Americana Facts
It is hard to believe that June is almost over and the Fourth of July quickly looms.
We thought you would enjoy some little known facts.
1. The Statue Of Liberty Isn’t Supposed to Be Green
Most people have basements filled with dusty boxes. The President has a basement that includes (in addition to the Situation Room, where he meets with advisors during crises) a flower shop, a dentist’s office, a carpenter’s shop and even a bowling alley, Thrillist reports.
3. Civil War Graffiti Is on the Washington Monument
Grafitti isn’t exactly a phenomenon of modern society. The Washington Monument was still under construction when Civil War fighting broke out, and Union soldiers who were posted there carved their names and drew pictures onto the monument, according to CNN. You can still see the markings today at the monument’s base.
4. The Golden Gate Bridge’s Red Color Was Originally Primer
The distinguishable color of the Golden Gate Bridge actually came about partly by chance. In the 1930s, Irving Morrow (the Golden Gate’s architect) noticed that red-orange primer had been painted on some of the steel, according to NPR. At the time of the bridge’s construction in the 1930s, most bridges were black or silver, but Morrow convinced the Department of War — the permitting agency at the time — that the entire bridge should be painted in the bold hue. The name of the now famous paint color? Simply “international orange.”
5. Mount Rushmore Has a Hidden Room
Mount Rushmore is one of America’s most distinguishable landmarks, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows. One thing you never see among the Founding Fathers’ faces: a door. Behind Abraham Lincoln’s head is a secret door that leads to The Hall of Records, a room filled with documents (including charter documents) meant to pass stories of the history of the United States on to future generations, according to National Parks Traveler.
6. The Lincoln Memorial Has Secret Carved Letters
The Liberty Bell features one of history’s most famous repair jobs. After nearly 90 years of use, a narrow split formed in the Liberty Bell around 1840, according to the National Park Service. When the city of Philadelphia sought to repair the bell in 1846, metal workers actually spread the crack further, using a technique called “stop drilling” to restore the bell’s tone.
Unfortunately, the repair job only resulted in a second crack, which silenced the bell forever. No one living today has heard the true original sound of the bell.
We feel sure that you, our chums, have great American facts to share with us and would invite you, this week, to do so. Makes for a better birthday party on the 4th!
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