1

Paul Bunyan

Image: Abby Savage

Paul Bunyan , the colossal lumberjack of American folklore, is said to have cleared forests from the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest. With his blue ox, Babe , he performed incredible feats of strength, like carving out the Grand Canyon just by dragging his axe behind him, and creating the Great Lakes with his footprints.

Originating in oral traditions among lumberjacks, Bunyan’s exaggerated exploits gained momentum with the American westward expansion during the 19th century and soon became deeply ingrained in the popular imagination.

2

Johnny Appleseed

Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

Born John Chapman, Johnny Appleseed wandered the American frontier planting apple trees and spreading goodwill in the early 19th century. A devout Christian, he became a folk hero for his kindness, environmentalism, and pioneering spirit.

Contrary to the popular image of Johnny Appleseed randomly scattering apple seeds, he was a skilled nurseryman who meticulously planted apple tree nurseries. Each nursery was carefully fenced to shield the saplings from livestock and wildlife. After establishing these nurseries, he entrusted them to neighbors but revisited them periodically.

3

Pecos Bill

Image: JosephHershMedia

Pecos Bill , a fictional cowboy raised by coyotes in the wilds of Texas, became a larger-than-life figure known for taming cyclones and roping tornadoes. His adventures, first popularized in the early 20th century, embody the frontier spirit and Texas mythology, blending humor with tales of rugged individualism.

Among his many tales, one credits him with creating the Gulf of Mexico . According to legend, during a severe drought in Texas, Pecos Bill lassoed a storm cloud in California and brought it to Texas. The resulting deluge caused extensive flooding, ultimately forming the Gulf.

4

Davy Crockett

Image: Joseph Corl

Davy Crockett , known as the "King of the Wild Frontier," was a real-life frontiersman later turned politician whose exploits were mythologized even during his lifetime. Born in East Tennessee, he quickly gained fame for his sharp hunting skills and captivating storytelling.

During his time in the U.S. Congress, he staunchly opposed many of President Andrew Jackson’s policies, particularly the Indian Removal Act, and championed the rights of small landowners. Crockett’s life ended with valor at the Battle of the Alamo , solidifying his folk legend as a symbol of courage and patriotism. His legacy remains an enduring part of American history.

5

Calamity Jane

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

Martha Jane Canary, better known by her alias Calamity Jane, was a frontierswoman and scout famed for her sharpshooting skills and daredevil exploits. During her youth, she stepped up to provide for her large family, taking on various jobs, from ox team driver to scout for Fort Russell. Eventually, she embraced the rough and adventurous lifestyle that made her a legend.

Despite her fearsome reputation, Calamity Jane was compassionate and often helped those in need. Her adventures in the Wild West alongside figures like Wild Bill Hickok cemented her status as a legend of the American frontier.

6

Molly Pitcher

Image: Garry T

Molly Pitcher, the nickname given to Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, became famous for her bravery during the American Revolutionary War. Although several historical figures are known by this moniker for similar deeds, Mary Ludwig Hays distinguished herself during the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, where she served as a water carrier for the soldiers.

When her husband, an artilleryman in the Continental Army, fell to enemy fire, she took his place, swabbing and loading the cannon with such bravery and determination that she earned a commendation from George Washington.

7

Daniel Boone

Image: Scott Longerbeam

Daniel Boone was a legendary frontiersman and explorer who blazed trails through the Appalachian Mountains and into Kentucky. Born in 1734, Boone became famous for his expert hunting and survival skills, as well as his role in establishing the Wilderness Road, a trail that facilitated westward migration through the Cumberland Gap.

After serving as a militia officer during the Revolutionary War, he was briefly taken in by the Shawnees in the Northeastern Woodlands. After a few years, he returned and continued to help protect the Kentucky settlements.

8

Buffalo Bill

Image: Judy Beth Morris

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a legendary figure of the American West, known for his Wild West shows that toured the United States and Europe. Born in 1846, Cody was a skilled buffalo hunter, Army scout, and showman who brought cowboy skills and frontier life to audiences worldwide.

He earned his nickname after the Civil War by providing Kansas Pacific Railroad workers with buffalo meat, hunting record numbers of the animal. He even engaged in hunting competitions with his partner, Bill Comstock. His legendary figure has been frequently portrayed in film and television, especially during the height of the Western genre in the 1960s.

9

Wild Bill Hickok

Image: Pablò

James Butler Hickok, famously known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a legendary figure of the American Old West. Born in 1837, Hickok gained fame as a skilled marksman, gambler, and lawman.

Though his exploits were certainly exaggerated by the outlandish tales he told about himself, he was involved in several notorious gunfights during his life. Most notably, he dueled with Davis Tutt, a local gambler with whom he had various disagreements, particularly over their mutual affection for the same woman.

10

John Henry

Image: Lucio Patone

John Henry was a legendary steel-driving man whose man-against-machine tale epitomized the strength and resilience of the American worker. An African American freedman, his dangerous job involved hammering steel drills into rocks to create holes for explosives used to blast open railroad tunnels.

According to the legend, John Henry's prowess was tested in a race against a steam-powered drill. He won the race but tragically died after victory, hammer in hand when his heart gave out from the immense physical stress.

1

Taxation without representation - District of Columbia

Image: Jen Theodore

The DMV in Washington, D.C., has featured "Taxation Without Representation" on the city's license plates since the late 1990s. This is because people living in D.C. don't have a voting representative in Congress , so, yes, they're taxed without representation.

The reason for this dates back to when the Founders of the country decided that the yet-to-be-built Federal City, located on the Potomac, would operate above and beyond any regional, state, or city politics, remaining completely neutral regarding the laws being created. Therefore, there is no representative in Congress.

2

The Last Frontier - Alaska

Image: Elijah Macleod

There is not much mystery as to why license plates in Alaska feature the nickname "The Last Frontier." Once, the frontier was the continental West. Once the West was won, Alaska became the last frontier.

Along with this nickname, the license plate also features a flag with stars, which represent the Big Dipper and Polaris (the North Star). They respectively symbolize strength and Alaska's northern location.

3

Constitution State - Connecticut

Image: Davlat Radjabov

While some people might think that the nickname showcased on the Connecticut license plates is about the document that laid the groundwork for American democracy, the truth is different.

"The Constitution State" in this case refers to a set of local government rules from around the year 1639, called the Fundamental Orders. Similar? Yes, but not the same.

4

The First State - Delaware

Image: Liam Matthews

"The First State," the nickname showcased on Delaware’s license plates, references a fact that the state is proud to boast— as it should: it was the first state to ratify the US Constitution before any other state on December 7, 1787.

The nickname wasn't official until a first-grade class made the suggestion in 2002. As it sometimes happens, kids get it before everybody else.

5

Land of Lincoln - Illinois

Image: Richard Hedrick

Another proud statement showcased on the state’s license plates is printed on every Illinois plate: "Land of Lincoln" refers to the fact that, even though he was born in Kentucky, Honest Abe lived in the state capital, Springfield, from 1837 to 1861.

The 1954 plates were the first to feature this nickname, which continues to be used today.

6

The Crossroads of America - Indiana

Image: Tracy Adams

The state of Indiana has numerous interstates crossing its borders, namely I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74 , and the nickname on its license plate is a direct reference to this. Actually, as it happens in many instances, this nickname is the state’s motto, which became official in 1937.

The current plate design, which features one of the covered bridges the state is known for, is a little cartoonish but has more character.

7

Sportsman’s Paradise - Louisiana

Image: Tim Mossholder

Some states have had the clever idea of advertising and promoting their features on their license plates. Cars bearing these signs travel all over the country, making them a perfect advertising vessel.

Such is the case for Louisiana, which is a region abundant with spots to fish and hunt . Its license plate is inscribed with one of the state’s nicknames: "Sportsman’s Paradise."

8

Support Wildlife - Maine

Image: Ashes Sitoula

Another state that attracts visitors with its natural diversity and makes good use of its license plates to promote this is Maine, with its "Support Wildlife" plate. This slogan not only invites people to visit but also advocates for environmental protection. This double function is a great use of space and resources, and it should be copied by other states’ license plates.

9

The Spirit of America - Massachusetts

Image: Beng Ragon

If there is no space for the full motto, why not go with an abbreviation, right? At least that was the reasoning for the good people of Massachusetts. Along with a patriotic color scheme, Massachusetts's license plate features the slogan "The Spirit of America." The phrase is a shortened version of the state's former motto: "The Spirit of Massachusetts is the Spirit of America."

10

Unbridled Spirit - Kentucky

Image: Jen Theodore

The last entry on our list goes to Kentucky and its poetic motto proudly showcased on its license plates. According to local authorities, " Kentucky is a place where spirits are free to soar and big dreams can be fulfilled . We relish competition and cherish our champions for their willingness to push beyond conventional boundaries to reach new heights of success."

In any case, this beautiful statement adorns the license plates of many Kentuckians.

1

The American Revolution

We weren’t always the United States of America. One of the very first turning points in our history was the American Revolution, when the 13 colonies fought to become a new independent nation free from the control of the British Empire.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4 , 1776, though the Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 to 1783, when American forces finally defeated Britain. This pivotal moment influenced political movements around the world and spread new ideas about representative government and individual rights.

2

The Civil War

The deadliest conflict in U.S. history, the Civil War was a devastating yet defining event that changed the way Americans lived and worked, bringing about the abolition of slavery . The conflict lasted from 1861 to 1865, during which the Union fought the Confederate states that had seceded from the United States.

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared enslaved people in the Confederate states to be free. This didn’t immediately end slavery everywhere in America until the war officially ended and the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865, abolishing slavery throughout the country.

3

World War II

Many chilling stories have been written about how the world would be if Nazi Germany had won World War II. But in actual history, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, followed by Japan on September 2, 1945, officially ending the war and setting the stage for the world we grew up in .

In the aftermath of such a devastating and bloody war, the United Nations was created in October 1945 with the goal of preventing future conflicts and promoting cooperation among nations.

4

The Moon landing

"Reach for the moon" was just a rhetorical expression until 1969, when NASA’s Apollo 11 mission put humans on the lunar surface. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon in an unparalleled historical event, with an estimated 600 million people watching on television.

Such an unthinkable achievement demonstrated what was possible for humanity and opened up a whole new horizon of possibilities for science, engineering, and technology.

5

The Great Depression

Everyone knows about the infamous stock market crash of 1929 and the start of what became known as the Great Depression. A time when banks failed, businesses shut down, and millions of Americans were left in dire straits.

This event directly led Franklin D. Roosevelt to introduce the New Deal to provide relief and economic recovery. After the Depression and these reforms, there was a new understanding of the federal government’s role in the economy that would shape American politics from then on.

6

Columbus's 1492 voyage

What happened after October 12, 1492, when Christopher Columbus reached an island in the Caribbean after sailing from Spain, defined the history of the Americas and the world as we know it today.

It opened the door to European exploration and conquest in the "New World" as well as the exchange of plants, animals, people, technologies, and even diseases between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Columbus's landing kicked off a chain reaction that unfolded over the following centuries, which also came with negative repercussions like population collapse in the continent, forced labor, and the transatlantic slave trade.

7

The Wright Brothers' first flight

These days, hopping on a plane is no big deal. You can move around the country and the world fairly easily, and roughly 100,000 flights take off worldwide daily. But getting off the ground was a monumental achievement when Orville and Wilbur Wright did the first controlled, sustained flight of a powered, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903.

This turning point planted the seed of modern aviation , and within the next decades, airplanes and air travel transformed the world.

8

The Industrial Revolution

Today’s modern industry began taking shape in Britain in the late 18th century, thanks to a series of new technological advancements which saw factories and mass production take over small workshops and handcrafting.

Besides changing the way we produced goods, the Industrial Revolution redesigned the way society was structured, as millions of people moved from rural areas to cities in order to work at the new factories, causing profound changes in where and how people lived.

9

The invention of the printing press

Copying books by hand wasn’t just time-consuming; it was expensive, too. Until 1440, that is, when German inventor Johannes Gutenberg created the first printing press using movable metal type.

Imagine the tremendous impact this had on religion, science, philosophy , and any other field where ideas could now circulate much more widely and quickly, expanding access to information, accelerating literacy and education, and ultimately transforming the entire world.

10

The French Revolution

Far beyond France’s borders, the French Revolution was a game-changing moment that made waves across the world, replacing the notion that government power comes from divine right with the new understanding that it actually comes from the people.

It began in 1789 when the French people rebelled against the monarchy, proclaiming the motto liberté, égalité, fraternité, and became a republic before executing King Louis XVI by guillotine in 1793.