1

Thomas Edison

Image: Call Me Fred

When it comes to inventors, we can't fail to mention the incredible Thomas Alva Edison.

Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, and since he was a child, he showed his interest and talent in mechanics and electricity. At the age of 11, he set up his first laboratory in his parents' home, and by the age of 12, he ran his own business: a newspaper he designed, printed, and sold himself.

Creator of the phonograph (the first device capable of recording and reproducing sounds) and a fundamental part in the development and popularization of inventions such as the electric light bulb and the motion picture camera, Edison patented more than 1000 creations during his lifetime. Impressive!

2

Benjamin Franklin

Image: Dan Mall

Born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was one of our Founding Fathers, the men whose principles, values, and ideas shaped America. But as if that weren't enough, Franklin was also a renowned scientist, inventor, and polymath.

A pioneer in the field of electricity, he's remembered for his famous kite experiment, which demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning and led to the invention of nothing less than the lightning rod. In addition, he's also credited with iconic inventions such as the first efficient wood-burning stove (later known as "the Franklin Stove"), the bifocal glasses, and the glass armonica.

3

Samuel Morse

Image: The New York Public Library

Unlike other scientists and inventors on this list, Samuel Morse began his journey in a completely different field: art.

Morse studied at Yale, where he completed his studies in 1810. He then embarked on a trip to Europe to continue his artistic education, but this trip awakened another peculiar interest in him. Frustrated by the communication methods of his time, Morse focused his creativity on finding ways to transmit information over long distances using electrical signals. Thus, the revolutionary telegraph was born, along with its way of communication, the Morse code.

4

The Wright Brothers

Image: Simon Fitall

The Wright Brothers were the famous siblings who, in the 20th century, achieved a goal long sought by humanity: flight.

Wilbur and Orville Wright are credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane. As you probably know, on December 17, 1903, they made the first sustained flight in history using the Wright Flyer, their iconic invention.

On that December morning, the brothers flipped a coin, letting fate decide who would be the first to test the aircraft. Although Wilbur won, that first attempt failed. So it was Orville who flew for 12 seconds, traveling 120 feet over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

5

George Washington Carver

Image: Tom Hermans

George Washington Carver was born in the 1860s in Diamond, Missouri. In the 1890s, his intelligence and hard work enabled him to enter Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), where he earned a master's degree in agricultural sciences. In 1896, he became the head of the agriculture department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where his career as a professor and a researcher took off.

Thanks to his investigations and tests, George Washington Carver made major contributions to agriculture, including his innovative techniques for crop rotation . In addition, he developed many and varied peanut products, such as oil, flour, soap, and ink, helping to make this crop one of the key products of the country's economy.

6

Carl Sagan

Image: Vaibhaw Kumar

The stars and the mysteries of the universe captivated the famous Carl Sagan from an early age. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1934, Sagan studied at the University of Chicago, where he earned degrees in physics, astronomy, and astrophysics, eventually working and collaborating with NASA.

His contributions to the field of astronomy earned him a position in projects such as the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo missions, thanks to which we have learned a lot about Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. The famous high temperatures of Venus, for example, were confirmed thanks to his work.

Additionally, his book and series Cosmos attracted the public's interest in astronomy, inspiring many others to follow in his footsteps.

7

Grace Hopper

Image: Museums Victoria

While computer programming may seem like a modern issue, the pioneers of this field were already working as early as the 1940s.

Grace Hopper graduated in mathematics and physics in 1928 and obtained a master's degree and a Ph.D in mathematics from Yale University in 1934. Famous as a pioneer in the world of programming, Hopper's work began during World War II when she joined the US Naval Reserve. There, she worked on the earliest electromechanical computers and developed extensive and complex manuals to operate them.

Her greatest contribution came from her work with mathematical codes, which she translated and adapted into innovative machine-readable language. That innovation led to the creation of the first high-level programming languages.

8

Jonas Salk

Image: Олег Мороз

Jonas Salk is none other than the mind behind a medical milestone: the polio vaccine.

In the 1940s, Salk was beginning his career in medical research. While working at the University of Michigan, his work was crucial in developing the first successful influenza vaccine for the military during WWII. This event marked his later study of the poliovirus.

Polio was devastating during the first decades of the 20th century, but that changed dramatically thanks to Salk's work. The scientist led a team that succeeded in developing the first safe and effective injectable inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in 1955, and the rest is history.

9

Barbara McClintock

Image: digitale.de

Although her name may not be as instantly recognizable as some others on this list, her work definitely is. Barbara McClintock has undoubtedly made one of the most significant contributions to medicine and genetics.

In the 1940s and 1950s, she worked with chromosomes, investigating their role in inheritance, which led to discoveries that forever changed our understanding of genes.

Before her, genes were believed to be fixed and immutable. But McClintock came to change that idea with her most famous contribution: the discovery of transposable elements, aka "jumping genes." She demonstrated that jumping genes are present in multiple organisms, including humans, and play an essential role in genetic evolution.

10

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Misho Tektumanidze

Alexander Graham Bell became interested in sound and communication at a young age, something that led to his greatest and most remembered contribution: the telephone.

Although born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexander Graham Bell settled in the United States in 1871 and became an American citizen years later. It was here that he developed most of his experiments and research.

After years of experimenting with methods to transmit sound through electrical currents, Bell finally spoke into his invention on March 10, 1876, saying to his assistant, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you." That was the first successful telephone call in history.

1

Nuestra Señora de Atocha (Our Lady of Atocha)

Image: NOAA

A ship that sank off the coast of the Florida Keys in 1622, the Nuestra Señora de Atocha is, to this day, the most valuable shipwreck ever recovered. Originally bound from Havana, Cuba to Spain, the Atocha was loaded with a large treasure, ranging from copper and gems to gold and indigo from the Spanish colonies.

But, shortly after launching from port, a major hurricane caught the ship and destroyed the Atocha , which sank 56 feet beneath the surface. In 1985, treasure hunters rediscovered the wreck off the coast of the Florida Keys. Currently holding a Guinness World Record for its recovered value, the Atocha is a continual treasure trove for divers and fortune hunters alike.

2

SS Republic

Image: Vlad Tchompalov

A ship that served both the US and Confederate governments, the SS Republic sank in 1865 during a hurricane off the coast of Georgia. After the Civil War, the Republic carried passengers and cargo from New York to New Orleans. On October 20, 1865, a hurricane off the coast of Georgia damaged the ship, which sank around four in the afternoon.

As a result of the sinking, the cargo was lost with the ship until 2003, when a commercial archaeology company rediscovered the wreck approximately 100 miles from Savannah, Georgia. About a third of the coins that were on board the ship have been recovered, and are now valued at over USD 75 million.

3

The Whydah Gally

Image: NOAA

The Whydah Gally was intended for service in the British Empire before it was captured by the infamous pirate Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy. As Bellamy and his crew approached the Massachusetts coast the weather turned, creating a violent nor’easter cyclone. The ship capsized and its cargo, 144-man crew, and captain were consequently thrust into the sea.

In 1984, underwater archaeologist Barry Clifford discovered the Whydah Gally. Since its rediscovery, many artifacts have been retrieved from the ship, including the ship’s bell , inscribed with the words: "THE WHYDAH GALLY 1716." This helped authenticate the Whydah as the first pirate shipwreck to ever be found and confirmed.

4

SS Central America

Image: Giuseppe Murabito

The SS Central America was an American sidewheel steamer that operated between the East Coast and Central America. In September 1857, carrying 477 passengers, 101 crewmembers, 38,000 pieces of mail, and 30,000 pounds of gold harvested during the California Gold Rush to New York City, the Central America was engulfed by a Category 2 hurricane.

At the time of the boat’s sinking, over 400 people were still on board, making it the most deadly of any American commercial boat disaster. The gold on board was also lost. In 1988, explorer Tommy Gregory Thompson found the ship, and up to three tons of gold were excavated, leading to long legal battles that have continued to the present day.

5

SS Georgiana

Image: Jason Mavrommatis

The SS Georgiana was a Confederate steamer. Built in Scotland, the ship sailed its maiden voyage in 1863 to Charleston, South Carolina, where it was expected to be outfitted by Confederate soldiers. However, the Georgiana was not armed with any guns on its first journey and approached its destination on March 19, 1863, with minimal defense.

A member of a Union blockade alerted the nearby battleship USS Wissahickon , which shot and pierced both sides of the ship’s hull. Captain Davidson, signaled a surrender to the Union blockade before beaching the boat. Before the beached ship could be boarded Davidson purposefully sank the boat, before escaping to land with his entire crew. Found on March 19, 1965, the Georgiana was lost for exactly 102 years before its discovery.

6

Edmund Fitzgerald

Image: Nott Peera

Arguably one of the most famous shipwrecks in American history , the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes until 1971. The freighter was fatally wrecked on Lake Superior during the winter of 1975, with all her crew losing their lives.

The exact cause of the sinking, with no outward signs of severe damage, is still heavily debated. The prominent theories include the vessel running aground or suffering damage during the storm. A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft discovered the wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975, 15 miles west of Deadman’s Cove, Ontario.

7

Carl D. Bradley

Image: Sandra Seitamaa

The SS Carl D. Bradley , a Great Lakes freighter built in 1927, was popularly known as the "Queen of the Lakes" because it was the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time. In 1957, it collided with another vessel , the MV White Rose , causing damage to the hull.

It was caught in a storm in November of the same year and sank in Lake Michigan, killing 33 of the 35 crew members. The sinking was caused by structural damage caused by the poor choice of steel used in its construction. The wreck, lying 360 feet under the water, was discovered in 1959 by the Army Corps of Engineers.

8

Lady Elgin

Image: ALDO DE PASCALE

The Lady Elgin was a wooden-hulled steamship built in 1851 that served on the Great Lakes as a passenger ship. On September 6, 1860, while returning from Chicago, the vessel sank in an unfortunate accident.

While facing a strong gale, it was rammed by the schooner Augusta of Oswego and, due to the damages caused by the collision, the vessel sank sometime later, resulting in the death of more than 300 people. Though the exact number remains unknown since the manifest was lost during the accident, it remains one of the worst shipwrecks in the region.

9

SS Eastland

Image: Anton Repponen

The SS Eastland was a Chicago-based passenger ship , used for tours. On 24 July 1915, the ship rolled over onto its side while tied to a dock in the Chicago River. In total, 844 passengers and crew were killed in what was the largest loss of life from a single shipwreck on the Great Lakes.

After the disaster, the Eastland was salvaged and sold to the United States Navy which, after restorations and modifications, designated it a gunboat and renamed it USS Wilmette . It was used primarily as a training vessel on the Great Lakes and was scrapped after World War II.

10

Wyoming

Image: rashid

The largest wooden ship ever built , the Wyoming was a six-masted schooner built, completed in 1909 in Bath, Maine. It had a length of 450 ft from jib-boom tip to spanker boom tip.

Because of its extreme length and wood construction, the Wyoming tended to flex in heavy seas, which would cause the long planks to twist and buckle, allowing sea water to intrude into the vessel. For this reason, the Wyoming had to use pumps to keep itself relatively free of water. In March 1924, it foundered in heavy seas and sank with the loss of all hands.

1

The sweet tooth

Image: Michelle Tsang

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? With so many options available today, it's hard to choose just one, right? Like us, Thomas Jefferson also loved ice cream. Not only that, he's often credited with making this treat famous in America.

The third US president discovered his sweet tooth during his time in France. It's impossible not to imagine Jefferson doing important paperwork with a bowl of ice cream on his desk. In addition, it's said that he often served the sweet dessert to his guests at the White House.

And that’s not all! A recipe for vanilla ice cream, handwritten by Jefferson himself, is still kept to this day in the Library of Congress.

2

The handshaker

Image: Erika Fletcher

It seems that Jefferson was a man who set trends and influenced fashions. Ice cream wasn’t the only custom that spread across the country thanks to him.

Today, the handshake is a very common and popular form of greeting. But this was not always the case. Before Jefferson's presidency, handshakes were less frequent, and people often used other formal greetings, such as bowing.

Jefferson argued that handshakes were horizontal and, therefore, more democratic. This belief illustrates how he integrated his principles into every aspect of his life, even small habits and customs.

3

The friend

Image: Joanna Kosinska

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams first met in 1775 at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Despite their differences, they liked and respected each other. Together, they were part of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and became even closer when they both served as diplomats in Europe during the 1780s. Jefferson later served as vice president to his friend Adams when the latter took office in 1797. Although they drifted apart after Adams' presidency, they reconciled in 1812, and their regular letters returned.

As if all this weren’t enough, they both died on the same day. And not just any day—both passed away on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

4

The polyglot

Image: Thomas Kelley

Can you speak more than one language? It's hard not to be impressed when you see a bilingual person developing their skills, right? And then there are those who speak three or four languages!

In this regard, Jefferson’s case is remarkable. The third president of our country was fluent in no less than six languages! In addition to his mother tongue, English, and the widely spoken French (which he used during his time as American minister to France in the 1780s), Jefferson also had strong skills in Latin, Ancient Greek, Italian, and Spanish. Furthermore, some sources suggest he also knew some German. A true polyglot!

5

The musician

Image: Baher Khairy

During his childhood in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson developed a strong interest in and passion for music. Music was a fundamental element in his home, and this art form was also a main part of his education.

The Father of the Declaration of Independence played the violin perfectly. His father, Peter Jefferson, taught him to play this instrument when Thomas was very young, and his talent only grew over the years.

Less frequently than the violin, Jefferson also played the cello—another stringed instrument known for its sophistication.

6

The architect

Image: Richard Hedrick

Jefferson's talents were even more varied! He was not only a polyglot and a musician but also an accomplished architect.

Thomas Jefferson played a major role in the design and construction of his plantation home in Virginia, the magnificent Monticello, which would later earn him one of his famous nicknames. Inspired by classical and Renaissance architecture, Monticello is considered one of the greatest works of American architecture. To add further merit to his work, Jefferson began the design of the plantation and its house in 1768, when he was only 25 years old!

Fun fact: Today, Monticello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7

The family man

Image: Heike Mintel

If you're a family person, you'll love this aspect of Thomas Jefferson.

In addition to politics, business, and his many talents, Thomas Jefferson was also a devoted family man—and, we must say, he had quite a large family. But how big was his family? Jefferson was born to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph Jefferson and was the third of ten siblings.

In 1772, he married Martha Wayles Skelton, with whom he had six children. However, only two daughters survived to adulthood: Martha and Mary, who also gave him many grandchildren.

8

The farmer

Image: Stephen Radford

Agriculture was central to Jefferson's vision at the national policy level and also in his personal life.

Monticello was not only his home but also a 5,000-acre plantation where he experimented with different crops, including wheat, corn, tobacco, and various vegetables and fruits.

In addition, he was also an enthusiast of flower gardens. His interest in horticulture led him to import seeds and plants from around the world to experiment with in America!

9

The pet lover

Image: Dawn McDonald

Among his many qualities, his appreciation for animals truly stood out.

At Monticello, he had a variety of farm animals, including geese, turkeys, chickens, horses, cows, and pigs, all of which played an important role in maintaining the plantation. But his true love was for horses. He loved riding and spending time with them, both at his home in Virginia and even during his presidency.

It’s also said that he had a soft spot for birds. One of his most beloved pets was a mockingbird named Dick, who, according to historians, was allowed to fly around the house. Cute, isn't it?

10

The astronomer

Image: Matthew Ansley

Jefferson's interests and passions were not limited to earthly matters. In fact, he was an amateur astronomer. The stars and the cosmos sparked a deep curiosity in him.

In line with this interest, he developed a taste for telescopes, through which he could approach that mysterious object of study. He had several telescopes in his house and would spend hours and hours observing the night sky.

This inclination played a key role in the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), as it’s believed that Jefferson provided precise astronomical guidance and instructions to the two explorers.