14 Interesting American Trivia Facts – Impress Your Friends and Family!

By Marijo Tinlin July 18, 2010 1 Comment   

Just for fun today we’ll learn a few fun facts about our great nation. Impress your family members today at dinner or your co-workers tomorrow at work. These facts come from 5087 Trivia Questions and Answers by Marsha Kranes, Fred Worth and Steve Tamerius (1998, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc., ISBN 1-57912-086-5)

What time is shown on the Independence Hall clock on the back on the $100 bill?

-          4:10

What was the famous pollster George Gallup’s first poll?

-          A survey to find the prettiest girl on campus at the University of Iowa. The winner, Ophelia Smith eventually became George’s wife.

How many Ringling Brothers were there?

-          Seven – John, the leader and Albert, Otto, Alfred, Charles, August and Henry

How many islands are the in the Hawaiian islands?

-          132 – 8 major and 124 islets

What American city had the 1st police department?

-          Boston formed May 5, 1838

How many US states have capitals that begin with the same letter?

-          4 – Dover, Delaware; Indianapolis, Indiana; Oklahoma City, OK; Honolulu, Hawaii

How many chests of tea were dumped into the harbor during the Boston Tea Party on Dec. 6, 1773?

-          342

After the Tea Party, what plant did the columnists use to make tea instead?

-          Goldenrod which yielded a drink they called “Liberty Tea”

What did the Founding Fathers use to keep their wigs white?

-          Ground rice

What American institution was founded by Napoleon Boneparte’s grandnephew Charles?

-          The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – he was the US Attorney General at the time

Who gave the United States of America its name?

-          Thomas Paine

How many of the 105 original colonists to settle at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 were female?

-          None – women didn’t arrive until 1609

What was the name of the first child born of English parents in the new world?

-          Virginia Dare who was born on Roanoke Island in 1587

How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?

-          56

We hope you learned a couple of new facts today. Now you can amaze your friends and family!

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One Comments to “14 Interesting American Trivia Facts – Impress Your Friends and Family!”
  1. jeez never paid attention to the time on the $100 bill.. Thanks!

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14 Interesting American Trivia Facts – Impress Your Friends and Family!