gaining advantageous claims. This sparked hundreds of legal contests that had to be settled at local land offices or even by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

9

The Dawes Act (1887)

Image: Boston Public Library

The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments. While intended to promote agriculture and integration, it resulted in the loss of tribal lands and culture.

The act was a controversial effort to reshape Native American society in the image of European-American settlers. It wasn’t until the Indian Reorganization Act, passed during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, that Native Americans regained some of their rights to own land collectively and form self-government.

10

Closing of the Frontier (1890)

Image: Aaron Burden

In 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau declared the frontier closed, as there was no longer a discernible frontier line. This marked the end of a significant era of American expansion.

The closing of the frontier signified the nation's transition from a period of exploration and settlement to one of modernization and industrialization.