14 Fascinating Things Most Americans Don’t Know About the USA

 

The United States is a vast and diverse country, full of fascinating history, culture, and natural wonders. Even though many Americans are familiar with their nation's major landmarks and traditions, there are still plenty of lesser-known facts that might surprise them. Here are 14 things about the USA that most Americans don’t even know!

**1. The US Has No Official Language**

While English is the most widely spoken language in the United States, the country doesn’t actually have an official national language. Some states have declared English as their official language, but on a federal level, there's no law establishing one.

**2. The Liberty Bell Has a Typo**

One of the nation’s most iconic symbols, the Liberty Bell, has a misspelling. The word "Pennsylvania" is spelled as "Pensylvania" on the bell, which was an accepted spelling at the time it was made.

**3. The US Is Home to the World’s Largest Living Organism**

Most people might think the largest living organism is a whale or a tree, but it's actually a massive fungus found in Oregon. The fungus, known as Armillaria, covers over 3.5 square miles and is believed to be thousands of years old.

**4. There’s a Town With Only One Resident**

Monowi, Nebraska, is the only incorporated town in the US with a population of one. The lone resident, Elsie Eiler, serves as the mayor, librarian, and bartender of the town.

**5. Alaska Is the Northernmost, Westernmost, and Easternmost State**

Alaska is known for being the northernmost and westernmost state, but it also stretches so far west that it crosses into the Eastern Hemisphere, making it the easternmost state as well.

**6. The Pentagon Has Twice as Many Bathrooms as Needed**

When the Pentagon was built in the 1940s, it was during segregation. As a result, the building was constructed with separate bathrooms for black and white employees. Although segregation ended before the building was completed, it still has twice as many bathrooms as necessary.

**7. The US Bought Alaska for Less Than 2 Cents an Acre**

In 1867, the US purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. At the time, it was considered a waste of money by some Americans. Today, it’s clear the purchase was a bargain, as Alaska is rich in natural resources.

**8. The US Is One of the Few Countries Without Metric System**

While most countries around the world use the metric system, the US primarily uses the imperial system of measurements. Although the metric system is taught in schools, it’s rarely used in daily life.

**9. The US Flag Has Been Changed 27 Times**

The American flag has undergone 27 changes since it was first created. The most recent version, with 50 stars, was adopted in 1960 after Hawaii became a state.

**10. There’s a Secret Apartment in the Eiffel Tower – In the USA**

Though the famous Eiffel Tower is in Paris, many don’t realize there’s a replica in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Paris Las Vegas hotel has its own version of the Eiffel Tower, complete with a secret luxury suite at the top.

**11. The First US Capital Wasn't Washington, D.C.**

Before Washington, D.C., became the capital of the United States, the country’s first capital was New York City. Congress met there after the Revolutionary War and George Washington took his first oath of office as president in New York.

**12. There's an Island Where Wild Horses Roam Freely**

On Assateague Island, which stretches across Maryland and Virginia, wild horses have lived for centuries. No one is certain how they arrived, but they roam the beaches and marshes freely today.

**13. The Great Lakes Contain 84% of North America’s Freshwater**

The five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) together hold 84% of North America’s fresh surface water. They form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world by total area.

**14. The US Has the World’s Longest Coastline – If You Include Alaska**

When you count Alaska’s massive coastline, the US has the longest coastline in the world, measuring more than 95,000 miles. This is longer than any other nation’s, including Canada or Australia.

These lesser-known facts highlight the richness and complexity of the United States, beyond the well-known aspects of its culture and history. Whether it’s natural wonders, quirky towns, or historical oddities, the US is full of surprises that even its citizens might not know!