1

Paul Bunyan

The giant Northwoods lumberjack and his blue ox, Babe, began as camp lore but became truly national once adman W.B. Laughead used him in Red River Lumber Company pamphlets. Those promotions helped standardize the tall-tale feats , like the myth that he carved all of Minnesota’s lakes with his axe or his footprints.

2

Johnny Appleseed

A real nurseryman turned folk saint, Johnny Appleseed (a.k.a. John Chapman) planted nurseries (not random seeds) on the frontier, selling or leasing saplings to settlers. Because cider drove apple demand, his work fit the era’s foodways and law.

Over time, he was mythologized as a barefoot, pot-hatted wanderer who "greened" the Midwest .

3

Pecos Bill

The ultimate cowboy hero who lassoes tornadoes and rides mountain lions . Though set in the mythic West, he’s a 20th-century creation: Edward O’Reilly’s 1917 stories (and later children’s retellings) created his outlandish feats.

4

John Henry

The steel-driving man who raced a steam drill and "died with a hammer in his hand" embodies labor dignity in the machine age. Ballads likely trace to late-19th-century railroad/tunnel work in the South. The story’s core made him a working-class icon and civil rights touchstone.

5

Davy Crockett

A real frontiersman and congressman whose image ballooned into legend via 1830s almanacs and later popular culture (most famously Disney’s 1950s series).

Known for the image of the coonskin cap on his head and his bear-wrestling bravado, his death at the Alamo sealed his heroic reputation.

6

Mike Fink

The "king of the keelboaters" of Ohio–Mississippi river lore, famed for marksmanship and pranks. A semi-legendary man, he eventually made it into folktales and later print stories. They all fixed him as the wild spirit of the river trade before steamboats took over.

7

Molly Pitcher

A Revolutionary War camp-follower-turned-artillery heroine in legend. She is often linked to the 1778 Battle of Monmouth. In reality, historians note that "Molly Pitcher" functions as a composite legend of different women, herself a symbol for women’s wartime labor.

8

The Headless Horseman

Washington Irving’s 1820 tale set in Sleepy Hollow cemented America’s most famous ghostly rider. The figure merges European motifs with Hudson Valley lore, and it eventually became a perennial of American Halloween culture.

9

Sasquatch

The shaggy forest giant of the Pacific Northwest has Indigenous antecedents, but the modern media phenomenon exploded after 1958 reports of enormous footprints in Northern California. Since then, " Bigfoot " has fueled tourism, legislation proposals, and endless debate.

10

The Jersey Devil

South Jersey’s Pine Barrens " state demon ," long tied to the Leeds family legend and 18th-century quarrels, became a 20th-century media sensation. Descriptions of it vary, often including a mixture of different animal parts, such as a goat-horse head, bat wings, and cloven hooves. Although not everyone agrees on what it would look like, it is definitely a regional identity badge of New Jersey.

11

Mothman

Reported around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, this is a red-eyed, winged figure who allegedly predicted disasters, something that became even more popular when the Silver Bridge tragically collapsed. The 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies embedded it in pop culture: Festivals, statues, and a museum now anchor its local mythology.

1

The 1920s: Flappers and a new sense of freedom

The 1920s brought a new sense of independence and modernity to American women, and fashion reflected that changing attitude. After centuries of restrictive styles, women embraced clothes that allowed greater freedom of movement and a more youthful appearance.

Flapper dresses, bobbed hair, cloche hats, Mary Jane shoes, and long strands of pearls became signatures of the decade. The rebellious flapper embodied this new attitude, with silent film star Louise Brooks becoming one of the era's most recognizable style icons.

2

The 1930s: Hollywood glamour

The hardships of the Great Depression contrasted sharply with the glamorous world presented on the silver screen. Hollywood offered an escape, and movie stars became powerful influences on how American women wanted to look. Fashion was elegant and feminine, with clothing designed to create a long, graceful silhouette.

Bias-cut dresses, fitted gowns, wide-leg trousers, fur-trimmed coats, and chic hats were popular, while satin and silk added a touch of luxury. Jean Harlow, known for her platinum-blonde hair and glamorous gowns, was one of the decade’s most celebrated style icons, alongside other actresses such as Carole Lombard.

3

The 1940s: Fashion during wartime

World War II brought practicality to the forefront. With fabric rationed and millions of women entering the workforce, clothing had to be functional, durable, and economical without completely sacrificing style.

Tailored suits, shorter skirts, button-up blouses, trousers, sturdy shoes, and simple dresses became everyday staples. The iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, with her work shirt, rolled-up sleeves, and headscarf, came to symbolize the capable working woman of wartime America.

4

The 1950s: The feminine silhouette returns

The postwar years ushered in a very different mood. As prosperity grew, fashion celebrated femininity, polish, and carefully put-together appearances. The hourglass figure became the decade's ideal silhouette.

Full skirts, cinched waists, fitted sweaters, gloves, pearls, and tailored dresses dominated women's wardrobes. Hollywood stars reinforced the look: Marilyn Monroe represented glamorous, voluptuous femininity, while Grace Kelly became synonymous with restrained, sophisticated style.

5

The 1960s: Mini skirts and mod style

The 1960s belonged to youth culture. Younger women were challenging traditional ideas about fashion and society , and clothing became a way to express independence and a willingness to break the rules.

Mini skirts, shift dresses, go-go boots, bold geometric prints, colorful tights, and bright colors gave the decade its unmistakable look. British designer Mary Quant became closely associated with the mini skirt, while First Lady Jackie Kennedy influenced millions of women with her polished dresses, pillbox hats, and timeless elegance.

6

The 1970s: From hippie to disco

Individuality was the name of the game in the 1970s. The decade's fashion reflected everything from the counterculture and growing women's movement to the glamorous nightlife of the disco era.

Early on, bell-bottom jeans, flowing maxi dresses, peasant blouses, fringe, denim, suede, and platform shoes dominated. Later, sequined dresses, jumpsuits, halter tops, and metallic fabrics took over the dance floor. Diana Ross was one of the era's standout style icons, effortlessly embodying its glamorous side.

7

The 1980s: Big shoulders and bigger statements

Confidence, and plenty of it, defined the 1980s. As more women entered professional and corporate environments, clothing became a way to project ambition and authority , while pop culture encouraged an equally bold approach outside the office.

Power suits, shoulder pads, oversized blazers, leggings, bright colors, statement jewelry, and wide belts captured the decade's love of excess. Madonna influenced a younger generation with lace, layered jewelry, leggings, and rebellious accessories, while Dynasty’s Joan Collins represented the decade's polished glamour.

8

The 1990s: Casual becomes fashionable

After the extravagance of the 1980s, fashion took a more relaxed turn. The idea that clothes could be stylish without looking overly polished gained ground, and casualwear moved firmly into the mainstream. Grunge also made its mark, bringing a deliberately undone attitude to everyday fashion.

Straight-leg jeans, flannel shirts, slip dresses, simple T-shirts, sneakers, and minimalist dresses became staples. Inspired by the grunge scene, many women embraced layered, oversized, and thrift-store-inspired looks. Princess Diana was a major style influence, particularly for her effortlessly chic casual outfits, while supermodel Kate Moss represented an edgy, minimalist glamour.

9

The 2000s: Low-rise jeans and celebrity style

Early-2000s fashion was playful, youthful, and heavily influenced by celebrities. Low-rise jeans, cropped tops, velour tracksuits, tiny handbags, platform sandals, and logo-covered clothing were everywhere. Matching sets and highly coordinated outfits were also popular, creating some of the decade’s most recognizable looks.

Celebrities became fashion trendsetters on an unprecedented scale. Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton were among the decade’s most recognizable style icons, with their outfits frequently appearing in magazines, celebrity news shows, and online. For many women, keeping up with the latest celebrity looks became almost as important as following traditional fashion trends.

10

The 2010s: Social media changes fashion

The 2010s ushered fashion into a new digital era. Instagram, fashion blogs, and social media changed how women discovered trends, while celebrities, influencers, and even everyday users could become style authorities. What people wore could suddenly reach millions of people with a single post.

Skinny jeans, leggings, statement necklaces, jumpsuits, sneakers, and athleisure became everyday favorites. Women increasingly mixed casual pieces with more polished ones, creating looks that worked just as well for running errands as they did for going out. Kim Kardashian became one of the decade’s most influential style figures, while fast fashion made it easier than ever to follow new trends.

11

The 2020s: Comfort meets personal style

The 2020s have brought a more flexible approach to fashion. Comfort has become a major priority, with wide-leg pants, oversized shirts, relaxed denim, sneakers, matching sets, and other comfortable basics becoming everyday favorites. At the same time, women have more freedom to decide what feels stylish and authentic to them.

Rather than following one dominant look, women today can mix styles from different decades, combining vintage dresses with modern sneakers or classic pieces with contemporary trends. The biggest trend of the 2020s so far may simply be personal expression.

1

Friends

Image: David Vives

We’ll start with what many consider to be the quintessential sitcom. Debuting in 1994, Friends followed the varied and whimsical lives of six New Yorkers —Chandler, Joey, Ross, Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe—and the everyday adventures they found themselves in. Throughout its 10-year run, Friends received acclaim from both critics and viewers alike and is now considered one of the most successful and highest-grossing television shows of all time.

2

Seinfeld

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0

You might think that a sitcom describing itself as " a show about nothing " wouldn’t be particularly successful—let alone one of the most iconic shows of all time. And yet, Seinfeld remains one of the most influential shows in history, praised for its sharp writing and incredibly talented cast. The series follows comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends—Elaine, George, and Kramer—as they navigate the often absurd minutiae of daily life.

3

Mad About You

Image: Mandy von Stahl

While sitcom settings may vary greatly, most tend to revolve around subjects that resonate with audiences—love, the workplace, or family life, for example. In that sense, the 1992 sitcom Mad About You seemed to embrace the phrase "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" as its mantra. The show centered on a young married couple (played by Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt) living in New York City. As simple as the premise might sound, the series’ stellar performances and insightful writing earned it numerous awards, including 12 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes.

4

The Big Bang Theory

Image: Ben Griffiths

The Big Bang Theory faced the difficult task of making the world of science fun and accessible . Luckily, it had an extremely lovable and talented cast that rose to the occasion. The first episode introduces us to Leonard and Sheldon, two physicists whose lives take an unexpected turn when they meet their new next-door neighbor, Penny.

5

Modern Family

Image: Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0

As we mentioned earlier, family life is a recurring theme in many sitcoms. However, the 2009 show Modern Family put a fresh spin on this concept by focusing on three separate yet interconnected families. The series not only featured an exceptionally talented cast but also placed its many characters in both hilarious and heartfelt situations.

6

The Honeymooners

Image: Lauren Richmond

First aired in 1955, The Honeymooners revolves around New York City bus driver Ralph Kramden and his wife, Alice (wonderfully portrayed by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows). Gleason’s quick wit, combined with the show’s many catchphrases ("Bang, zoom, straight to the Moon!" and "Homina, homina!", to name a few), quickly cemented the series in American pop culture. Not only that, many timeless shows, such as The Flintstones , were inspired by The Honeymooners .

7

Cheers

Image: Yutacar

Like many Americans, you might frequent a local "watering hole"—a small bar or tavern where you can unwind and enjoy a drink or two with friends. In that sense, the 1982 sitcom Cheers perfectly captured that feeling from the very start, with its iconic theme song praising a magical place " where everybody knows your name ." The sitcom was so successful that it inspired Frasier , a spin-off centered around one of Cheers’ most popular characters.

8

Community

Image: Unseen Studio

In case you didn’t know, the term "sitcom" is short for "situational comedy." As you might expect, the setting in which these situations unfold is an essential component. With that in mind, showrunner Dan Harmon devised a unique premise for his 2009 show Community . Inspired by the community college he attended in his youth, he created a series centered around a group of quirky misfits studying Spanish at the fictional Greendale Community College.

9

Full House

Image: Ross Joyner

For such a lighthearted sitcom , Full House had a surprisingly somber premise : a recently widowed father (played by Bob Saget) enlists the help of his best friend and brother-in-law to raise his three daughters. Nevertheless, the show quickly became a beloved classic, running for eight seasons and earning several awards along the way.

10

All in the Family

Image: Simon Berger

Few names command as much respect and admiration in comedy writing circles as Norman Lear . This legendary screenwriter and producer was responsible for some of the most iconic shows in television history, including The Jeffersons , Sanford and Son , and One Day at a Time . With that in mind, choosing his best show is no easy task, but we believe All in the Family is the strongest contender. Not only was this 1971 sitcom hilarious and sharp-witted , but it also tackled major issues such as religion and the Vietnam War.

11

I Love Lucy

Image: Mayur Gala

We’ll end this article with what many consider to be the sitcom that started it all . Starring Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz, the 1951 show I Love Lucy follows Lucy Ricardo, a New York City housewife determined to break into show business. Soon after its premiere, it became the most-watched show in the United States and went on to win five Emmy Awards. To this day, it remains one of the most influential television shows in history.