1

Blues

Image: Ahmed Rizkhaan

Originating in the Deep South during the late 19th century, blues evolved from African American work songs, spirituals, and field hollers. More often than not, it channeled pain and the harsh realities of life in a segregated America. Formally, its 12-bar blues structure and expressive guitar playing influenced countless other genres, from rock and roll to jazz.

2

Jazz

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

Born in New Orleans in the early 20th century, jazz blended African rhythms, blues, and brass band traditions. It was a revolutionary genre defined by improvisation and syncopation. Great figures like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington helped jazz spread worldwide, becoming a symbol of American creativity.

3

Rock and Roll

Image: Ana Grave

Emerging in the 1950s, rock and roll combined elements of blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues to create a high-energy, powerful sound . It soon became the voice of a new, rebellious generation. Pioneers like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard became universally beloved legends, forever altering the course of popular music.

4

Country

Image: Ben White

Originating in the southern United States, country music evolved from folk ballads and fiddle tunes brought by European immigrants. Initially, the genre focused on stories about blue-collar American life but later expanded to include love ballads and dance tunes. Today, it remains one of the most popular genres in the U.S.

5

Bluegrass

Image: Priscilla Du Preez

A fast-paced, acoustic offshoot of country, bluegrass emerged in the 1940s thanks to Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Drawing from Irish and Scottish folk traditions, it prominently features stringed instruments like the banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. A true heartland gem, bluegrass continues to thrive on festival circuits worldwide.

6

Rhythm and Blues

Image: Matthijs Smit

Rhythm and Blues, or R&B, evolved from blues and jazz in the 1940s, featuring soulful vocals and a strong, "insistent" backbeat. Though its boundaries have been historically difficult to define, it laid the foundation for rock, soul, and funk while remaining a powerhouse in American music for generations.

7

Gospel

Image: Iyinoluwa Onaeko

Rooted in African American church traditions, gospel music emerged in the early 20th century, blending spirituals with blues and jazz influences. Artists like Mahalia Jackson and The Staple Singers were among the first to bring gospel beyond church walls, paving the way for future soul and rock musicians.

8

Soul

Image: Kobe Subramaniam

A direct descendant of gospel and R&B, soul music took center stage in the 1960s with its mix of emotional vocals and deep grooves. Legends like Aretha Franklin and James Brown defined the genre, influencing everything from funk to modern pop.

9

Funk

Image: Krisztián Reischl

Emerging in the 1960s, funk placed a strong emphasis on groove and rhythm, featuring heavy basslines and syncopated beats made for dancing. Pioneers like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly & The Family Stone helped popularize the genre, whose infectious rhythms later influenced disco, hip-hop, and even rock.

10

Disco

Image: Honey Fangs

Rising in the 1970s, disco blended soul, funk, and Latin influences into a beat-driven, club-friendly sound. More than just a music genre, it became a cultural movement centered on dance, freedom, and glamour. At its peak, artists like Donna Summer and the Bee Gees dominated the airwaves.

1

Chimichangas

Image: Pedro Gil

What do you mean it’s not a Mexican dish? The name sounds Mexican!" While two Mexican-American restaurants—one in Tucson and the other in Phoenix—dispute the authorship of this dish, one thing is certain: it originated in the United States, more specifically in Arizona .

Today, chimichangas— a stuffed burrito fried in oil or butter —are one of America’s favorite dishes. And although they could never have existed without the culinary influence of our southern neighbor, we also had a lot to do with their creation.

2

Chop suey

Image: Albert Stoynov

There are many theories about the origin of this popular dish, but one of the most widespread is particularly intriguing. According to lore, chop suey was invented in 1896 by the cook of the Chinese ambassador to the United States . Apparently, the diplomat, who was hosting a dinner for American guests, instructed the chef to prepare a dish that would appeal to both Eastern and Western palates.

While there is no dispute that similar dishes exist in Asian cuisine, this particular moment of cultural and culinary exchange is said to have sparked the American public's fascination with Asian flavors . Soon after, Chinese restaurants began to proliferate across the country, with chop suey as their signature dish.

3

Russian dressing

Image: Rachel Claire

Did you know that nobody in Russia has ever seasoned their salad with Russian dressing? It doesn't exist there! This popular condiment is a completely American invention. It’s believed to have been created by a New Hampshire butcher in the early 20th century , who originally called it "Russian mayonnaise." Interestingly, he had no known ties to Russia, so it is unclear why he chose that name.

Perhaps the answer lies in one of the dressing’s original ingredients: black caviar, one of Russia’s most famous exports . Unfortunately, we’ll probably never know the full story. One thing is certain, though—Russian dressing was born in the United States!

4

Chili con carne

Image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1545433243-0a87e3fed9b4?q=80&w=1470&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D

Okay, chili may sound like a traditional Mexican dish, but this meaty version, chili con carne , was actually created in South Texas in the late 19th century . Not only did it feature added animal protein, but one of the key ingredients often associated with chili today—beans—was originally left out.

Chili con carne quickly became a national favorite. Families across the country began experimenting with their own versions, and soon, nearly every state had its own take on the dish . But nothing quite compares to the original Texan chili—the one that started it all!

5

Fortune cookies

Image: hannahlouise123

If you asked someone where fortune cookies come from, they’d probably say China. After all, they’re the quintessential treat served at Chinese restaurants around the world. But surprisingly, fortune cookies were invented in the United States —and they’re not even Chinese !

They were first created in the early 20th century in San Francisco , one of the American cities with the largest Asian immigrant populations. Even more surprisingly, they were invented by a Japanese man as a gesture of gratitude to the mayor who had hired him as a designer. He was inspired by a Kyoto tradition called omikuji , which involves offering a treat that contains a random fortune written on a slip of paper.

After World War II, many Chinese entrepreneurs took over Japanese bakeries in the Bay Area, helping to spread the cookie's popularity—and contributing to the common misconception about their origin.

6

Cuban sandwich

Image: Conor Brown

Despite its name, the Cuban sandwich originated in the Cuban-American communities of Ybor City, Key West , and Plant City , Florida , in the early 20th century. It later became popular in Miami and other American cities with large Cuban populations.

Interestingly, the ingredients vary from place to place. What all versions share, however, is Cuban bread —similar to a French baguette but made with slightly different ingredients and a unique baking method. So, is this bread authentically Cuban? Not exactly. It was actually created alongside the sandwich, right here in the United States!

7

German chocolate cake

Image: BraggsDiner

Despite its name, German chocolate cake has no culinary ties to Germany, nor is it named in honor of the country. In fact, it takes its name from Samuel German , a confectioner who, in the mid-1850s, developed a type of baking chocolate for the Baker's Chocolate Company of Boston, Massachusetts.

A century later, a recipe using German’s Sweet Chocolate appeared in the Dallas Morning News and became an instant hit among homemakers. Before long, Baker's Chocolate sales soared, marking a strong comeback for German's baking bar. Today, German chocolate cake is an American classic —and now you know its true origin!

8

Spaghetti and meatballs

Image: Ivy Farm

You probably thought this dish was authentically Italian your whole life. Well, we hate to break it to you, but spaghetti and meatballs are a hundred percent American invention, though it is, to be fair, a product of early 20th-century Italian immigration.

Meatballs were likely inspired by Italian polpette , a stew made of small balls of breadcrumbs mixed with meat or fish. However, in the Old World, polpette was never served with pasta and marinara sauce; it was a dish on its own. When Italian immigrants discovered how easy it was to buy beef in America, they began incorporating it into many dishes. And thank goodness they did!

9

Garlic bread

Image: Mariana Kurnyk

Another food with Italian influences but created in the United States is garlic bread. A staple of Italian restaurants, this side dish was introduced by immigrants who were likely trying to emulate the famous bruschetta .

However, they ran into an obstacle that led to the invention of something totally new—but just as delicious. Olive oil, so abundant in the mother country, was scarce and difficult to obtain in America. Therefore, they resorted to an ingredient found in abundance here: butter . And the rest is history!

10

Vichyssoise

Image: Julia Kicova

With such a name, you might think this dish is purely French! Well, not exactly. Although it was created by a French-born chef, it was first made in Manhattan, New York. In 1917, feeling a bit homesick for his homeland, Louis Diat, head chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, wanted to recreate a potato and leek soup his mother used to make when he was growing up in Montmarault, France.

But there was a problem: it was summer. Finally, he came up with a brilliant idea—to thin down the hot soup with cold milk and cream . He named his invention after Vichy, the famous spa town near his hometown. The dish was an instant hit among the restaurant’s guests, who soon asked for it to be available year-round.

1

From trail to theater capital

Image: Christian Lendl

Before Broadway was packed with theaters, it was a Native American trail cutting across Manhattan. The Dutch later called it "the Gentlemen’s Street," and eventually the name "Broadway" stuck because of its unusual width. Did you know that?

2

Theater superstitions

Image: Gwen King

Broadway has its own share of taboos. For example, whistling backstage was once a no-no, since stagehands used whistles as signals. Saying the word "Macbeth" inside a theater is also believed to bring bad luck , so actors usually call it "the Scottish Play." Even in modern times, performers still keep these superstitions alive—just in case.

3

Why it’s called the Great White Way

Image: Martin Sanchez

All those glowing signs around Times Square gave Broadway its sparkling nickname. Starting in the early 1900s, electric lights lit up the blocks between 41st and 53rd Streets, dazzling visitors and creating the famous "Great White Way." Today, it’s still one of the brightest spots in New York City.

4

The first Broadway musical

Image: Kyle Head

In 1866, a play called The Black Crook made history. After a fire destroyed another theater, producers combined a ballet and a melodrama , creating a six-hour spectacle of music, dancing, and over-the-top staging. It became a runaway success and is often called the very first Broadway musical.

5

What counts as "on Broadway"

Image: Andreas M

People often think "on Broadway" just means any theater on that street, but it’s actually trickier than that . A show is considered Broadway if the theater has 500 or more seats and meets certain contract rules. Only a handful of actual Broadway theaters are physically on Broadway itself, which can be confusing for first-time visitors.

6

Phantom holds the record

Image: Rodrigo dos Santos

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera holds the crown as Broadway’s longest-running show. With more than 13,000 performances , it kept audiences hooked for decades. Some orchestra members even played the same music eight times a week for years, perfecting their own unique coping routines. Can you imagine doing that?

7

Cats and its mountain of yak hair

Image: Roman Suslov

During its long run, Cats became famous for something other than the catchy songs. The costume crew went through over 3,200 pounds of yak hair for wigs alone . It certainly paid off, as the play also became one of the biggest shows in Broadway’s history. Talk about commitment to authenticity.

8

The Lion King roars the loudest at the box office

Image: Iván Díaz

Since its 1997 debut, The Lion King has been Broadway’s biggest earner , pulling in over a billion dollars in ticket sales. With its breathtaking puppetry and Elton John’s music, it managed to win over both theatergoers and families who grew up with the movie.

9

Carrie, the musical failure

Image: Samuel Regan-Asante

Even if we’ve mentioned the greatest on Broadway, we must say not every show becomes a hit . In 1988, Broadway tried to turn Stephen King’s horror novel Carrie into a musical. Let’s just say it didn’t land, and if you’ve read the book, you can imagine why. Critics compared it to disasters of epic scale, and it closed after only five performances. One thing is for sure: Even the flops are big on Broadway.

10

Chicago’s real inspirations

Image: Sawyer Bengtson

The hit musical Chicago may feel like pure entertainment, but its leading ladies were inspired by real 1920s women accused of murder. Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner were both acquitted after trials that captured the public’s imagination. Their stories of crime, fame, and scandal became the backbone of the show.

11

Why theaters skip row I

Image: Vlah Dumitru

Maybe you’ve never noticed, but many theaters go from row H to J, and that’s not because of superstition. The reason is that the letter I looks too much like the number 1 , which can make ticketing confusing in dimly lit theaters. Some places also skip O or Q for similar reasons. It’s all about keeping the seating simple for audiences. Do you agree with this policy?