1

California - "Eureka"

Image: Chor Tsang

According to legend, after the Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes discovered his groundbreaking principle, he happily proclaimed, " Eureka! " This expression, which means "I have found it," is almost as famous as Archimedes’ work, so it stands to reason that the State of California chose Eureka as its state motto.

The Golden State’s slogan references the California Gold Rush. It is believed that a miner who finally struck gold was as excited about his discovery as Good Old Archimedes was. While the California State Seal has included the word Eureka since its design in 1850, it was only adopted as the state’s official motto over a hundred years later, in 1963.

2

Kansas - "To the stars through difficulties"

Image: Taylor Hunt

In 1861, the State of Kansas adopted its official state seal which depicted a beautiful prairie at dawn, filled with hardworking Kansans under 34 stars and the Latin motto Ad Astra Per Aspera. Anyone who reads the English translation of this motto will immediately realize how perfectly it describes the industrious and resilient people of Kansas: Ad Astra Per Aspera means "To the stars through difficulties."

Our 34th state chose this phrase alongside its state seal in 1861, only a few months after the first Governor of Kansas delivered the inaugural "State of the State" address. Nowadays, this motto stands as a reminder of both the bravery and diligence of the state’s first settlers, as well as the hardships that Kansas had to go through in order to gain statehood.

3

Indiana - "Crossroads of America"

Image: Steven Van Elk

The phrase "Crossroads of America" has long been associated with the state of Indiana , particularly after a specific intersection in Terre Haute, where U.S. Highways 40 and 41 met. Over time, Indiana itself proudly embraced the title of "the Crossroads of America," eventually adopting it as the state motto in 1937.

Interestingly, while "Crossroads of America" is the state’s official motto, some Hoosier cities have adopted this phrase —or variants of it— as their respective city slogans. For instance, Indianapolis adopted the motto in 1988, to reference how the city serves as a junction of 4 different Interstate Highways.

4

West Virginia - "Mountaineers are always free"

Image: Sara Cottle

Have you ever reached the summit of a particularly steep mountain after hours of arduous trekking? If you had to describe that amazing feeling in one word, what would it be? We’ll leave you to ponder that while we tell you the first word that came into our minds: freedom.

Apparently, we share this feeling with the good people of West Virginia , since its motto reflects the freedom that its magnificent mountains and hills inspire. West Virginia’s motto is the Latin phrase Montani Semper Liberi, which means "mountaineers are always free." Furthermore, since one of West Virginia’s demonyms is "mountaineers," this phrase also speaks to the core of West Virginians’ identity.

5

New York - "Excelsior"

Image: ben o'bro

Any Marvel fan will associate this phrase with comic-book legend Stan Lee, after all, he made this word his catchphrase throughout his many media appearances. However, you might be surprised to learn that "Excelsior" is also New York’s official state motto, and it perfectly describes New Yorkers’ industrious and resilient nature.

"Excelsior" is a Latin word that’s commonly translated as "Ever Upward," but it can also mean "higher" or "superior." It is featured in New York’s coat of arms, which features the representations of Liberty and Justice standing above the state’s motto.

6

Montana - "Gold and Silver"

Image: Trevor Vannoy

Just like West Virginia, Montana pays tribute to its breathtaking mountains and landscapes with its motto. However, it focuses on another key aspect of its geography, more akin to its nickname: Montana’s motto Oro y Plata literally translates to "Gold and Silver," which is a direct reference to The Treasure State’s proud mining history.

Montana first included the phrase Oro y Plata on its State Seal many years before it was adopted as the state’s official motto. Shortly after Montana was declared an official U.S. territory in 1864, the newly formed state honored the gold rush that had led to its territorial status by including its two most precious metals into its State Seal. Finally, the state motto was officialized in 1865.

7

Tennessee - "Agriculture and Commerce"

Image: Nathan Anderson

It’s no secret that state mottos sometimes reference their state’s most prominent industry: As we mentioned before, Montana and California pay tribute to the mining that helped build their economies. In that regard, Tennessee is no exception; its state motto is incredibly straightforward, directly praising the industries that helped the Big Bend State grow.

Tennessee chose "Agriculture and Commerce" in 1987. In turn, this motto was directly taken from the State Seal, which was adopted in 1801. The seal shows both sides of this state’s industry, with "Agriculture" referenced by a bundle of wheat and a cotton plant, while "Commerce" is depicted by a riverboat, presumably trading goods.

8

Texas - "Friendship"

Image: Brandon Zanders

Texas’s state motto may only feature one word, but it singlehandedly describes an essential part of Texan history. Before we can delve into that, though, we have to take a quick look into the etymology of the name of this great state. The word Texas is believed to come from the Caddo word táy:shaʼ , which means "friend." Spanish settlers adopted this word for the area, spelling it as Texas or Tejas.

In that sense, Texas pays homage to its history with the single-word motto "Friendship." Not only that, while Texas is mostly known by the nickname "The Lone Star State," its official slogan is "The Friendly State."

9

Vermont - "May the fourteenth star shine bright" & "Freedom and Unity"

Image: Eric Chen

Vermont is the only state on this list to feature two official mottos: "Freedom and Unity" and the Latin phrase " Stella quarta decima fulgeat, " which translates to "May the 14th Star Shine Bright." Interestingly, this last phrase is also the newest slogan to be made official, since it was elected as Vermont’s state motto in 2015.

In any case, both mottos represent Vermont’s individuality, strength, and, perhaps more importantly, its solidarity: "Freedom and Unity" describes Vermont’s mission to create a free and neighborly community, while "May the 14th Star Shine Bright" depicts the search of the common good throughout the entire state.

10

Rhode Island - "Hope"

Image: Praswin Prakashan

We’ll end this article with probably the most beautifully simple American state motto. The State of Rhode Island has the single-word motto "Hope," which is also featured in its State seal. In tune with their long maritime history, the seal depicts a golden anchor emblazoned in a dark blue field.

The inspiration behind both Rhode Island’s state motto and seal is probably a biblical quote found in the New Testament, which reads "Hope we have as an anchor of the soul." Considering that this state was founded by a Christian minister seeking to escape religious persecution, this single word expresses a very powerful sentiment: the hope that people could find in this new land a place of refuge and freedom.

1

"One small step" vs. "Man, that may have been a small one…"

Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface with his carefully planned line: "That is one small step for a man , one giant leap for mankind." Pete Conrad from Apollo 12 decided to have some fun with that.

Conrad was short, and he had bet a reporter five hundred dollars that he could say whatever he wanted when he stepped down. This is the line he went for, as documented in NASA transcripts: "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that is a long one for me ."

2

Apollo 12 and the lightning strike that tried to end everything

Apollo 12 was struck by lightning not once but twice, only 36 seconds after launch. The electrical surge wiped out telemetry in Mission Control.

The flight looked doomed until flight controller John Aaron said the now legendary instruction: "Try SCE to Aux." Conrad responded with, "What the hell is that?" because almost no one remembered what SCE meant.

Luckily, Alan Bean understood what to do. He flipped the switch, the instruments rebooted, and Apollo 12 kept flying.

3

Apollo 13 was just as dramatic as the movie showed

The explosion of an oxygen tank in Apollo 13’s service module really did turn the mission into a race against time. The line "Houston, we have a problem" is Hollywood’s adaptation, however. The real line, spoken by Jack Swigert and repeated by Jim Lovell, was "Houston, we have had a problem."

Other real drama: the crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat, battled rising CO₂ levels, manually aligned the spacecraft using Earth’s horizon, and returned home with only a sliver of battery life left.

4

Apollo 16 astronauts drove a moon rover like teenagers with a new car

The lunar rover was a marvel: lightweight, foldable, and capable of reaching 13 to 18 km/h depending on conditions.

John Young and Charlie Duke from Apollo 16 were so thrilled with it that Mission Control had to repeatedly remind them not to drive too fast on uneven terrain.

Duke even recorded one of the wildest moments of the program when Young yelled, "Look at that… look at that!" as dust flew up behind them.

5

The dust that drove astronauts nuts

Moon dust is sharp, sticky, and electrostatically clingy. Astronauts from Apollo 11 onward complained that it smelled like burnt gunpowder and got everywhere. Harrison Schmitt from Apollo 17 suffered "lunar hay fever" after breathing dust tracked into the cabin.

NASA later became mildly obsessed with studying how dangerous that dust might be… and it turns out it is genuinely abrasive to suits and could be risky to lungs.

6

Apollo 11 and the computer that said "nope"

Just minutes before landing on July 20, 1969, the Apollo Guidance Computer flashed a "1202" program alarm. In non-NASA terms, the computer was overloaded and essentially panicking .

But guidance officer Steve Bales had trained for this exact situation and cleared the crew to proceed. Armstrong later said this call was one of the mission’s most decisive moments. So yes, the first Moon landing almost got canceled by a stressed-out computer.

7

The golf shot that echoed through history

On Apollo 14, Alan Shepard smuggled a makeshift golf club head along with two golf balls.

On the moon, he attached it to a sample collection tool and made the most famous swing in the Solar System. The ball truly did travel far, although probably not the "miles and miles" Shepard joked about. Still, it remains the only round of lunar golf ever played.

8

Apollo 15’s postal controversy

The Apollo 15 astronauts carried unauthorized stamped envelopes to sell to collectors later.

This became a scandal when the deal came to light. NASA was furious, the crew was reprimanded, and the agency tightened rules on what astronauts could take to space.

The event is fully documented and remains one of the strangest side stories of the program.

9

Twelve people walked on the moon

Between 1969 and 1972, exactly twelve astronauts walked on the lunar surface.

The list, in chronological order, is: Armstrong, Aldrin (Apollo 11), Conrad, Bean (Apollo 12), Shepard, Mitchell (Apollo 14), Scott, Irwin (Apollo 15), Young, Duke (Apollo 16), and Cernan and Schmitt (Apollo 17). Cernan remains the last human to have walked on the Moon.

10

The last moonwalk included a love letter

During Apollo 17, Gene Cernan traced his daughter’s initials TDC on the lunar dust.

As he said his farewell words on the Moon, he hoped the world would continue exploring. His last line: "We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind."

1

Toilet paper capital of the world

Image: Erik Mclean

It may sound like a peculiar thing to be proud of, but if the first splinter-free toilet paper in the world had been created in your town, chances are you would be just as delighted by this local achievement.

Until the early 1900s, cheap mail-order publications were the economical wipe of choice. But in 1935, a Green Bay paper producer developed a method of "linenizing" paper, which made toilet paper both softer and "splinter-free."

2

Leap year capital of the world

Image: Waldemar

While it might seem like a good reason, the twin towns of Anthony, New Mexico, and Anthony, Texas, were not actually founded on February 29.

In 1988, a member of the local Chamber of Commerce who had a February 29 birthday proposed a community festival on that date . Since then, the celebration has grown each year to include events and a popular parade.

3

Earmuff capital of the world

Image: Jad M.

Earmuffs are essential in cold climates, and the citizens of Farmington, Maine, are well aware of this. That’s why the town celebrates Chester Greenwood Day every first Saturday in December, honoring the local inventor of the handy device.

4

Lost luggage capital of the world

Image: Marija Zaric

Did you know that all lost and unclaimed luggage from U.S. airlines ends up in a single location? Scottsboro, Alabama, is home to the Unclaimed Baggage Center , which, since 1970, has sold, donated, or recycled these items for the public, making it the only lost-luggage retailer of its kind in the country.

5

Speed capital of the world

Image: Marc-Olivier Jodoin

If speed is the measure by which a place is judged, being called the "world capital of speed" might not be such an unreasonable claim. Northwestern Utah is home to a massive, 30,000-acre expanse of barren salt flats where the Bonneville Speedway is located.

This stretch is used for extreme motorsports, and several land speed records have been set here, earning the area its famous title.

6

Shark attack capital of the world

Image: Wai Siew

This infamous title goes to New Smyrna Beach, Florida. According to the International Shark Attack File—a scientifically verified database of global shark attacks—this town is indeed the Shark Attack Capital of the World, and anyone who has swum here has likely been within 10 feet of a shark.

Fortunately, shark attacks along this central Florida coastline rarely prove fatal, and the number of incidents has declined in recent years, likely due to changing migration patterns of the blacktip shark.

7

Barbed wire capital of the world

Image: Daniel Eledut

Barbed wire was not invented in La Crosse, Kansas, but it certainly plays a significant role in the town’s history. Much of this product passed through the midwestern town after its invention in the late 1800s, becoming an important part of La Crosse’s settlement and agricultural development.

By the 1960s, La Crosse had become a major hub for barbed wire collectors , leading to the establishment of the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum .

8

Corn cob pipe capital of the world

Image: Daniel Gregoire

While pipes may not be as ubiquitous as they once were, corn cob pipes are even rarer these days. But in Washington, Missouri, these corncob products are still a popular item.

In 1869, a local woodworker invented the pipe , and its success led to a whole roster of corn cob pipe manufacturers. Today, the only factory in the world still solely dedicated to making these pipes is located in Washington, Missouri.

9

Decoy capital of the world

Image: Susan Weber

It took a lot of wooden ducks to earn this town the title of Decoy Capital of the World. At one point, more wooden ducks and geese were carved here than anywhere else on Earth.

Originally used strictly to lure waterfowl for hunters, these decoys have since become collectors’ items and treasured works of art. In 1986, the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum opened to preserve the town’s historical and cultural legacy.

10

Carpet capital of the world

Image: Juli Kosolapova

If you think most carpets are still made in the Middle East, think again. Approximately 90% of the world’s carpet comes from the city of Dalton, Georgia . More than 30,000 people are employed in its massive carpet industry—impressive considering the city’s population is just under 35,000.

11

Cow chip throwing capital of the world

Image: Jonas Koel

If tossing a piece of dried cow manure like a Frisbee sounds like your idea of fun, Beaver, Oklahoma, is the place to be. Every April, the town hosts the world’s largest cow chip throwing competition.

12

Farm toy capital of the world

Image: tommao wang

Farm toys may disappear once there are no kids in the house—but not in Dyersville, Iowa, the Farm Toy Capital of the World. This town is home to the National Farm Toy Museum , which houses the largest collection of its kind and attracts approximately 30,000 visitors each year.