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

Library of Congress

Image: Vincent Yuan @USA

Of course—the beating heart of American knowledge! As the largest library in the country and the world , it holds millions of books, rare manuscripts, and historical treasures.

Its grandeur isn’t just in its collection. Take the Thomas Jefferson Building: with its elaborate ceilings, marble columns, and frescoes, stepping inside feels like walking into a cathedral. Ever wanted to see an original Gutenberg Bible? This is the place.

2

New York Public Library

Image: Ran Ding

Patience and Fortitude stand guard—those are the two iconic stone lions flanking the entrance. The New York Public Library’s main branch is a true city landmark.

Step inside the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, with its grand marble-lined halls and sweeping staircases. Don’t miss the Rose Main Reading Room —an awe-inspiring space adorned with murals, chandeliers, and rows of inviting wooden tables.

3

Boston Public Library

Image: Wendy Wei

A library so impressive it feels like it should charge an admission fee—but lucky for us, it doesn’t! Established in 1848, it was the first large free municipal library in the United States.

It’s home to Bates Hall, a stunning reading room with soaring barrel-vaulted ceilings and warm oak tables—a dream setting for book lovers.

4

Seattle Central Library

Image: Sylvia Yang

A sharp contrast to the historic beauties on this list, but no less worthy of inclusion. The Seattle Central Library is a futuristic masterpiece.

Designed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, its bold glass-and-steel exterior is impossible to miss. Inside, multi-level platforms create a space that feels more like a sci-fi movie set than a traditional library.

5

Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego

Image: Jeremy Huang

Named after none other than Dr. Seuss himself (real name: Theodor Geisel) and his wife, Audrey, this library looks like something straight out of a sci-fi novel.

Its unique Brutalist-meets-futuristic design makes it one of UCSD’s most recognizable landmarks. It houses an extensive collection—but let’s be honest, the main draw is the building itself. It’s an architectural oddity that feels both retro and futuristic at the same time.

6

George Peabody Library

Image: Elijah Hail

Some libraries feel grand, but this one feels magical . Tucked away in Baltimore, the George Peabody Library is known for its soaring atrium, lined with six stories of cast-iron balconies adorned with gilded accents.

The library’s collection specializes in 19th-century literature—but honestly, most visitors come just to soak in its beauty. It’s a book lover’s dream come to life.

7

Iowa State Law Library

Image: Muhammed A. Mustapha

Hidden inside the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, this library is a Victorian-era gem —think spiral staircases, intricate ironwork, and rows of leather-bound books stretching to the ceiling.

It may be lesser-known than others on this list, but it perfectly illustrates how libraries can be both functional and visually captivating. This setting alone makes you not mind so much having to do legal research.

8

Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Image: Tim Bish

This is no ordinary library—as you can plainly see. It’s an architectural marvel . Located at Yale University, the Beinecke Library is famous for its translucent marble panels, which bathe the interior in a soft, golden glow.

9

Morgan Library & Museum

Image: mana5280

Walking into the Morgan Library feels like stepping into a European palace—pure Gilded Age opulence with ceiling frescoes, carved wood, and velvet drapes.

Originally J.P. Morgan’s personal book collection , it is now a New York City landmark and museum showcasing rare manuscripts, original works by Dickens and Austen, and even handwritten music by Mozart!

10

William W. Cook Legal Library

Image: Mathew Schwartz

Some law libraries are dull and purely functional. This is not one of them. Located at the University of Michigan, the Cook Legal Library is a Gothic gem with towering stained-glass windows, massive oak tables, and cathedral-like reading halls.

The architecture alone makes studying law feel a bit more poetic, but it’s also one of the finest academic law libraries in the country.

11

Suzzallo and Allen Libraries

Image: Cameron Stewart

This one looks like a place to learn witchcraft and sorcery, doesn’t it? Part of the University of Washington in Seattle, the Suzzallo and Allen Libraries feature a Reading Room that is a Gothic architectural masterpiece, with soaring ceilings and stained-glass windows .

1

The first toll

Image: Barry A

When the bridge first opened to cars, the toll was 50 cents each way, $1 for a round trip, and an additional 5-cent charge for cars carrying more than three passengers. While this may not seem like much today, that money was crucial in covering the construction costs. In today’s terms, the toll would be equivalent to about $11 .

2

The Half-Way-to-Hell Club

Image: Rasmus Gundorff Sæderup

Building this massive suspension bridge was no easy task, and the story of the "Half-Way-to-Hell Club" members proves just how dangerous it was. These 19 workers were on the job when they slipped and fell from the bridge . But in the midst of their fall, something saved them : a safety net placed under the bridge, an ingenious and innovative safety measure for the 1930s.

3

A different picture

Image: Leo_Visions

While it's hard to imagine the Golden Gate Bridge without its iconic "International Orange" color, the original plan was actually quite different. During construction, they considered painting the bridge black and yellow to give it visibility. However, when the architects saw the beautiful reddish-orange hue of the primer, they decided to keep it. We have to say we're glad they didn't go with the original idea!

4

Good citizens

Image: Zoshua Colah

San Franciscans redefined what it meant to be good citizens when, during the Great Depression, they helped fund the Golden Gate Bridge by putting up their homes and farms as collateral to make the project a reality. This incredible show of faith during one of the nation's toughest economic times is truly inspiring.

5

Really heavy

Image: Leo_Visions

With its immense size and structure, it’s no surprise that this imposing bridge is incredibly heavy. Even so, the number might still shock you: The Golden Gate Bridge weighs around 894,000 tons! That's nearly the equivalent of 2.5 Empire State Buildings!

6

5,000 - 10,000 gallons

Image: JOSHUA COLEMAN

Its weight goes hand in hand with its size: the bridge is about 1.7 miles long from end to end, and its towers rise 746 feet above the water. This means the amount of paint required to cover it is anything but small. To repaint the bridge, between 5,000 and 10,000 gallons of its iconic color are used.

7

Dangerous challenges

Image: Anastasia R.

The completion of the Golden Gate Bridge had its challenges. In 1935, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the area, causing the entire San Francisco Bay Area, including the bridge under construction, to shake violently. One worker reportedly recalled that the south tower swayed 16 feet in each direction while several of his colleagues stood on it!

8

200,000 pedestrians

Image: fan yang

The grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge on May 27, 1937, was far from low-key. Before it was opened to cars, a "Pedestrian Day" event took place, where an extraordinary 200,000 people walked across the city's brand-new bridge, each paying 25 cents to do so.

9

Once the tallest of its kind

Image: Casey Horner

As a suspension bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge is impressive not only for its size but also for its engineering. In fact, when it opened in 1937 and until 1964, this San Francisco landmark held the world record as the tallest suspension bridge in the world!

10

800,000 people

Image: Kiko Camaclang

Yes, the 200,000 people who attended the bridge's opening made for a huge crowd. But 50 years later, that number quadrupled! That's right; during the 50th anniversary of its opening, around 800,000 people walked across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. It's hard to even imagine what such a giant crowd would look like!