General General 3 min read

Humble beginnings

American companies that started in a garage

Image: Cristian Iorga

Great companies don’t always begin in shiny office towers or corporate campuses. In fact, some of America’s most influential brands started in the most ordinary place imaginable: a garage. With limited money, basic equipment, and a big idea, a few determined founders managed to build businesses that eventually changed entire industries. Sometimes all it takes is a garage, a few tools, and the determination to turn a simple idea into something extraordinary. Below are ten well-known American companies whose journeys began in garages before becoming global household names.

1
Apple

Image: Laurenz Heymann

Apple Inc. famously started in 1976 in the Los Altos garage of Steve Jobs’ parents. Jobs and Steve Wozniak assembled early versions of the Apple I computer there, selling circuit boards to local computer hobbyists.

What began as a small project between two friends eventually grew into one of the world’s most valuable companies, producing iconic products like the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.

2
Amazon

Image: Marques Thomas

Amazon began in 1994 when Jeff Bezos launched an online bookstore from the garage of his rented home in Bellevue. Early operations included simple desks and computers connected to the growing internet.

From selling books online, Amazon rapidly expanded into nearly every retail category and eventually became one of the largest e-commerce and cloud computing companies in the world.

3
Google

Image: Karollyne Videira Hubert

Google started in 1998 in a garage rented from Susan Wojcicki in Menlo Park. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin worked there while developing their revolutionary search engine.

Their algorithm dramatically improved how people found information online, and the company quickly grew into a global tech powerhouse that now operates under Alphabet Inc.

4
Hewlett-Packard

Image: Rubaitul Azad

Hewlett‑Packard, often called HP, was founded in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a small garage in Palo Alto.

Their first product was an audio oscillator used by sound engineers, including early customers at The Walt Disney Company. That modest workspace is now considered the birthplace of Silicon Valley.

5
Disney

Image: Seif Abukhalaf

The Walt Disney Company traces part of its origin to a garage studio used by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney in the early 1920s in Los Angeles.

Working with minimal equipment, the brothers produced early animated films that would eventually lead to the creation of Mickey Mouse and a global entertainment empire.

6
Harley-Davidson

Image: Nathan Dumlao

Harley‑Davidson began in 1903 in a small wooden garage in Milwaukee. Founders William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson built their first motorcycle prototype there.

The company grew steadily and became one of the most iconic motorcycle brands in the world, known for its powerful engines and loyal fan base.

7
Mattel

Image: Sean Bernstein

Mattel began in 1945, when Harold Matson and Elliot Handler started making picture frames in a garage workshop in Los Angeles.

Leftover frame scraps were used to create dollhouse furniture, which became so popular that the company shifted its focus to toys. Mattel would later introduce famous products like Barbie and Hot Wheels.

8
Dell

Image: Greg Rosenke

Dell Technologies was founded by Michael Dell in 1984. While the company began in his college dorm room at the University of Texas at Austin, early operations soon moved into a small garage workspace where computers were assembled and upgraded.

Dell’s direct-to-consumer sales model helped transform the personal computer industry and made the company one of the world’s largest PC manufacturers.

9
Yankee Candle

Image: Rhamely

Yankee Candle began in 1969 when teenager Michael Kittredge II made a homemade candle in his family’s garage in South Hadley as a Christmas gift.

Neighbors wanted to buy the candles, and the small hobby quickly turned into a thriving business. Today, the brand is one of the most recognized names in scented candles.

Culture Culture 4 min read

Gifted people

They do what!? Discover the unusual talents of these 10 celebrities

Image: Alex Alvarez

It's pretty common for movie stars to be great singers or dancers, too. But some of them have incredible abilities you'd never expect. From creating museum-worthy portraits to riding a unicycle or even taming lions, we're uncovering the hidden and extraordinary talents of 10 famous American celebrities. Let's get started!

1
Bob Dylan

Image: Rowland Scherman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As if he weren't talented enough, Bob Dylan not only captivates us with his lyrics and music but also excels in the world of visual arts . The musician is a skilled metal sculptor, creating impressive pieces from welded metal objects. Did you know it?

2
Bob Barker

Image: Rebecca Roth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Bob Barker wasn't just a beloved media personality and the unforgettable host of The Price Is Right ; he also knew how to throw a punch. It turns out that Barker was a skilled martial artist who trained for years under action star Chuck Norris and even earned a black belt in Karate.

3
Johnny Cash

Image: Heinrich Klaffs, via Wikimedia Commons

Johnny Cash wasn't just gifted with his voice and guitar; he also had a surprising skill: Morse code. He served in the US Air Force in Germany during the Cold War, working as a radio-intercept and Morse code operator. It’s said that his decoding talent enabled him to be one of the first Americans to learn of Joseph Stalin’s death.

4
Christopher Walken

Image: By Tabercil, via Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Walken gave us iconic film roles, but it wasn't just the big screen he mastered. As a teenager, he took on a peculiar summer job: lion-taming. Believe it or not, it's true! The famous actor performed tricks with a large lioness, which, according to him, taught him stage presence, confidence, and, of course, a lifelong love for cats.

5
Geena Davis

Image: Alan Light, via Wikimedia Commons

In addition to starring in blockbusters like Thelma & Louise (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), and Beetlejuice (1988), Geena Davis is also a skilled athlete. That's right! She took up archery around 1997 and performed so well that she competed in the US Olympic trials for the 2000 Sydney Games, coming very close to qualifying!

6
Mark Ruffalo

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

Beloved Mark Ruffalo is much more than a leading man and a superhero. The actor also has a talent many would envy: he can ride a unicycle! He showcased this skill on The Graham Norton Show in 2014, riding both a standard unicycle and an extra-tall one. As he explained, he dreamed of joining the circus as a child, which inspired him to learn this unique skill.

7
Steve Carell

Image: Sgt. Michael Connors, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Steve Carell has long proven himself as one of America's finest actors, excelling in both comedy and powerful dramas. As if that weren't enough, he’s also a skilled ice hockey player. In college at Denison University, he was a goaltender for the club hockey team, even earning the nickname "Backbone of the Defense"!

8
Terry Crews

Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons

While he’s delighted us countless times with comedic roles, Terry Crews is also a writer, TV host, book illustrator, furniture designer, flute player, and even a former NFL player! Yet his most remarkable talent lies in the fine arts: he earned a college art scholarship before his football scholarship, and his paintings and drawings are said to be seriously impressive. Without a doubt, Crews is pure charisma, muscle, and talent!

9
Lucy Liu

Image: Bryan Berlin, via Wikimedia Commons

The incredible Lucy Liu was born in New York in 1968 and was destined to become a star. But she is much more than one of Charlie's Angels ; Liu is also a talented and accomplished painter. And it's not just a hobby! She has a professional art studio and has exhibited her work over the years.

10
Zac Efron

Image: Ivo Duran from Brazil, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the years, Zac Efron has proven he's more than just a teen star, taking on major and diverse film roles. But that's not his only talent; Efron also masters a skill that's both sensual and challenging: pole dancing! He trained for the film The Greatest Showman , and his athleticism helped him master the strength and precision the art requires.

Geography Geography 3 min read

A deep look at the map

From Philly to Miami: These U.S. place names don't mean what you think!

Image: Mackenzie Cruz

Every place name has a story— especially in America ! While some come from Indigenous languages, others trace their origins to European tongues or ancient legends. These names are more than just labels; they offer glimpses into our past , revealing the diverse cultures and pivotal events that have shaped the nation. From Greek influences to names that predate European conquest, we've gathered 12 of the most fascinating origins behind America's place names.

1
Miami

Image: Avi Werde

Miami’s name comes from the Mayaimi people, who lived around Lake Okeechobee. The name itself is thought to refer to the "big water" of the lake, a defining feature for the region's Indigenous inhabitants.

2
Chicago

Image: Neal Kharawala

The name "Chicago" comes from the Potawatomi word shikaakwa, meaning "wild onion" or "wild garlic." These plants were once abundant along the banks of the Chicago River, and early French explorers who heard this term adapted it into the city's name.

3
Philadelphia

Image: Chris Murray

The name "Philadelphia" comes from the Greek words philos (love) and adelphos (brother). Founded in 1682 by William Penn, the city was intended to be a haven for religious freedom and peaceful coexistence—hence its name.

4
Cincinnati

Image: Matt Koffel

Cincinnati's name comes from the Society of the Cincinnati, a patriotic organization formed in 1783 to honor officers of the Continental Army. The society itself was named after Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a legendary hero of the Roman Republic.

5
California

Image: Vital Sinkevich

The name "California" comes from Las Sergas de Esplandián, a 16th-century Spanish novel by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. The book describes a mythical island where gold could be found in great quantities. When Spanish explorers reached the Baja Peninsula, they mistakenly believed it was an island and, inspired by the novel, named it after the fictional paradise.

6
Boise

Image: Attorney Sluice

The name "Boise" comes from the French word boisé, meaning "wooded" or "forest." French fur traders were some of the earliest European explorers in the region, and they named the Boise River after observing the thick forests that lined its banks.

7
Albuquerque

Image: Raychel Sanner

Albuquerque was named by the Spanish in the 18th century, but its origins trace back to the Latin words albus (white) and quercus (oak), referring to the white oak trees that are found in the area.

8
Mississippi River

Image: Mathew Benoit

The Mississippi River gets its name from the Ojibwe word Misi-ziibi, meaning "Great River." Certainly a fitting name, given the river’s key role in the development of American trade and transportation, a vital route for settlers and Indigenous people alike.

9
Yellowstone National Park

Image: Meina Yin

Yellowstone National Park takes its name from the Yellowstone River, which was in turn named by fur trappers who used the word "yellow" to describe the river’s striking sandstone cliffs . Established in 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the U.S., preserving its unique geological and natural wonders.

10
Appalachian Mountains

Image: Elijah Mears

The Appalachian Mountains, among the oldest in the world, take their name from Apalachee , a term used by the Spanish to refer to a Native American tribe in northwestern Florida . Interestingly, the name was later applied to the distant mountain range, despite no direct connection between the two—perhaps they had run out of names?

11
Niagara Falls

Image: Sergey Pesterev

Niagara Falls takes its name from the nearby Niagara River, which derives from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra , meaning "the strait" or "narrow water." Unsurprisingly, given their breathtaking beauty, the falls have long been a significant natural landmark for both Indigenous peoples and European explorers.

12
Adirondack Mountains

Image: Ty Finck

The Adirondack Mountains in New York are believed to take their name from the Algonquin word adirondacks , meaning "they eat trees" or "bark eaters." This name likely referred to another group of Indigenous inhabitants who relied on the region’s lush forests for food and shelter.

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