Tag: Americana
The Literary Legend Behind The Legend of Zelda
Long before she was a pixilated princess guiding Link on fantastical quests, Zelda was a real-life literary darling of the early 20th century. The iconic video game heroine actually inherited her name from Jazz Age writer and socialite Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of The Great Gatsby scribe F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Surprising Origins of Chinese Takeout Boxes
The folded paper containers with wire handles that carry billions of orders of Kung Pao chicken, lo mein, and egg rolls each year actually originated right here in the United States. The quintessential Chinese takeout box was invented in Chicago in 1894 by an American named Frederick Weeks Wilcox.
Longest coastline in America
Alaska, often dubbed the "Last Frontier," is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Its vastness is not just in its formidable land area but extends to the boundaries it shares with the seas and oceans. When it comes to coastline, Alaska isn't just leading the pack; it's in a league of its own.
Pepsi was originally called “Brad’s Drink”
Every story has a beginning, and for one of the most recognized beverages on the planet, it began not in a sprawling corporate lab but in a modest pharmacy in New Bern, North Carolina. Pepsi, that bubbly and effervescent drink known worldwide, started its journey as a quaintly named "Brad's Drink." And at its heart was a pharmacist with a vision – Caleb Bradham.
The last witness to Lincoln’s assassination
On a fateful night in 1865, a young boy of just five years old witnessed one of the most pivotal events in American history – the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Samuel J. Seymour, who would later recount his experience on the 1956 episode of the TV show "I've Got A Secret," remains the last living witness to this tragic event. Now, over a century later, we delve into Seymour's riveting account and explore the emotions and vivid details of that unforgettable night.
First Ice Cream recipe was written down by Thomas Jefferson
Before TV dramas or social media, early America buzzed over one influential tastemaker renowned for his continental flair. Long before Michelin stars or the Food Network made chefs famous, Thomas Jefferson won widespread fame for his epicurean adventures.