1. The current flag was designed by a 17-year-old
Our current 50-star flag was designed as part of a high school project by 17-year-old Robert Heft. It was 1958, and there were only 48 states at the time, but Heft had a hunch Hawaii and Alaska would soon be granted statehood. His teacher gave him a B– but went on to update the grade to an A after Heft submitted his design to the White House, eventually leading to a call from President Eisenhower that it had been selected as the official U.S. flag.
2. Irene Triplett was the last recipient of an American Civil War pension
The Civil War ended in 1865, but Irene Triplett was still collecting a pension until her passing in 2020. Her father served in the war, which entitled Triplett to a survivor’s benefit of $73.13 a month.
3. Americans are a generous bunch
One of the coolest fun facts about America is that, according to the World Giving Index, the United States was once the most generous country in the world, based on a tally of charitable donations, volunteer hours and a track record of reaching out to help others. As of 2023, the U.S. is the fifth most generous country in the world.
4. The Constitution wasn’t original
If you thought Ben Franklin and the Founding Fathers came up with the Constitution all by themselves, you’d be wrong. Here’s one of the historical facts about North America you may not know: They actually modeled it after the constitution of the Iroquois confederacy of Native American tribes.
5. We don’t have an official language
Most people assume English is the official language of the United States, but the truth is, although that might be the case in many of the states, the federal government has never declared an official language, not English or anything else.
6. You might be surprised by the oldest city
Many people assume Jamestown, Virginia, is the oldest city in the United States, but the reality is Jamestown is merely the oldest English settlement. The oldest city in the United States is actually St. Augustine, Florida. The area was originally claimed for Spain by famed explorer Ponce De Leon in 1513; the United States took control in 1821.
7. Independence Day could have been on July 2
One of the things many people don’t know about Independence Day is that Congress officially declared its independence from England on July 2, 1776. We celebrate the holiday on the fourth of July because this is the day John Hancock became the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence.
8. Don’t stand too close to this volcano
Geologists consider Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii to be the most active volcano in the world because it has been erupting continuously for more than 35 years. The longest period the volcano has been inactive was the 18 years between 1934 and 1952.
9. Mustangs were imported
There is perhaps no creature that encapsulates the image of the old American West more than the wild mustang. But mustangs aren’t actually native to the United States. They are descendants of Spanish or Iberian horses that were brought here during the 16th century.
10. George Washington didn’t have wooden teeth
Most of us have heard at one time or another that George Washington had teeth made of wood, but this isn’t true. Although he did rely on dentures due to losing his teeth early in life, forensic research has proved that his teeth were made from a combination of donkey, horse and human teeth.
