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

Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Image: Wes Hicks

Yes, the entire Appalachian Trail is extremely long. Actually, it is over 2,190 miles long. But, the Shenandoah National Park, 75 miles from Washington, D.C., has over 500 miles of hiking trails, including more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail ; You can tackle a small section in a day’s hike.

The park is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors in Virginia and it consists of 200,000 acres of protected land that are home to animals like deer and songbirds.

2

Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Image: Scott Longerbeam

More than 260 miles of maintained trails lead visitors through peaceful old-growth forests, river valleys, and subalpine meadows on the Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.

The park is home to one of the most iconic mountains in the world: Mount Rainier rises 14,410 feet above sea level straight into the clouds. Check out the Burroughs Mountain Trail for stunning views of mountain peaks and the alpine landscape.

3

Rim Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Image: Tim Golder

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is home to the largest collection of odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion, known as hoodoos. Many of them can be viewed from the 5.5-mile Rim Trail .

The park also offers hikes for all levels, including backcountry options for those looking for a little added adventure and guided Full Moon Hikes for night-owl explorers.

4

Upper Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Image: Jamie Hagan

A park filled with hiking trails for all experience levels, Zion National Park, Utah's first national park , is famous for its massive cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs, and freestanding arches.

Hikers should attempt to visit at sunrise and sunset to enjoy the breathtaking views of sunlight splashing off the cliffs and into the rivers below. And if it is an approachable trail they’re looking for, the Upper Emerald Pools Trail is an easy hike leading to sparkling waterfalls.

5

Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana

Image: Aaron Clinard

Over 700 miles of hiking trails, including more than a dozen options around the Many Glacier area , like the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail , can be found at the Glacier National Park.

Lucky visitors can spot some of the park's varied wildlife, including 71 species of mammals, from the tiny pygmy shrew to one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the country.

6

Charlies Bunion Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Image: Leslie Cross

The Great Smoky Mountains are world-renowned for its animal and plant life diversity, as well as for its miles of official and backcountry trails with views of waterfalls and old-growth forests.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spreads across two states and offers plenty of activities for hikers. For a particularly breathtaking vista, hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular outcropping along the Appalachian Trail.

7

Billy Goat Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland

Image: Eduardo Gutierrez

Considered a moderate-difficulty trail, Maryland's Billy Goat Trail has three sections totaling eight miles, though portions are strenuous and challenging . Outdoor enthusiasts can experience the raging Potomac River and the rocky crags of Great Falls. The hike is very popular, so early hours are advisable to beat the crowds.

8

Chautauqua Trail, Chautauqua Park, Colorado

Image: Leslie Cross

An old park, Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, has been around since 1898. The 80-acre park has miles of hiking, much of which are uphill . But there are less strenuous hikes, too, like the Chautauqua Trail, which offers views of the Flatiron mountains and Boulder.

9

Canyon to Rim Loop, Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Image: Alex Diaz

Hikers of every level can find an appropriate trail at Smith Rock State Park, in Oregon. These vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer beautiful views of the Central Oregon landscape**.**

The park offers hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and visitors may spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otters, and beavers throughout the day.

10

Petroglyph Wall Trail, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada

Image: Kristin Melville

As visitors to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can testify, not all short-distance hikes are the same. Many are labeled difficult, and it can take four to five hours to complete a five-mile hike.

Along the different routes, desert wildlife can be spotted, including lizards, toads, and hawks. One of the park's most beginner-friendly hikes is the 0.2-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail , where centuries-old rock art can be appreciated.

1

Lucy Ricardo, I Love Lucy

Why do we still love Lucy? Because her unique personality gave us some of the funniest moments in television history, including the real birth of her baby that matched her fictional one.

Lucy Ricardo was a housewife, and she stood in for most women of the 1950s, showing just how adventurous, messy, and fun a day at home could be. But Lucy also captured something else: women's desire to chase their dreams, even when society wasn't ready for it yet.

2

Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, Happy Days

Arthur Fonzarelli, or "Fonzie", was played by Henry Winkler in the sitcom Happy Days (1974-1984). He was a greaser, often seen on his motorcycle, in his leather jacket, and started as a secondary character. But audiences loved him so much that he quickly became a leading star.

Fonzie redefined "cool" for an entire generation. He was self-confident but not cynical; he took responsibility for his mistakes, respected adults, and showed vulnerability without ever losing his coolness. He was the symbol of safe, necessary rebellion young guys admired with all the swagger of a classic greaser.

3

Lieutenant Columbo, Columbo

Lieutenant Columbo was the main character on the series that carries his name. Played by Peter Falk in his trademark rumpled beige raincoat, he was a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. The show originally aired on NBC in 1971 and was an inverted detective story format, or "whodunit" pioneer. Unlike most detective shows, Columbo revealed the killer and the crime at the beginning. The mystery wasn’t about who did it, but how Columbo would catch them. Viewers sometimes spotted the clues along the way, while others weren’t explained until the very end. Between episodes, Columbo gave us some valuable lessons: perseverance pays off, question everything, be humble, and be tough when it's necessary, too.

4

Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, M A S H

M A S H effectively blended comedy and drama. Hawkeye Pierce could make viewers laugh one minute and think about war’s consequences the next. Alan Alda played the quick-witted Army surgeon during the Korean War. When it premiered in 1972, many viewers connected it to the Vietnam War and the dramatic images they were watching every night on the evening news.

Hawkeye's trademarks were his jokes, pranks, and martinis. But beneath all that humor, he never stopped questioning the war and speaking out about its terrible cost. Alda became one of the show’s writers and directors, and he made Hawkeye more than just a funny doctor.

5

Archie Bunker, All in the Family

Carroll O’Connor starred as Archie Bunker in the 1970s sitcom All in the Family . Bunker was a World War II veteran, blue-collar worker, and family man. But above all of these, he exposed the uneasiness and ambivalence some Americans felt as society and its values began to change. Archie was always arguing with his son-in-law, Mike (Rob Reiner), and his daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers). Their fights touched on the same issues dividing society at the time, including racism, prejudice, and women’s liberation.

6

Sheriff Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith Show

Andy Taylor was the sheriff of the sleepy town of Mayberry, North Carolina. The Andy Griffith Show aired in the 60s on CBS and became an instant success, ending its last season at number one in the ratings charts.

Sheriff Andy Taylor rarely carried a gun. He instead solved problems with patience, common sense, and conversation. Whether he was dealing with local disputes, teaching Opie a lesson, or keeping Barney Fife out of trouble, Andy usually knew how to make things right. He was much more than the town sheriff: he was also a neighbor, a father, and a trusted friend who truly knew the people he served. During the social and political changes of the 1960s, Andy and Mayberry offered a comforting picture of small-town life, where even the biggest problems were settled with kindness.

7

Samantha Stephens, Bewitched

Bewitched premiered on ABC in 1964, with Elizabeth Montgomery playing Samantha Stephens. Samantha was a powerful witch who married an ordinary mortal, Darrin, and tried to settle into life as a typical suburban housewife. There was only one problem: Darrin wanted her to stop using magic, but Samantha’s famous nose twitch often proved too useful to resist.

Behind the magic and comedy, Samantha reflected the role of women in the 1960s. She loved her husband and family, but she was also independent and far more powerful than anyone around her. Her struggle to fit into Darrin’s idea of a "normal" wife resonated with many women questioning what society expected of them. She tried to blend into the neighborhood while keeping her true identity secret, but her powers could never stay hidden for long.

8

Jeannie, I Dream of Jeannie

In I Dream of Jeannie , Barbara Eden played a 2,000-year-old genie who lived inside a magical bottle. The story began when astronaut Tony Nelson, played by Larry Hagman, landed on a deserted island and found a bottle on the beach. When he opened it, Jeannie appeared and followed him home, bringing magic and lots of trouble into his carefully ordered life.

Although Tony tried to control her magic, she was usually the most powerful person in the room, and her plans rarely went the way he expected. Mixing space travel with old-fashioned magic gave viewers a fun escape during a time of fast scientific and political change.

9

Mary Richards, The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show first aired in 1970, with the actress playing a single woman in her thirties who moved to Minneapolis to work at a local television newsroom.

Mary had her own apartment, supported herself, and built a life around her career, friendships, and personal goals. She represented a new kind of woman on television that was becoming increasingly common in real life. She was independent and ambitious, but also warm, funny, and easy to relate to. She was not against marriage or family; she simply showed that a woman could enjoy a full, happy life without making either one her only goal. Mary made that path look possible at a time when more women were entering the workplace and questioning everything.

10

Lieutenant Theo Kojak, Kojak

If Lieutenant Kojak represented one thing, it was surely incorruptible justice. Played by Telly Savalas, Theo Kojak took on crime in the rough streets of New York City in Kojak , which aired from 1973 to 1978.

At a time when political scandals and police corruption had made people suspicious of authority, Kojak was someone viewers could still trust. He often ignored the rulebook and argued with his bosses, but he never let the system corrupt him. Kojak could be tough when he needed to be, but he also cared about victims and people left out by society. With his bald head, sharp suits, ever-present lollipop, and famous "Who loves ya, baby?", he was impossible to confuse with any other TV detective .