1

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

Image: Nik Shuliahin

It sounds crazy today, but the Louisiana Purchase almost doubled the size of the United States overnight. Thomas Jefferson, at the time, the third to occupy the position of President of the United States, bought the massive 828,000 sq mi territory from France for $15 million, securing vital land and resources.

The purchase, however, didn’t mean that the United States also gained control of the totality of the territory, as it was inhabited by Native Americans. But in any case, the acquisition paved the way for westward expansion, providing a vast area for exploration and settlement, while enhancing America's geopolitical influence.

2

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

Image: Charles Marion Russell

Commissioned by Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark then embarked on a mission to map the newly acquired lands and find a viable route to the Pacific. Their legendary journey revealed the rich diversity of the western territories and established crucial relationships with Native American tribes.

Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, played a crucial role as an interpreter and guide, helping the expedition navigate difficult terrain and gain trust with native tribes, significantly contributing to the mission's success. Ultimately, their detailed reports opened the frontier to future explorers and settlers.

3

The Oregon Trail (1811-1869)

Image: Dana Davis

Originally laid around 1811 by fur trappers and traders, the Oregon Trail soon became a critical route for thousands of emigrants moving west. Spanning over 2,000 miles from Missouri to Oregon, it was a perilous journey marked by harsh landscapes and, more often than not, disease.

Despite the hardships, the trail was improved to become passable by wagons, and it facilitated the mass migration of over 400,000 settlers during its peak, significantly contributing to the population growth and development of the Western United States.

4

California Gold Rush (1848-1855)

Image: Viviana Rishe

The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 triggered a massive influx of fortune seekers to California. The Gold Rush not only boosted the economy but also accelerated California's admission claim as the 31st state in 1850.

While prospectors initially used simple techniques like panning, the increasing complexity of gold extraction eventually required significant financing, favoring mining companies. And though the gold rush generated wealth worth tens of billions in today's dollars, only a few became rich; most participants earned little more than they had started with.

5

Homestead Act (1862)

Image: Kevin Butz

Signed by President Abraham Lincoln, the Homestead Act offered 160 acres of public land to settlers willing to farm it for five years. The policy primarily encouraged individual farmers who were looking to operate their own farms, as opposed to slave owners who sought to buy large tracts of land and use slave labor.

The legislation encouraged widespread migration to the Great Plains, accelerating agricultural development and expanding American settlements across the West.

6

Building of the Transcontinental Railroad (1863-1869)

Image: Johannes Plenio

The completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 revolutionized transportation in the United States. Connecting the East and West coasts, it facilitated trade, travel, and communication.

The extensive railroad network was built by three private companies on public lands, financed with federal bonds and various subsidies. Instrumental in the nation's economic growth, the Transcontinental Railroad also helped forge a sense of national unity and identity in the American consciousness.

7

The Great Sioux War (1876-1877)

Image: Popular Graphic Arts

Also known as the Black Hills War, the Great Sioux War was a series of conflicts between the United States and the Sioux tribes. The war was sparked by the encroachment of settlers and gold prospectors on Native lands, a conflict that had been escalating since the early 19th century.

Despite many Native American victories, such as the Battle of Little Bighorn - better known as Custer's Last Stand -, the war ultimately ended in the tribes' displacement. The conflict officially finished with the Agreement of 1877, in which the Sioux tribes were forced to cede property rights of their lands to the federal government, while clearly demarcated Indian reservations were established.

8

Oklahoma Land Rush (1889)

Image: Raychel Sanner

On April 22, 1889 - soon after the signing into law of the Indian Appropriations Act, which freed over two million acres of land for settlement - thousands of settlers raced to claim land in the Oklahoma Territory during the first of several land rushes.

Those who followed the rules and waited for the official start of the land rush were known as "boomers," while "sooners" sneaked into the territory before the designated time, risking penalties but gaining advantageous claims. This sparked hundreds of legal contests that had to be settled at local land offices or even by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

9

The Dawes Act (1887)

Image: Boston Public Library

The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments. While intended to promote agriculture and integration, it resulted in the loss of tribal lands and culture.

The act was a controversial effort to reshape Native American society in the image of European-American settlers. It wasn’t until the Indian Reorganization Act, passed during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, that Native Americans regained some of their rights to own land collectively and form self-government.

10

Closing of the Frontier (1890)

Image: Aaron Burden

In 1890, the U.S. Census Bureau declared the frontier closed, as there was no longer a discernible frontier line. This marked the end of a significant era of American expansion.

The closing of the frontier signified the nation's transition from a period of exploration and settlement to one of modernization and industrialization.

1

Woodpecker

Image: Jaime Dantas

Surely, we could all recognize Woody Woodpecker's famous laugh anywhere, but have you ever wondered why this type of bird knocks on wood? Woodpeckers have larger and stronger bills than other birds. They use their beaks not only to dig holes in trees for nesting but also to drum on resonant objects like hollow logs and branches to communicate to other woodpeckers, about their territory and their availability to mate.

But is it true that they hammer away at wood at an incredible speed, as seen in the beloved cartoon? Yes! For example, the Red-headed Woodpecker, found in temperate North America, has the highest g-force (force of acceleration) experienced by a bird. When pecking wood, they hit trees with an impact force of 1,200 g’s. By comparison, astronauts on space shuttles experience 3.5 g's during takeoff, while a force of 60-100 g’s can cause a human concussion.

2

Northern Cardinal

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Did you know most female songbirds in North America usually don't sing? Fortunately, both male and female Northern Cardinals break this trend with their beautiful songs . As a matter of fact, sometimes they even perform duets! Mated pairs usually sing back and forth to each other, sharing information about food sources and nest activity.

Another cool fact about Northern Cardinals is their tendency to fight their own reflections in windows and vehicle mirrors. Experts claim they see their image as a competing bird and attack it to defend their territory. This behavior can go on for days, even months.

Nevertheless, despite this somewhat aggressive attitude, Northern Cardinals are one of America's favorite birds. They hold the distinction of being the state bird of seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

3

Brown Thrasher

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

The Brown Thrasher may be an elusive, hard-to-see bird but it certainly doesn't go unnoticed. The state bird of Georgia, found throughout the eastern and central United States and southern and central Canada, is well known for its remarkable songs.

In fact, this big, foxy-red bird is not only a prolific singer but also an expert mimic, with an impressive repertoire of more than 1,100 tunes! And thrashers are so good at keeping the natural world entertained that they will repeat each phrase of a song twice before singing the next one.

4

Northern Mockingbird

Image: Patrice Bouchard

The Northern Mockingbird is another remarkable mimic. This bird listens to the songs of nearby species and learns to replicate their tunes. In fact, a male may learn around 200 songs throughout its life. The mockingbird, however, can be a bit more monotonous than the Brown Thrasher: it repeats phrases up to six times before moving on to the next one. Have you ever had one in your backyard?

Apart from its musical abilities, the Northern Mockingbird, very common in towns and cities, especially in the South, is one of the most influential birds in American culture. It serves as the state bird for five states : Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. It also appears in many books, TV shows, folk songs, and lullabies.

5

Marsh Wren

Image: Alexis LOURS

Marsh Wrens are songbirds too, but in their case, it’s all about impressing the ladies! The Marsh Wren, a tiny brown bird found all around North America, learns songs from other males and sings them nearly identically. With a repertoire of more than 100 melodies, males often engage in musical duels and sing back and forth to each other to impress the females with their musical abilities.

But singing isn’t their only strategy for winning over a mate. Male Marsh Wrens build up to 20 dummy nests made from cattails for prospective females to evaluate. The female then chooses which one she prefers to lay her eggs in. Unused nests are left as is to confuse predators or are used by adult birds to sleep during nonmating seasons.

6

Black-capped Chickadee

Image: Margaret Strickland

The Black-capped Chickadee, the state bird of both Massachusetts and Maine, is a very popular bird across the northern United States. This small black, white, and tan bird, roughly the size of a sparrow, is well known for its vocalizations and for its ability to conserve energy during the winter months.

In extremely cold weather, Black-capped Chickadees enter a state of dormancy known as torpor. At night, the birds seek shelter and become inactive, causing their core body temperature to drop slightly. As they alternate shivering with staying still, the heart rate decreases. When they reach a full state of torpor, they lose consciousness. Toward morning, the birds start shivering again to regain temperature. This way, the Black-capped Chickadee starts the day afresh, using the precious fat it saved during the night as energy.

7

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Image: Skyler Ewing

They might be tiny but the myth that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate on the backs of Canada Geese is totally false. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, the most common hummingbirds in eastern North America, migrate south at the end of summer, traveling to temperate climates in Central and South America entirely on their own.

This iridescent red and green bird is so small that it makes the most minuscule nests. The nest of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird is around the size of half of a walnut shell—only 1½ inches wide! Also, the smaller the bird, the fewer the feathers. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a record holder for the fewest feathers in a bird, less than 1,000 in total. For reference, a Whistling Swan, the record holder for the most feathers, boasts about 20,000 individual feathers.

8

Owls

Image: Keith Lazarus

Owls are both cherished and mysterious creatures. In North America, there are 19 different species, each with its own curious characteristics. For example, the Elf Owl, found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, is special because it’s the smallest owl in the world —measuring just 5 inches tall!

Night-hunting owls present in North America, such as Barn Owls, Long-eared Owls, and Boreal Owls, have the best hearing in the bird world. Many of these nocturnal owls have asymmetrical ear openings, one opening higher and one larger. This unique adaptation allows sound to enter their ears at slightly different times, helping them to accurately triangulate the position of their prey. Also, Barn Owls have a specialized middle claw called pectinate claws. This special feature is a serrated edge that serves as a built-in comb to get rid of debris or parasites.

9

Snow Goose

Image: David Dibert

Isn't it great when we get to spot those amazing V-shaped migration formations in the sky? Did you know that most of North America’s small birds don’t fly in formations? They travel alone or alongside other birds that happen to be heading in the same direction. The Snow Goose, however, is an exception, often flying in huge V formations or single-angled lines.

During migration, Snow Geese, native to North America, form some of the largest flocks in the bird world. Flocks of more than 100,000 Snow Geese are a common sight during their northward spring migration. In some areas, such as Nebraska, there are even records of flocks with millions of geese. Flying in formations allows Snow Geese to save energy during flight.

10

Bald Eagle

Image: Pixabay

If you thought that, since it’s the national symbol of the United States of America, you knew all about the Bald Eagle, these facts will probably blow your mind! Did you know that young Bald Eagles are born with brown eyes, which eventually turn yellow? And what about the fact that they have talons that can grow up to 2 inches long , helping them grasp prey tightly for a quick kill?

Furthermore, Bald Eagles make the largest nests of any bird species. The largest Bald Eagle nest ever recorded measured more than 9 feet wide and 20 feet deep and was found in St. Petersburg, Florida. What's even more impressive is that they reuse their nests for many years—sometimes even decades. A Bald Eagle nest in Vermilion, Ohio, was used for 35 years in a row—mortgage-free! Can you imagine?

1

Chuckwalla

Image: Matthew Mentley

The chuckwalla can grow up to 16 inches long, making it one of the largest desert lizards. However, its size isn't the most impressive thing about it. What sets it apart from the rest is its ability to inflate like a balloon to twice its size! That's right; chuckwallas inflate their bodies to fit perfectly into holes and crevices in rocks, making it nearly impossible for predators to pull them out.

As if that weren't enough, these lizards live in desert environments with virtually no water. Although they do take in some liquid, most of their hydration comes from the plants they eat.

2

Kangaroo rat

Image: Michael Jerrard

The incredible kangaroo rat is a specialist in surviving the harshest environments. One of its talents is construction; this rodent knows how to build elaborate burrows in sandy soils for shelter and protection. In addition, kangaroo rats have fur-lined cheek pouches that allow them to carry food from where they find it back to their burrows.

But what makes them unique is their jumping ability. As small rodents (just 3.5 to 5.5 inches), their leap is surprising: they can reach up to 9 feet in a single bound! Plus, like the chuckwalla, the kangaroo rat also survives in the desert on minimal water intake.

3

Gila monster

Image: David Clode

The Gila monster is as famous as it is amazing. This reptile, native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, stands out for its unique appearance: a dark, scaly skin with pink or orange spots. In addition, the Gila monster has something that makes it special: it's one of only two venomous lizards in North America. Its potent venom is full of neurotoxins that affect the nervous system of its prey, causing intense pain, swelling, bruising, and even paralysis.

4

Mojave green rattlesnake

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

While any snake can be terrifying to most of us, the Mojave Green Rattlesnake stands out for several reasons.

The crotalus scutulatus —according to its scientific name— is distinguished by its greenish hue, which not only gives it its characteristic nickname but also helps it camouflage in the desert sand. This snake is not only venomous but is considered one of the most dangerous rattlesnakes! Its potent venom contains neurotoxins that, if left untreated with antivenom, can be lethal to various species, including humans.

5

Cactus wren

Image: Carol Lee

You've probably tried transplanting a cactus or got close to one, only to end up with tiny thorns that pricked you for days. But this doesn't happen to the cactus wren, an amazing bird known for its exceptional adaptation to the desert.

As its name implies, one of the most impressive features of the cactus wren is its ability to build large and sturdy nests on cacti without getting hurt. As if that weren't impressive enough, the bird's cleverness leads it to cover its nest with snakeskin to discourage potential predators. Incredible, right?

6

Green tarantula

Image: Thomas Oldenburger

Spiders are among the most feared creatures by humans. But if there's one spider that could scare even the bravest, it's the Mojave green tarantula, which can grow up to 4 inches long and has legs that span up to 6 inches!

Its venom delivers intense pain to its prey while simultaneously paralyzing them. In addition, these tarantulas have urticating hairs that irritate predators' skin, eyes, and respiratory systems. On the other hand, one of their great traits is their lifespan: This species can live up to 25 years in the wild!

7

Sidewinder rattlesnake

Image: Michael Jerrard

The sidewinder rattlesnake is definitely one of the desert bosses. You can tell it’s dangerous just by seeing it: Its typical triangular, flat head is topped with two horns that don't look friendly at all.

But what makes it a unique species is its movement pattern. This snake doesn't move in a straight line but in a sidewinding motion, lifting its body off the ground in a zigzag pattern. That allows it to confuse its prey while moving quickly without getting burned by the hot sand.

8

Pinyon jay

Image: frank mckenna

The cactus wren is not the only bird on this list; the pinyon jay also has its place. Nicknamed "forest farmers," pinyon jays bury the seeds of pinyon pines to eat later. The seeds they leave uneaten sprout into new pines, creating a symbiotic relationship between tree and bird. Even more impressive is their incredible memory: pinyon jays can remember thousands of seed burial locations, even months after hiding them!

9

Desert tortoise

Image: Abraham Weiss

Unlike bears and other animals that hibernate during the winter, desert tortoises enter a form of hibernation known as brumation. This occurs when it's very hot to save energy and they need to protect themselves from the heat. To do so, desert tortoises create deep burrows using their strong, shovel-like front legs. In addition, they can live up to 50 years in the wild, making them one of the longest-living reptiles.

10

Bark Scorpion

Image: Andrey Tikhonovskiy

When it comes to danger, the Bark Scorpion of the Mojave Desert is also one of the stars on this list. Considered one of the most dangerous scorpions in all of North America, this arachnid has a light yellowish body with darker spots. It tends to hide under rocks or trees, so you know where to be most careful. While it's not famous for attacking humans, it may sting if it feels threatened.