1

Bison

Image: Alex Moliski

We’ll begin with the national mammal of the United States. Actually, that might be a bit reductive: the bison is not just a national symbol, but it has also been chosen as representative by a plethora of institutions, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, the University of Colorado, and several Great Plains states.

Since the end of the 19th century, indiscriminate hunting made the bison an extremely endangered species: By 1884, only 325 bison remained in the country. Luckily, thanks to the hard work of several conservation agencies, that number has gradually increased over the years, reaching a population of 500,000 bison by 2017.

2

Prairie dog

Image: Moritz Kindler

Here’s a question for any biologist reading this article: Why, pray tell, are prairie dogs not called "prairie squirrels"? While these mammals possess little to no dog-like features, they are definitely a close relative of squirrels. In fact, they belong to the same family. Food for thought, right?

In any case, prairie dogs are proof that an animal doesn’t have to be big to be important. All five species are considered keystone species to their environments, as their burrowing and mound-building help renew and revitalize the soil of their habitats. Not only that, they are extremely important components of the food chain, since they provide sustenance to many predators.

3

Alligator

Image: Matthew Essman

From the warm weather of the American South comes the only reptile on this list. Alligators are truly fascinating creatures: not only do they date back to the age of dinosaurs, but they can also only be found in 2 countries in the entire world—China and, of course, the United States.

While they are certainly deadly predators, don’t let their ferocity fool you: they rarely attack humans, and only when disturbed. Moreover, alligators are key species in maintaining their habitats, not just through population control, but also by encouraging plant diversity through the construction of alligator holes.

4

Grizzly bear

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Anyone who has looked at a picture of a bear has probably thought in disbelief, "How can something that looks this adorable be so dangerous?" While this philosophical conundrum might be the reason that Teddy bears are so popular, the truth is that the grizzly bear is a perfect representative of the duality found in most of these large mammals: a combination of extreme cuteness with dangerous ferocity.

In that sense, we only need to take a look at the etymology of the grizzly bear to find the feral nature of this seemingly adorable creature. When Lewis and Clark first encountered these bears, they recorded their name as "grisley," which many believe comes from a Middle English word for "gruesome."

5

Gray wolf

Image: Anthony Sebbo

Many biologists consider the gray wolf the unsung hero of American wildlife. This majestic hunter is a keystone species in Yellowstone National Park, helping to maintain the elk and deer populations. And while it has notably appeared in many blankets and t-shirts, the gray wolf, sadly, has not been recognized as any state’s official mammal.

Originally, grey wolves’ range covered approximately two-thirds of America, but they can currently be found in the northern part of the country. Most notably, Alaska houses the largest wolf population in the country, with a number between 7,000 and 11,000 wolves roaming the state.

6

Turkey

Image: Tyler Jamieson Moulton

There’s an urban legend that states that Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey to be our national symbol. If the stories are true, there might very well be a universe in which this odd-looking bird represents Americans everywhere. And although we’ll take the bald eagle as a symbol any day of the week, there’s something to be said about the nobility of this game bird.

Unlike their domesticated counterparts, wild turkeys are more adept at flying. Although we may never see a majestic turkey soar through the skies, they are able to fly short distances of up to a quarter mile. What’s perhaps most impressive about these birds is their wide range of vocalizations, which may sound like a simple "gobble, gobble" to us, but convey numerous meanings to other turkeys.

7

Groundhog

Image: Andy Sanchez

Sure, Beverly Hills might be the home of Hollywood’s royalty, but the borough of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is home to one of America’s most famous stars. Since 1887, a groundhog by the name of Phil (Punxsutawney Phil, to be exact) has been the key figure in the town’s most famous tradition: "Groundhog Day," a celebration in which Phil predicts when will winter end.

While Punxsutawney Phil is perhaps America’s most famous groundhog, the truth is that these quirky rodents are one of America’s most recognizable animals. Interestingly, groundhogs are also known as "woodchucks," which is a rather baffling name, since these creatures are not known for chucking wood of any kind.

8

Florida panther

Image: Maheera Kulsoom

The alligator might be Florida’s most famous animal, but this large cat shouldn’t be overlooked. The Florida panther is the only cougar species living in the Eastern United States, with a worrying 200 individuals currently living in the Sunshine State.

This majestic cougar is a source of pride for many Floridians, and numerous conservation campaigns have been launched over the years to help protect its habitat. The Florida panther was named the state’s official animal in 1982, as well as being the namesake of the South Florida ice hockey team.

9

Roadrunner

Image: Anish Lakkapragada

Isn’t it strange not to see a coyote included in the title of this entry? We feel bad about separating this iconic pair, but we are sure you’ll agree that the roadrunner is an amazing bird in its own right, even becoming New Mexico’s official state bird in 1949.

Warner Bros. cartoons quickly capitalized on this bird’s most remarkable feature: its running speed. Roadrunners can reach speeds of up to 20 mph, which comes in great help for hunting and running away from predators (like a certain coyote).

10

Bald eagle

Image: Michael Jerrard

The bald eagle shares the title of "most instantly recognizable American symbol" with the American flag and Mount Rushmore. Its status sometimes makes us forget about the spectacular specimen hiding behind the American icon, so we thought it would be a good idea to close this article with a small tribute to our favorite bird of prey.

Let’s start with the obvious: the name "bald eagle" doesn’t come from any distinct lack of plumage, but rather from the old meaning of the word "bald," which used to stand for "white-headed." This distinction seems necessary because one of the most breathtaking aspects of this bird is the contrast of its feathers, which produces a stunning image when paired with its yellow beak. For a while, the status of the bald eagle was endangered until its population recovered thanks to conservation efforts.

1

BackRub

Image: Deepanker Verma

Before it became the verb we all use today, Google was known as BackRub. The name referred to the search engine’s ability to analyze backlinks (links from one webpage to another) as a way to rank search results.

But it sounded more like a massage parlor than a tech startup. In 1997, they wisely rebranded to Google, a twist on "googol," the term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros.

2

Brad’s Drink

Image: NIKHIL

It was going to carry around the nickname of its creator forever. Caleb Bradham was a pharmacist in New Bern, North Carolina. He invented a drink back in 1893 as a refreshing, energizing tonic for digestion, which included pepsin , a digestive enzyme.

A few years later, Brad decided on a more marketable name than his own : Pepsi-Cola.

3

Taco-Tia

Image: Jeswin Thomas

Glen Bell owned Bell’s Drive-In, a stand selling hot dogs, when he noticed long lines outside a Mexican restaurant. He decided he needed to learn how to make tacos.

Over a few years, he refined his concept and opened a new chain selling Mexican food, which received several names over time, including Taco-Tia. Eventually, he landed on Taco Bell. It was conveniently Americanized , easy for mainstream customers to remember and pronounce, and suggested a memorable logo.

4

Sound of Music

Image: Josip Ivankovic

At first, this mega-electronics retailer was all about stereos. Founded in the 60s, Sound of Music specialized in home audio equipment. But after a tornado wrecked their main store in the 80s, they ran a massive clearance sale and told people they would get their "best buy" there.

By the end of the day, they had pretty much sold out. The sale was such a hit that, in 1983, they decided to rebrand entirely as "Best Buy".

5

Tote’m Stores

Image: Piccinng

Once upon a time, you didn’t pop into a 7-Eleven—you got your goods home from Tote’m Stores. The chain got its original name because customers "toted" their purchases.

In 1946, to highlight their revolutionary new hours (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.—wild for the time), they wisely rebranded as "7-Eleven."

6

Blue Ribbon Sports

Image: NEXT Distro

If it had been called "Blue Ribbon Sports," there would probably not be a swoosh . This company began as a distributor for Japan’s Onitsuka Tiger running shoes.

But in the 70s, as they launched their own footwear line, they realized they needed a brand with more bite. They chose "Nike," after the Greek goddess of victory. The swoosh logo was designed that same year for just $35.

7

AuctionWeb

Image: appshunter.io

The original name was straightforward, but also boring. eBay's original incarnation was AuctionWeb, launched in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar as a side project under his larger personal domain, eBay.com (which stood for his consulting firm Echo Bay Technology Group ). When he found that the domain echobay.com was already taken by a mining company, he settled on ebay.com. Later, as the online auction section became wildly successful, Omidyar dropped AuctionWeb entirely and adopted eBay as the company name.

8

Pequod

Image: Gema Saputera

The founders of this coffee shop were inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. They wanted the quality of the coffee to be connected with seafaring and adventure . So, their first choice was "Pequod," the name of Captain Ahab’s doomed whaling ship.

That name didn’t have enough of a punch, however, so they decided to go for a wink at another character in the same book, with a much more marketable sound: Starbucks.

9

Pete’s Super Submarines

Image: Mustafa Fatemi

It was the 60s when 17-year-old Fred DeLuca opened a sandwich shop in Connecticut with financial help from a family friend: Dr. Peter Buck. In his honor, DeLuca named it "Pete’s Super Submarines."

The business grew, however, and the name was a bit of a mouthful. They needed a name that was shorter, catchier, and easier to advertise on the radio. They rebranded as "Subway," winking both at their food (subs) and the fast, urban lifestyle they hoped to serve.

10

Cadabra

Image: ANIRUDH

Too spooky, right? Amazon nearly had a name that conjured magic tricks. In 1994, Jeff Bezos registered the name "Cadabra," short for abracadabra . That lasted until someone pointed out how much like "cadaver" the name sounded.

Bezos then considered "Amazon," the name of the immense river. Not only did it suggest something vast, exotic, and full of potential, but it also placed the brand at the top of alphabetical listings —an old-school SEO move.

1

A Presidential curse

Image: David Everett Strickler

For almost 140 years, U.S. presidents elected in years ending in zero died while in office. It happened to William Henry Harrison (1840), Abraham Lincoln (1860), James A. Garfield (1880), William McKinley (1900), Warren G. Harding (1920), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1940), and John F. Kennedy in 1960 . Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980 , broke the curse by surviving an assassination attempt.

2

Mark Twain and Halley’s Comet

Image: Justin Wolff

In the year Mark Twain was born, 1835, Halley’s Comet passed by Earth. The great writer famously predicted he’d "go out with it" as well . Indeed, he passed away in 1910, the next time the comet appeared.

3

Jefferson and Adams

Image: iStrfry , Marcus

A patriotic yet somber coincidence, indeed. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third U.S. presidents, both died on July 4, 1826 —exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

4

Hoover Dam’s first and last casualties

Image: Ryan Thorpe

The construction of the Hoover Dam was a long and difficult process, claiming over 100 lives. The first person to die was J.G. Tierney , and the last recorded death was his son , Patrick Tierney.

5

Lincoln and Kennedy

Image: Kelli Dougal

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were elected 100 years apart (1860 and 1960). Both were shot in the head and succeeded by men named Johnson . Their assassins each had three names: John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. Both were assassinated on a Friday while sitting next to their wives at the time that it happened.

6

Charles Francis Coghlan’s last journey

Image: Rhodi Lopez

Actor Charles Francis Coghlan died in Texas in 1899. But his casket was lost at sea during a hurricane. Eight years later, his coffin washed ashore near his birthplace in Prince Edward Island, Canada, more than 3,000 miles away.

7

The Titanic coincidence

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

A few years before the Titanic sank, Morgan Robertson wrote a short book called Futility , about a massive "unsinkable" ship called the Titan that hit an iceberg and sank. The tale describes a ship with a similar size and a similar lack of lifeboats to the famous vessel.

8

Dennis the Menace

Image: Mitch Rosen

Two comic strips featuring a character named Dennis the Menace debuted in British and American outlets, respectively, on March 12, 1961—only a few hours apart. However, the two creators did not know each other and had no idea of the other’s work.

9

Jim Lewis and Jim Springer

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

Identical twin brothers separated at birth , Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, were reunited at age 39 and discovered many coincidences: both married women named Linda , divorced, and then remarried women named Betty. Both had dogs named Toy and drove the same model of car. Both grew up with an adopted brother named Larry and had sons whom they named James Allan.

10

Disney magic

Image: PAN XIAOZHEN

A soon-to-be-married couple, Alex and Donna , were looking through old photos to include in their wedding video. They found one photo of Donna posing on a childhood trip to Disney World in 1980. And in the background, they spotted Alex being pushed in a stroller by his father.

11

Moped meets taxi, twice

Image: Ruslan Bardash

In 1975, 17-year-old Erskine Lawrence Ebbin was struck by a taxi in Bermuda while riding his moped. A year later, his brother Neville , also 17 at the time, was riding the same moped when he was struck by the same taxi —with the same passenger—on the same street.

12

Lightning strike survivor

Image: Felix Mittermeier

Being hit by lightning is an extremely rare occurrence. Park ranger Roy Sullivan was struck not once, but seven times between 1942 and 1977 —and survived them all. The strikes hit him in a fire tower, in his truck, in his yard, while patrolling, and more. His unusual record earned him the nickname "Human Lightning Rod."