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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Pancakes

Image: Ala

Imagine you are a tourist in Michigan and decide to go for pancakes. You enter a suitable establishment, sit at the counter, and ask… what, exactly? Yes, most people call them pancakes, and there is a fair chance that you will receive just that without further questions, but if you want to speak like a local, you will ask for flapjacks .

The "flap" part of flapjack is derived from the word the British used to mean "flip." As for the "jack" part, historians say it may refer to the small size of the pancake because "jack" referred to something that was small. You’ll hear pancakes more in the North and flapjacks in the South, but there are exceptions, such as the Flapjack Shack in Traverse City, Michigan.

2

Dessert Toppings

Image: Kate Trysh

For many Americans, dessert toppings for ice creams and milkshakes are like cheese on a pizza: a must. If you happen to be one of them and are visiting New England, you should know that the local word for toppings is " with jimmies. "

Jimmies are a subgroup of the larger category of dessert toppings known as sprinkles, although people across the U.S. might use the terms interchangeably. Jimmies are cylindrical sprinkles, but some people use the word to refer specifically to chocolate or colored varieties. As for round sprinkles, they are technically marketed as nonpareils.

3

Cold Sandwiches

Image: Allen Rad

The word "sandwich" has come to represent practically any food that is stuffed between two pieces of bread and can be eaten—usually—with your hands. But in certain regions of America, this ubiquitous food item goes by different names.

Pennsylvania has its own term: hoagie . Back in the day, the Italian-American community lived in an area called Hog Island, and local cooks were known for their big "Hog Island Sandwiches," which eventually became known as "hoagies." In New England, many people call a sandwich a grinder . That’s because it’s traditionally made from Italian bread, which has a thicker crust than the typical sandwich bread.

4

Stuffing or Dressing?

Image: Louis Hansel

In the northern parts of the U.S., stuffing refers to the thick mixture of seasoned breadcrumbs or croutons often used to fill poultry dishes.

But, in the southern parts of the country, the word used to describe that is dressing . Yes, the same word that is used in the North to describe any kind of liquid topping for salads. It can be confusing, right?

5

Pop or Soda?

Image: Taylor Swayze

Soft drinks are referred to by different names in different parts of the country. If you are on the East Coast, along the Illinois-Missouri border, in southeastern Wisconsin, California, or nearby areas, you probably call it soda .

However, if you are from the Great Plains region or the Midwest, you likely refer to it as pop . And, if you refer to it as Coke or cola —whether it’s Coca-Cola or something else—you’re most likely from the South.

6

Jelly donuts as Bismarck

Image: Leon Ephraïm

Jelly donuts are quintessentially American. These delicious pastries filled with sweet jelly are everywhere—and for good reason. However, in the midwestern region of the country, as well as in Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, jelly donuts have a different name altogether.

That is because the German immigrants who settled in the region named the dessert "Bismarck" after the 19th-century Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck because those pastries were a favorite snack of his.

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Milkshakes as "frappes"

Image: Sebastian Coman Photography

A milkshake and a frappe are pretty much the same thing across most of the country—and even the world, we dare say. However, that’s not the case in New England. If you were to ask for a milkshake in that area, you would receive a slightly different—but equally delicious—beverage.

Nearly everywhere else in the U.S., a milkshake is made with milk, ice cream, and syrup blended together. But in New England, that's a recipe for a frappe . A milkshake in that part of America consists of just milk and syrup, shaken or blended until a foamy head appears.

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Casseroles as a hotdish

Image: sheri silver

A casserole is a warm dish made by layering meat, vegetables, and noodles, along with a can of condensed soup thrown into the mix and then taken to the oven. However, in Minnesota, that same recipe is called a hot dish.

According to Howard Mohr, author of How to Talk Minnesotan , "A traditional main course, hotdish is cooked and served hot in a single baking dish and commonly appears at family reunions and church suppers."

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Poached Egg vs. Dropped Egg

Image: Unsplash

New England has appeared a couple of times already on this list, and it’s about to make another appearance. In most parts of the country, the cooking technique of gently dropping an egg into boiling water is called "poaching an egg."

But in New England, the name for this technique has a much more literal term, calling this particular preparation a dropped egg .

10

Peppers and Mangoes

Image: Paul Morley

We’ll close this list with perhaps the most curious case of regional naming we came across. In the Midwestern region of the country, a "mango" does not refer to the tropical fruit commonly known as a mango.

Instead, if a midwesterner asks for a mango at a local grocery store, they will receive a mild, green bell pepper . The suggested explanation for this is that as green bell peppers ripen, they develop red-gold splotches that make them look similar to mangos.

1

A grim past

One of the three "Oyster Islands" in Upper New York Bay—along with Liberty Island and the now-submerged Black Tom Island— Ellis Island changed hands many times during the Dutch and British colonial periods. Initially known as Little Oyster Island, it was often used as an execution site for pirates. In 1774, Welsh merchant Samuel Ellis acquired the island, renamed it after himself, and, in the early 19th century, the government bought it to build a fortress.

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Why Ellis Island?

In 1890, the American government decided to shut down the Castle Clinton immigration station on the southern tip of Manhattan due to mismanagement and immigrant abuse. After surveying several locations, Ellis Island was chosen as the site for the new station , and in two years, offices, an immigrant hotel, a hospital, a detention building, a laundry building, and a utility plant were built.

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A growing island

Did you know that Ellis Island used to be much smaller? As construction of the station started, the island was expanded through the creation of three artificial islands, which were then connected to the original land , and much of the dirt and rock used was sourced from the excavation of early New York City subway tunnels. In the end, the island’s original 3.3 acres were expanded to 27.5 acres, meaning that nearly 90% of Ellis Island is manmade.

4

The gateway to America

On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island station opened its doors, and the first to come through them were three children. 17-year-old Annie Moore and her two younger brothers had travelled alone from Cork, Ireland, to meet with their parents , who had migrated a few years earlier. Today, a statue depicting the Moore siblings stands on Ellis Island as a tribute to all those who came to America through the station. From its opening in 1892 to its closure in 1954, the station processed more than 12 million immigrants from all over the world.

5

A connection with nearly half of America

While Ellis Island was not the only immigrant station in America, it was definitely the busiest. It is estimated that around 33 to 40% of living Americans (more than 100 million people) can trace their ancestry back to an Ellis Island immigrant. Today, the station’s records are available online, allowing anyone wanting to explore their family’s past to find their ancestors’ immigration records.

6

Isle of tears

While the popular myth about immigrants having to wait for days to be processed is not true, the inspection process at the station was long and thorough, usually completed in 3 to 5 hours. A medical inspection to rule out physical ailments and infectious diseases was done first, and suspicious cases were sent out to a different area of the station for further testing. Afterwards, a legal questioning about the immigrant’s origin, story, profession, final destination, and economic means was conducted by officers. Those who failed one or both inspections had the chance of a formal hearing before facing deportation, and it is estimated that only 2% of total arrivals were denied entry.

7

Restrictions

In the early 1920s, immigration quotas based on past censuses were enforced. In 1921, the immigration cap per nationality was restricted to 3% of the U.S. population of that origin represented in the 1910 census, a decision that heavily favored northern and western European immigrants. Three years later, the quota was reduced to 2% of the 1890 census, which further restricted immigration from southern and eastern Europe, as well as from Asia and Africa . In 1924, a new migration policy required migrants to secure a visa before the journey, which drastically reduced the number of people going through the station.

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The detention center

As the flow of immigrants coming through Ellis Island diminished, part of the facilities were repurposed as a detention and deportation center, with the station temporarily closed during WWI, doubling as a jail and a treatment center for wounded soldiers. By the 1930s, the station mainly served as a holding place for individuals detained for illegal entry, overstayed visas, or medical reasons. Unlike other stations, such as Angel Island on the West Coast, Ellis Island was not used as a detention camp for Japanese Americans during WWII, but it was one of the main detention centers for Axis nationals in the New York Area , and later for alleged communist sympathizers during the Red Scare.

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Who owns Ellis Island?

Several islands in New York Harbor have been a point of contention between the States of New York and New Jersey, including Ellis Island. In 1834, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the above-water land of Ellis Island belonged to New York, while the surrounding submerged land was part of New Jersey, but the matter was not resolved. In 1993, New Jersey contended that, when the island was artificially expanded to make room for the immigration station, it had been done on the submerged land, and therefore, it was part of New Jersey . In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of New Jersey, stating that New York only had sovereignty over the original 3.3 acres

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Ellis Island today

In 1965, Ellis Island was designated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and its restoration process started in 1984, opening as a museum in 1990. Accessible only by ferry from Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey , the complex offers guided tours through the installations and access to passenger records. Museum access is free for all visitors, but they need to purchase a ticket for the official ferry.