1

Roy Chapman Andrews - Indiana Jones

Image: Intricate Explorer

Roy Chapman Andrews was an American explorer, adventurer, naturalist, and paleontologist who made it out of brawls with pythons, a whale, and armed bandits. He was erroneously reported dead a couple of times and led expeditions across the deserts of China and Mongolia—despite having a fear of snakes . One might safely say that he was the real-life Indiana Jones.

Though neither George Lucas nor Steven Spielberg, the producers behind the franchise, have ever confirmed the claims, they are fully aware of the number of parallels between the movie hero and the former director of the American Museum of Natural History , who collected dinosaur eggs as a hobby. Even Andrews’ granddaughter, Sara Appelbee, believes that Indy was at least inspired by her grandpa.

2

Chuck Wepner - Rocky Balboa

Image: Luisa Frassier

A number of real-life pugilists are said to have inspired Silvester Stalone’s hero —or at least his iconic training methods, such as pulling carts or punching meat packs. Philly boxer Joe Frazier, who even had a cameo in the first movie, was one of them. Also, the nickname "Rocky" was taken from Rocco "Rocky" Francis Marchegiano, an Italian-American heavyweight champion who finished his career undefeated.

But the heart and soul of Rocky was the boxer, Chuck Wepner. Stalone has recounted many times that it was after watching Wepner give his all against the legendary Muhammed Ali that he got the idea for an underdog boxer who would never quit. Wepner’s career and his unyielding spirit later inspired other movies, like Chuck (2016) and The Brawler (2019).

3

Belva Gaertner & Beulah Annan - Velma Kelly & Roxie Hart

Image: tadah

In 1924, reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins covered courthouse stories for the Chicago Tribune . One day, she was asked to write about the trial cases of two women accused of shooting their partners. A few months later, she quit the Chicago Tribune and proceeded to publish a play she had written: Chicago .

The two women were Belva Gaertner and Beulah Annan, both by then acquitted of the charges of murdering their respective partners. The ever-changing accounts of their alibis for the crimes, as well as the audience’s fascination with them, was what inspired Watkins to write the characters of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart , whose storylines closely resemble those of Gaertner and Annan. Watkins, who had described Gaertner and Annan as the "beauty of the cell block" and the "most stylish of Murderess Row," later sustained that she believed both women were guilty.

4

Draper Daniels & Mary Wells Lawrence - Don Draper & Peggy Olson

Image: S O C I A L . C U T

5

It is known that the multi-award-winning TV show Mad Men focused on showcasing the lifestyle and operations of grand advertising agencies from Madison Avenue, New York, in the mid-20th century. Although parts of the show were exaggerated for dramatic effect, some experts sustain that the anti-hero Don Draper was likely based on Draper Daniels—at least in terms of his career accomplishments.

Daniels was the creative director of the legendary agency Leo Burnett and led famous campaigns for Marlboro, a leading cigarette company in the 1950s. One can only hope that his personal life was less turbulent than that of the fictional character, but the show perfectly transmitted the ingenuity of a big-buck creative director . Did you know that his apprentice, Peggy Olson, was also based on a real-life publicist? It is believed that Mary Wells Lawrence , an advertising legend and pioneering female leader in the industry, inspired the character of Peggy, a hungry and charismatic young writer who is only at the beginning of a brilliant career.

6

William Randolph Hearst - Charles Foster Kane

Image: Zoe

Citizen Kane (1941), widely considered one of the best films ever made, was famously inspired by the life of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Charles Foster Kane, just like his real-life counterpart, rose from humble beginnings to immense wealth by building a newspaper empire . In this case, the history of personal scandal depicted in the movie did match reality.

Like Kane, Hearst had a mansion complete with private zoos and priceless art collections. Both men had political careers and a heavy presence in the press and media. Hearst did not take the movie lightly; the portrayal was so thinly veiled that the story offended him greatly, particularly the inclusion of a doomed romance that paralleled his relationship with actress Marion Davies.

7

Pocahontas

Image: EricThriller

We know that Disney's Pocahontas (1995) is a highly romanticized version of historical accounts, but Pocahontas indeed was a real-life Native American woman in the 1600s. The movie took great liberties with facts. For example, Pocahontas was only 10 or 11 years old when she met English newcomers, not the young woman suggested in the film.

She was indeed the daughter of Powhatan , their tribe chief, and early accounts claim that she intervened to prevent the execution of English sailor John Smith, though these tales have been disputed over the centuries. The story of her life, captivity, transformation to Christianism and marriage to John Rolfe have been represented in several films, plays, books, and paintings throughout time, even though historical records of her life are scarce.

8

Howard Hughes - Tony Stark

Image: Igor Bumba

Sure, perhaps Iron Man never existed. But Tony Stark might have, in a way. The billionaire genius who became Marvel's icon was heavily inspired by real-life American industrialist and aviator Howard Hughes. Both Stark and Hughes were visionary inventors, known for their technological prowess, complex personal lives, and eccentric personalities.

During his lifetime, Hughes was one of the richest and most influential people in the world, and, like Tony Stark, he behaved accordingly. Hughes had romantic entanglements with Hollywood stars and led a luxurious lifestyle. This was parodied in Stark’s playboy personality and his interactions with the press. Interestingly, Hughes, an enthusiastic pilot, carried several injuries he had sustained from being in four different plane crashes. These wounds were paralleled by those in Stark, who carried a literal gap in his body after an accident caused by a malfunction of his own technology.

9

Peggy Lee - Miss Piggy

Image: cottonbro studio

Yes, even Miss Piggy drew inspiration from a real person. That person was none other than Peggy Lee, the legendary jazz singer , songwriter, and actress with a 70-year-long career. Lee was known for her sultry voice and sassy but commanding stage presence, a diva superstar personality. Does that remind you of a certain Muppet?

Miss Piggy’s signature traits include her charm and her conviction that she is destined for stardom . Many of Peggy Lee's qualities, even physical traits like her blond hair, were gracefully taken in by Miss Piggy’s creators, but not all. For instance, the tendency to karate-chop Kermit the Frog when she is mad at him might have been ad-libbed.

10

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Image: Jean-Christophe André

Molly Brown survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her persona even made it to the 1997 James Cameron film. In it, Kathy Bates played Margaret Brown, aka "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown. A socialite, activist, and philanthropist, she showed stellar leadership and bravery during the disaster as a first-class passenger who helped several people into lifeboats before being forced to board one herself.

In the movie, she is portrayed as a strong, outspoken woman ready to defy social conventions and eager to make space for more people in the lifeboats. Reportedly, that night in 1912, she insisted that the boat return to save others, but her pleas were ignored. Real-life Molly Brown was known for her flamboyant personality ; she spoke several languages and traveled extensively. She even tried her hand at acting.

11

Buzz Aldrin - Buzz Lightyear

Image: Kindel Media

Finally, it must be said: Buzz Lightyear was named and designed in honor of none other than Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon . Of course, as one of the faces and emblems of space exploration, Aldrin served as a direct inspiration for the beloved space ranger from the Toy Story franchise.

Sure, Buzz Lightyear was just a toy, but the yearning in his eyes when he looked at the stars was powerful enough to represent any astronaut. Was Aldrin honored by this nod to him? Yes, he even participated in several Disney events where both Buzzes discussed space travel, and the real astronaut gave the character advice about venturing "to infinity and beyond."

1

Franklin

Image: Brett Wharton

Also known as the Free Republic of Franklin or the State of Frankland, this short-lived territory in eastern Tennessee declared independence from North Carolina in 1784. Its founders even petitioned Congress and appealed to Benjamin Franklin for support—hence the name—but it never gained official recognition.

By 1788, the movement had collapsed, and the area was reabsorbed into North Carolina before eventually becoming part of Tennessee in 1796. Today, the "State of Franklin" lives on mostly in U.S. law school exams as a fictional stand-in for a generic state —often where the imaginary property Blackacre is located.

2

Jefferson

Image: Shelby White

This proposed state has its origins in the 19th-century California Gold Rush, when settlers in the remote, resource-rich region between northern California and southern Oregon pushed for self-governance.

Though their efforts were largely ignored, the movement resurfaced over time. In 1941, frustrated locals staged a symbolic one-day secession. Armed men stopped traffic near Yreka, handing out a Proclamation of Independence declaring the State of Jefferson in "patriotic rebellion" and vowing to "secede every Thursday until further notice."

3

Deseret

Image: SoloTravelGoals

Proposed by Mormon settlers in 1849, the State of Deseret would’ve spanned a massive portion of the West. The name Deseret is derived from the word for "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon, and the vision was of a theocratic state encompassing parts of present-day Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and beyond.

Congress denied the proposal due to its size and religious nature, but a stone donated by Deseret’s supporters in 1853 was still placed in the Washington Monument.

4

Sequoyah

Image: MJ Tangonan

Proposed in 1905, this would’ve been a Native American–majority state in what is now eastern Oklahoma. Despite extensive lobbying by representatives of the Five Civilized Tribes, Congress refused, preferring a single Oklahoma Territory.

Despite its failure, the proposed state’s constitution left a lasting legacy —much of its content was later adopted into the Oklahoma Constitution.

5

Absaroka

Image: Michael Bourgault

Named after the Crow word for "children of the large-beaked bird," the State of Absaroka was proposed in 1939. Comprising parts of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, the idea emerged mainly as a protest against New Deal policies, which were deeply resented by the rural population.

Leaders of the movement even issued license plates, but the effort never gained serious traction and remained a largely symbolic gesture.

6

Westsylvania

Image: Matthew Lancaster

Proposed during the Revolutionary War, Westsylvania would have been a new state formed from the western parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania . Backwoods settlers, feeling neglected by distant colonial governments, sought self-governance.

However, Congress rejected the plan to avoid stirring further conflict during wartime.

7

Superior

Image: Mikaela Charette

With such a strong regional identity, it was perhaps inevitable that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula would eventually seek statehood. Efforts began as early as the 1850s and resurfaced repeatedly due to the region’s political and economic isolation.

Another proposed name for the state was Ontonagon. Despite these repeated attempts, the Upper Peninsula remained part of Michigan.

8

Lincoln

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

Named for Abraham Lincoln, this proposed state would have split the Texas Panhandle from the rest of the state. Throughout the 1860s and again in the 1880s, residents of the Panhandle and surrounding areas sought separation due to the region’s distance from Austin and cultural differences.

While none of the proposals gained enough federal support, residents of the area still feel distinct today and take pride in their unique identity.

9

Texlahoma

Image: Tommy Bond

Another failed attempt at carving out part of one of the largest states in the U.S., the State of Texlahoma would have—as its name suggests—combined portions of Texas and Oklahoma into a single state.

The push for autonomy was especially strong during the Dust Bowl, when a shared economy and perceived neglect by local governments united residents of both regions.

10

Columbia (D.C. Statehood)

Image: Heidi Kaden

Washington, D.C., has long been considered for statehood under the name of Columbia . Multiple bills and referenda have tried to turn the federal district into the 51st state, as residents pay federal taxes but lack voting representation in Congress.

Despite strong support among D.C. residents, the idea has yet to gain serious traction at the national level.

1

Independence National Historical Park

A historic district in Philadelphia, this 55-acre national park—established in 1956—preserves several sites related to American Independence and the Revolutionary War. Among the main sites of this park, we can find Independence Hall—originally the Pennsylvania State House—where the Declaration of Independence was signed and proclaimed, the Liberty Bell, the Carpenters' Hall—the location of the First Continental Congress—and Congress Hall, the place of reunion of the U.S. Congress before its relocation to Washington, D.C.

2

National Mall

Located in Washington, D.C., this park, often called ‘America's Front Yard’, stretches from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial , and has been the location of many historical events. Across and around it, we can find several museums, art galleries, cultural institutions, and memorials, sculptures, and statues, including the Washington Monument, Union Square, the Botanic Garden, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

3

Freedom Trail

This 2.5-mile-long path stretches across Boston, linking 16 sites related to American history and the American Revolutionary War. Starting in the Boston Common, down to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charleston, this trail will lead you to sites such as the Massachusetts State House, the Boston Massacre Site, Paul Revere’s House, and the Old North Church.

4

Taos Pueblo

Located near the city of Taos, New Mexico, this settlement is believed to have been established around the 13th century, making it the oldest continuously inhabited place in U.S. territory . Famous for its red adobe, multi-storied buildings, the settlement has been home to the Puebloan people for nearly a thousand years. The site has been declared a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO Heritage Site.

5

Ellis Island

Out of all the historic immigrant inspection and processing stations in America, Ellis Island is certainly the most well-known. Located in the New York Harbor, this station processed about 12 million immigrants in six decades before its closure in 1954. A source of territorial conflict between New York and New Jersey, the island is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and works as a museum of immigrant history.

6

Gettysburg National Military Park

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought over three days across Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is widely considered to have been a turning point in the American Civil War and the key to the Union’s victory . The site of the conflict, as well as Gettysburg National Cemetery—the location of President Lincoln’s famous address—is preserved by the Gettysburg National Military Park—established in 1966—alongside thousands of war artifacts.

7

Cape Canaveral

One of NASA’s main space centers, Cape Canaveral has been the starting point of several history-changing space missions like the Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs since the 1940s. Home to two different installations—the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station—several firsts in space history were launched from Cape Canaveral, such as the first U.S. Earth satellite, the first U.S. astronaut in orbit, the first U.S. uncrewed lunar landing, and the Apollo 11 moon landing.

8

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

This memorial, included in the National Park System, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 , an event that resulted in 2,400 American casualties and the subsequent involvement of the U.S. in the Second World War. The memorial, located at the site of the attack in O’ahu, Hawaii, and dedicated in 1962, includes memorials for three ships lost alongside their crews, a visitor center with information about the Pacific theater of World War II, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

9

The Alamo

Known as the ‘Shrine of Texas Liberty’, the Alamo Mission was the site of key events of the Texan Revolution and of Southern history . Initially a Spanish Catholic mission and later used as a military fortress, the compound was sieged by the Mexican Army in 1836. The nearly 250 Texan soldiers garrisoned at the complex resisted the siege for 13 days before being defeated and slain by the much more numerous Mexican army, a resistance that fuelled Texan patriotism and its fight for independence.

10

Tombstone

A flourishing Arizona town during the silver mining boom of the late 19th century, Tombstone gained its place in history books as the location of the famous ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ . An archetype of the Wild West, this confrontation was the result of a long feud between U.S. marshals—Town Marshal Virgil Earp and his deputees Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday—and an outlaw group known as the Cochise County Cowboys. Though the shootout lasted less than a minute, it remains one of the most famous events of the Old West, with the town of Tombstone designated a National Historic Landmark.