1

Arizona skips Daylight Saving Time

Image: Christoph von Gellhorn

This is partly true because most of the state doesn’t bother with Daylight Saving Time . They stopped changing the clocks back in 1967. The exception is the Navajo Nation, which stretches into Utah and New Mexico and keeps DST so all its communities stay on the same schedule. Now, as for the smaller Hopi reservation, inside the Navajo Nation, it sticks with Arizona time… Yes, quite confusing if you’re not a local.

2

Georgia isn’t really the Peach State

Image: Jessica Furtney

Georgia loves its peaches, sure, but the state’s top fruit money-maker is actually blueberries . In recent years, blueberries have brought in several times more cash for farmers than peaches. Meanwhile, California grows far more peaches than Georgia ever has. The nickname stuck from the old days when Georgia peaches were famous for their flavor, not their volume. So while the pride is real, the peaches aren’t quite the powerhouse people may think.

3

Nevada didn’t record the hottest US temperature

Image: tommao wang

You probably think of Nevada’s desert heat as unmatched, but the all-time record belongs to California’s Death Valley . In July 1913, it hit a mind-melting 134 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest temperature not only in America but the hottest ever recorded on Earth!

4

Minnesota doesn’t have the most lakes

Image: Tom Conway

Minnesota proudly calls itself the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," but that’s selling itself short… The real number is closer to 12,000. However, Alaska wins this battle . The state has more than 3 million lakes over five acres in size. In fact, Alaska contains over 40 percent of the nation’s surface water. If you love fishing, kayaking, or just staring at a quiet stretch of water, the true lake capital of America is far up north.

5

Pineapples aren’t native to Hawaii

Image: Christian Joudrey

Pineapples are everywhere in Hawaiian imagery, but the plant actually comes from South America , mainly Paraguay and southern Brazil. Spanish explorers likely brought them to Hawaii in the 1500s after spreading them across the Pacific to places like the Philippines and Guam. Hawaii’s climate turned out to be perfect for growing them and by the 1900s, the islands were producing so many pineapples that the fruit became a symbol of Hawaii itself.

6

Maine isn’t the country’s easternmost point

Image: Chris Henry

If you’re a Geography geek, you’ll love this one. You might picture Maine’s rocky coast as the eastern tip of America, but the actual easternmost point is thousands of miles away, on Alaska’s Semisopochnoi Island in the Aleutians. How is that possible? Well, that’s because it crosses the 180th meridian, putting it in the Eastern Hemisphere. That means part of Alaska technically sits farther east than anywhere in Maine.

7

The biggest US earthquake didn’t happen in California

Image: Lala Miklós

California has suffered some big earthquakes in its history, but the most powerful earthquake in America struck Alaska in 1964 . It hit Prince William Sound with a magnitude of 9.2. It was so strong it shook the ground for four and a half minutes and triggered massive tsunamis. In today’s dollars, the damage would total more than $2 billion. Alaska sits on a collision zone of tectonic plates, making it one of the world’s most seismically active regions.

8

The Everglades isn’t America’s biggest swamp

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

A lot of people picture the Florida Everglades when they think of swamps, but technically, the Everglades isn’t a swamp at all. The real title of the largest swamp in the United States goes to Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin , which spans about 1.4 million acres. This swamp has a vast mix of cypress forests, bayous, and marshes, and it’s more than twice as productive as the Everglades when it comes to wildlife and plant life.

9

Big cities aren’t always capitals

Image: Mackenzie Cruz

It surprises people how often the biggest city isn’t the state capital . New York City? Not the capital… Albany is. Chicago? Nope, that honor goes to Springfield. Pennsylvania’s capital isn’t Philly or Pittsburgh, it’s Harrisburg. Even California’s capital isn’t L.A. or San Francisco, it’s actually Sacramento. Out of fifty states, only seventeen have their most populous city as the capital.

10

Alaska isn’t divided into counties

Image: Rod Long

Alaska likes to do things its own way. Instead of counties, it’s split into boroughs , and a massive area known as the Unorganized Borough has no local government at all. People out there don’t pay property taxes, but that freedom comes with challenges, limited services, fewer job options, and tough living conditions.

1

Start here, end there: Boston Common to Bunker Hill

Image: Roger Starnes Sr

There’s no official rule about where to begin, but most people kick things off at Boston Common. From there, the trail snakes through the heart of the city and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. That final stretch leads to one of the most symbolic sites of the American Revolution. Of course, if you’d rather do it backwards, nobody’s stopping you—it’s your patriotic pilgrimage! Either way, the journey between these two iconic spots is packed with stories.

2

Where the trail begins: Boston Common’s surprising start

Image: Yassine Khalfalli

Boston Common might be a peaceful green escape today, but it began with a much more practical purpose. Established in 1634, it’s the oldest public park in the US, and it was originally used for grazing livestock, not lounging on park benches.

The land was purchased from Anglican minister William Blackstone and soon transformed into a communal area by the Puritans. Over time, it has witnessed protests, public speeches, and even British troops setting up camp.

3

Short and sweet: the 2.5-mile trail

Image: Naoki Suzuki

The Freedom Trail may only stretch 2.5 miles, but don’t let that fool you—it’s packed with history. The route winds through downtown Boston, passing 16 official landmarks. Most of the trail is flat and fully accessible, making it friendly for everyone. Just remember to bring comfy shoes!

4

Follow the red-brick road

Image: Yassine Khalfalli

No need for a map or GPS—just follow the red-brick line! That bright path under your feet is the Freedom Trail’s signature feature. It weaves its way from site to site, keeping you on track with zero guesswork.

The trail’s design was first suggested by a local journalist in the 1950s, who wanted to link all the key historical spots. It’s Boston’s version of a historical yellow brick road—minus the flying monkeys, of course!

5

Millions make the trip every year

Image: Aubrey Odom

More than 4 million people walk the Freedom Trail each year—and not just tourists. Locals, history lovers, and school groups all flock to this living museum. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Boston, and for good reason.

From Paul Revere’s House to the Boston Tea Party site, each stop tells a story. Even if you’ve walked it before, there’s always something new to notice. So go ahead—join the crowd.

6

No need to go in order

Image: Vika Chartier

Unlike history books, the Freedom Trail doesn’t follow a strict timeline. It’s organized by geography, not chronology, which means you can hop around without feeling lost. For instance, Boston’s North End has a cluster of must-see sites close together. It’s totally fine to explore them first and double back later. Just follow your curiosity—and your feet—along the red bricks.

7

Oldest this, oldest that, it’s a record-breaker

Image: Kelly Sikkema

The Freedom Trail is a goldmine of American "firsts." You’ll find the country’s oldest public park (Boston Common), its oldest public building (the Old State House), and even the site of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War (Bunker Hill Monument).

Paul Revere’s House is the oldest building still standing in Boston. And the Old North Church? That’s right—it’s the oldest church still standing in the country!

8

Rest in peace, revolutionaries

Image: Wenhao Ruan

Cemeteries might not sound exciting, but on the Freedom Trail, they can be. The Granary Burying Ground is the final resting place of Paul Revere and victims of the Boston Massacre.

Over at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, you’ll find figures connected to the Salem Witch Trials and shipbuilders like Edmund Hartt. These aren’t just graves—they’re chapters in America’s story. And you’ll be walking right through them.

9

No replicas here

Image: Liubov Ilchuk

Every building and site along the Freedom Trail is the genuine article. Thanks to meticulous preservation, nothing is a recreation or reimagining—you’re standing where revolutionaries stood, seeing what they saw.

There’s something special about touching the same walls and walking the same halls. It’s as close to time travel as you’re going to get. How great is that?

10

Past meets present in every step

Image: Brett Wharton

Sure, you're here for the history, but Boston’s modern charm is hard to miss. Between historic stops, you'll find lively markets, cozy restaurants, and the buzz of city life all around. Grab a cannoli in the North End or sip coffee where patriots once plotted revolts. The Freedom Trail offers a perfect blend of old and new.

1

$10,000!

Image: Eyestetix Studio

Did you know that, for a time, there was a $10,000 bill? That's right! The bill featured the portrait of Salmon P. Chase, President Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury, and it was the highest denomination of US currency ever to be publicly circulated! While there was also a $100,000 bill, the latter was only used for large transactions between Federal Reserve Banks.

2

The first President on a coin

Image: Sebastian Enrique

We're totally used to seeing Abraham Lincoln's face on a penny, but that wasn't always the case.

Lincoln's image first appeared on the penny in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth, making him the first US president to appear on a coin, an honor befitting our great Honest Abe! More than 115 years have passed since that addition, and his face is still featured on the iconic penny.

3

Silver pennies

Image: Josh Appel

In addition to featuring Abraham Lincoln's face, pennies are famous for their classic copper color. However, there was one year when the penny took on a different hue.

During WWII, a copper shortage occurred, hindering the usual production of pennies. For that reason, in 1943, pennies were made of steel coated in zinc, giving them a silver color and making them closely resemble dimes.

4

2 and 3 cents?

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Did you know that, in the 19th century, the US had 2- and 3-cent coins? That's right! The 2-cent coin was minted from 1864 to 1873. On the front, it featured a shield symbolizing the Union during the Civil War . On the reverse, it bore the phrase "In God We Trust," making it the first coin to use the motto . The 3-cent coin had two versions: the silver 3-cent coin (1851–1873) and the nickel 3-cent coin (1865–1889).

5

Long lifespan

Image: Shot by Cerqueira

While each coin is used with a different frequency, the average lifespan of a coin can be as long as 40 years ! Just think about all the places and situations it might pass through during that time. Of course, the more a coin circulates, the quicker it will wear down. That’s why the penny has the shortest lifespan , lasting about 25 years on average.

6

In God We Trust

Image: Kelly Sikkema

"In God We Trust" is not only the official motto of the United States (and the state of Florida), but also the phrase that appears on all US currency currently in circulation. But how long has this phrase been there?

"In God We Trust" first appeared on some coins during the Civil War, starting with the aforementioned 2-cent piece. By 1938, the motto appeared on all US coins, but it wasn't until 1955 that President Eisenhower signed a law requiring "In God We Trust" to be included on all US coins and paper money.

7

Precious metals

Image: Jingming Pan

Today, US coins are primarily made of zinc, copper, and nickel. However, back in the early days of the US Mint, things were quite different. In the past, US coins were made not just of copper, but also of silver and even gold!

Over time, using those materials for coins became too expensive, and production shifted to more affordable metals such as zinc and nickel.

8

Safety edges

Image: Joshua Hoehne

When coins were made of precious metals like gold and silver , there was always the risk that someone might tamper with or shave the edges to extract the valuable material. Fortunately, the brilliant Isaac Newton came to the rescue. He introduced the clever idea of adding reeded edges to coins, which helped protect them from opportunistic tampering. With these marked edges, any shaving of the coin would be immediately noticeable. Pretty smart, right?

9

The most coins in the world

Image: Sarbasri Bhaumik

The US Mint manufactures billions of coins each year for circulation, and while that’s nothing new, there’s something about it that might surprise you: the United States is actually the world’s largest producer of coins . No other country makes more!

Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters are produced in large quantities every day. But that’s not all—dollar coins and special collectors’ coins are also minted, though in much smaller amounts.

10

"Paper" currency

Image: Adam Nir

Our paper money isn’t actually made of paper . It’s composed of 25% linen and 75% cotton. This blend gives US bills greater strength and flexibility, making them not only more durable but also more difficult to counterfeit. Plus, if you accidentally toss a buck in the washing machine, there’s a good chance it’ll come out just fine!