1

July 2nd

In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that July 2nd would go down in history. Why? Well, because that's the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain. But while the vote happened on the 2nd, the text of the Declaration of Independence wasn't approved until the 4th, so that's the date we celebrate.

2

Secret signers

The signing of the Declaration of Independence wasn't as simple as it might seem. In fact, signatures were added over time, from July to August. In addition, the names of the signers were kept secret from the public for six months. Why? Because if the fight for independence had failed, those who signed the document would have been labeled traitors, and under British law, that meant a punishment of death.

3

Washington invites

In the middle of the Revolutionary War, 1778 marked the second anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington wasn't about to let the anniversary go unnoticed, so he ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to celebrate the holiday.

4

Something written on the back

There's actually something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence. This handwritten note appears upside down at the bottom of the back of the parchment, and it reads: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776." Just like we label the files we save on our computers today, it's believed they added the note to help identify the original document from other copies.

5

We are many more now

Many courageous people did everything they could to make the Independence dream a reality and help the nation grow. And it did grow. While there's no exact official data from that time, the US Census Bureau estimates that about 2.5 million people lived in America in 1776. By the most recent census in 2020, that number had grown to about 332 million.

6

John Adams' idea

It's hard to imagine the 4th of July without the classic barbecues, parades, and -of course- fireworks lighting up the sky. But even though these traditions are now staples, there was a first time for all of them. It's said that John Adams himself, in that letter to his wife Abigail, suggested using fireworks and illuminations to celebrate this important day.

7

Busy hospitals

While fireworks are beautiful and help raise patriotic spirit during Independence Day celebrations, it's also true that they can sometimes be dangerous. In fact, it's been reported that hospitals see more patients than usual on July 4th due to fireworks-related injuries.

8

Thomas Jefferson's laptop

Of course, laptops didn't exist at the time of the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, but that's a fun way to describe the lap desk Thomas Jefferson used to write it. That's right: The father of the Declaration of Independence didn't need a grand marble desk or anything fancy to put his ideas into words.

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Surprising coincidences

The 4th of July isn't just the day America officially declared its independence; it also holds some incredible historical coincidences. On Independence Day in 1826, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, exactly 50 years after the birth of the nation they helped create. Five years later, in 1831, James Monroe became the third president to die on the 4th of July.

But it's not all about endings: President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4th of July, 1872, making him the only US president born on Independence Day.

10

Millions of hot dogs

It's clear we Americans love hot dogs, and for good reason. This iconic food is closely tied to one of the most important days in our nation's history. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, that's a real thing), Americans typically eat around 150 million hot dogs on Independence Day alone.

1

Chicken Tetrazzini, California

Image: Lampos Aritonang

California is famous for several dishes, including sushi, avocadoes, and many more but the Chicken Tetrazzini is also a very popular and delicious local dish. Named for an Italian-born opera star who lived in San Francisco, the dish involves thin sliced chicken served with mushrooms in a cream-based sauce flavored with white wine .

The dish was supposedly invented in the early 1900s by Ernest Arbogast, the chef at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, where Luisa Tetrazzini made her American debut at the Tivoli as Gilda in Rigoletto in 1905.

2

Scrapple, Delaware

Image: Martinet Sinan

While the name may not sound all that appealing, the flavor makes up for it. This meat loaf is made of cornmeal, flour, seasonings, and pork scraps , which gives it its name. It’s then sliced thinly and pan-fried before serving.

As the story goes, this dish owes its existence to the Pennsylvania Dutch not wanting to waste their meat trimmings. Locals claim that it makes for an excellent snack or breakfast addition.

3

Italian Beef, Illinois

Image: Farhad Ibrahimzade

It sounds like beef, but it is a beef sandwich, actually. This deliciousness is made by slow-cooking beef, slicing it thinly, and placing it into a white bread roll with a local hot pickled pepper relish or roasted sweet peppers.

The origin of this dish is informed by Chicago’s meat packing history, as it was made quickly as a lunch item for workers with ingredients at hand.

4

Bierock, Kansas

Image: Jeremias Ybañez

Quite similar to Argentinean "empanadas", bierock are small meat pies created in Kansas by German immigrants in the late 1800s. They are typically stuffed with cabbage, ground beef, and onion but many other flavors can be found as the format lends itself to creativity and can be stuffed with just about anything.

These savory treats are common among the German community and it was brought to the United States in the 1870s by German Russian Mennonite immigrants.

5

Toasted Ravioli, Missouri

Image: Lorenzo Tomassetti

A local specialty from St. Louis, "toasted" ravioli are actually deep-fried and meant to be dipped in sauce and eaten with your hands . They function as an appetizer, entrée, and snack. As the legend goes, in the early 1940s, a raviolo was accidentally dropped into the fryer by a chef. Apparently, someone thought that this happy accident tasted good because, shortly thereafter, the item began appearing on menus across The Hill.

6

Cider Doughnuts, New Hampshire

Image: Pere Jurado

New Hampshire cider doughnuts get their flavor from cinnamon, nutmeg, and apple cider used in the batter. These are cakey donuts, perfect for snacking during fall, and are a harvest tradition sometimes sold at cider mills. They are often paired with apple cider and may be covered with cinnamon and/or granulated sugar.

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Kase Knoephla, North Dakota

Image: Frank Zhang

These hard-to-pronounce cheese buttons are a form of dumplings of German origin, a nod to the settlers who immigrated to the area. They’re stuffed with a cottage cheese mixture and served with sauteed onions, cheese, and sour cream .

These treats have some similarities with Italian ricotta ravioli. The recipe for the noodle dough is exactly the same as a common recipe for pasta, and the recipe for the cheese is similar to at least one version of ricotta.

8

Pepperoni Rolls, West Virginia

Image: Jez Timms

Imagine a soft white bread roll stuffed with slices of pepperoni and you will be picturing a pepperoni roll. This dish can attribute its existence to the local coal mining industry, as it was created by an Italian baker so miners would have a no-fuss lunch they could pack for work.

During baking, the fats in the pepperoni melt, resulting in a spicy oil suffusing into the bread. Pepperoni rolls are typically eaten for lunch or breakfast, either unheated or slightly warmed.

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Conch fritters, Florida

Image: Anshu A

You can skip this one if you are not into snails but if you are, by all means, read on. Conch are large sea snails native to the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and surrounding regions battered and fried as to become a deliciously salty and savory snack.

This dish can be eaten on its own, or fried with chips, or in a seafood salad. But the fritters are perfect for sharing.

10

Ham Balls, Iowa

Image: Сергей Орловский

It should come as no surprise that a state with so many pork farms has its own version of a metaball but with ham. Or at least partially, since ham balls have a mixture of ground meats: ground ham, ground beef, and ground pork . Ham is a cured cut of pork with a smoky quality, it contains a different flavor than ground pork alone.

While these three types of meat together might sound like an odd combination, the mixture results in a flavorful and perfectly textured meatball. Also, to differentiate even further from the classic meatballs, ham balls use graham cracker crumbs instead of breadcrumbs.

1

Jesse James

Image: Jaye Haych

Born in 1847 and raised in western Missouri , Jesse James and his brother Frank earned a reputation robbing banks, trains, and stagecoaches, and committing other offenses throughout the Midwest .

After gaining national fame as an elusive criminal, Jesse James's illegal career came to an end in 1882 . He was betrayed by one of his own, Robert Ford , who had met with the governor of Missouri to make a deal and bring James down.

Jesse James lived only 34 years, but the wild story of his life is full of infamous acts that seem like something out of a movie. And here's a fun fact: his son, Jesse James Jr., starred in two silent films playing his father!

2

Billy the Kid

Image: rod m

Ever heard the name Henry McCarty ? Maybe the alias William H. Bonney? If the answer is "no," you probably recognize him by his nickname: Billy the Kid .

In addition to committing robberies and assaults, this 19th-century outlaw gained notoriety for his role in New Mexico's Lincoln County War. Billy, born in 1859 , was arrested several times throughout his life but consistently managed to escape. However, his luck ended in the 1880s.

In the year 1881 , to be exact, Billy the Kid was caught by Sheriff Pat Garrett. That same year, a few months after his last escape, he was struck down at the young age of 21 by Garrett.

3

Butch Cassidy

Image: The National Library of Norway

You've probably heard of the Wild Bunch , a gang that intimidated the American West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries . Often considered the most successful train robbery gang in history, its members were feared guys, but the most notorious was its leader: Butch Cassidy.

Cassidy, born in 1866 , started his criminal career very early. Many historical sources state that he committed his first minor crime—store robbery—when he was only 14 years old !

However, as with most outlaws, his luck ran out. Escaping the law, he traveled to Latin America. The tales say he was in Argentina and then Bolivia , where he met his end in a shootout in 1908 .

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Sundance Kid

Image: Ady TeenagerInRO

Another iconic figure in Cassidy's gang was Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, more famously known as the Sundance Kid .

Born in 1867 , his distinctive nickname originated during his time in the Sundance, Wyoming, jail, where he landed for one of his early crimes, horse theft. Legend has it that the Sundance Kid was a man of many skills, known particularly for his talent for poker and his ability to escape the law.

The tales suggest that Longabaugh traveled with Cassidy to Bolivia, where he met the same fate as the gang leader. Another theory says that the Sundance Kid returned to the U.S. under another name and lived in a small town in Utah.

5

Black Bart

Image: Joanna Kosinska

While crime and poetry might seem like an unlikely pairing, the outlaw known as Black Bart managed to blend these two things very well.

Probably less famed than the other names on this list, Black Bart was born Charles E. Boles (or Bolton) in England in 1829 . However, he relocated to New York with his family when he was just a toddler.

Between 1875 and 1883, Boles is believed to have robbed about 28 stagecoaches in Northern California and southern Oregon. But one thing distinguished this outlaw: on several occasions, he left behind poems at the robbery sites!

6

Al Capone

Image: Ashim D’Silva

It might be hard to believe, but before Al Capone became synonymous with organized crime, he actually worked at a candy store ! Can you picture him among candies and lollipops?

Definitely one of the best-known gangsters of the Prohibition era , Al Capone was born in New York as Alphonse Gabriel Capone in 1899 . Born to Italian immigrants, Capone moved to Chicago at a young age. By the 1920s , he had already made a name for himself among the city's criminals, smuggling and selling alcohol.

In 1931, his luck ran out, as he was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for tax evasion. He was released in 1939 and passed away 8 years later.

7

Bonnie and Clyde

Image: Tengyart

Some say love's power knows no bounds, and the story of this couple seems to prove this.

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut "Champion" Barrow, known worldwide as Bonnie and Clyde , were two outlaws who committed a wide range of crimes across states such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri during the Great Depression era . Literally partners in crime, they became popular icons over the years.

These two were recurring names in the headlines of their times, gaining notoriety for their robberies, both to banks and small stores. Together until the end, Bonnie and Clyde were fatally wounded in a police ambush in 1934 , when they were still very young. At the time, she was 23 and he was 25.

8

John Dillinger

Image: Tim Evans

John Dillinger , a mobster born in 1903 , led what was known as "the Dillinger Gang." During the Great Depression , Dillinger and his crew demonstrated their criminal prowess, accused of robbing more than 24 banks !

In 1934, John Dillinger became the first person to be declared "Public Enemy Number One" by the FBI. He was imprisoned multiple times throughout his life and, as the stories go, managed to escape jail twice using fake weapons made out of wood!

After a final attempt to escape, the criminal was gunned down by the authorities at the age of 31 as he exited the Biograph Theater in Chicago.

9

Pretty Boy Floyd

Image: Pepi Stojanovski

During the turbulent Great Depression era, a couple of outlaws were not only robbing banks and trains but also the national spotlight. Among them was Pretty Boy Floyd , born Charles Arthur Floyd in 1904 .

Floyd, who operated in the Western and Central U.S. , wasn't seen as a villain by many. Why? Besides robbing banks , he also used to destroy mortgage documents , something that helped many people, relieving them of their debts. Far from the sloppy appearance of many criminals, Floyd had a clean-cut and youthful look, which earned him his characteristic nickname .

His life met an end in his 30s in a shootout with the Bureau of Investigation's agents in Ohio.

10

John Gotti

Image: Jacob Spence

Known as " Teflon Don " for his slippery ability to evade justice, John Gotti was born on October 27, 1940 , in The Bronx, New York. He's widely considered one of the most dangerous crime bosses in U.S. history.

Known for his charisma and trademark hairspray look , Gotti began his life of crime when he was still a teenager. By the mid-1980s, he had become the head of the Gambino Crime Family, and throughout his life, he was accused of multiple crimes of varying severity.

Despite evading convictions many times, he was finally convicted in 1992 . He passed away ten years later while still in prison.