States Trivia
American Cities
State Nicknames
Natural Beauty
Famous Landmarks
100
This mythical bird is the state capital of Arizona
What is Phoenix?
Phoenix is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona. Known for its year-round sun and warm temperatures, it anchors a sprawling, multicity metropolitan area known as the Valley of the Sun. It's known for high-end spa resorts, Jack Nicklaus–designed golf courses and vibrant nightclubs. Other highlights include the Desert Botanical Garden, displaying cacti and numerous native plants.
100
This city is known for being a hit in the film-making industry.
Hollywood
Nashville
What is Hollywood?
100
"The Lone Star State"
Texas
Texas is the second-largest state in the U.S. by both area and population. It features a unique history as an independent republic, a massive geographic footprint spanning several biomes, and a dominant agricultural and energy economy.
100
The Colorado River runs through this 277-mile long gorge in Arizona
Grand Canyon
Yellowstone
What is the Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset
100
This landmark is characterized by having four distinct heads
What is Mount Rushmore?
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the sculpture's roughly 60-ft.-high granite faces depict U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The site also features a museum with interactive exhibits
200
This is the smallest US state by area
Rhode Island
Main
What is Rhode Island?
Rhode Island, a U.S. state in New England, is known for sandy shores and seaside Colonial towns. It's home to several large cities, including Newport, which is famed for sailing and Gilded Age mansions, such as The Breakers. Providence, its capital, is home to Brown University, green Roger Williams Park, landscaped Waterplace Park and Riverwalk, with the famed WaterFire art installation
200
This city is the capital of New York (note: it's not New York)
What is Albany?
Albany is the capital city of New York State. Downtown’s huge Empire State Plaza has reflecting pools, an art-filled underground shopping concourse and The Egg, a striking performing arts center. The plaza is bookended by the 1800s New York State Capitol and the New York State Museum, focusing on natural and cultural history. The Albany Institute of History and Art is famed for its Hudson River School paintings
200
"The Land of Lincoln"
Illinois
Illinois is a midwestern state bordering Indiana in the east and the Mississippi River in the west. Nicknamed "the Prairie State," it's marked by farmland, forests, rolling hills and wetlands. Chicago, one of the largest cities in the U.S, is in the northeast on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s famous for its skyscrapers, such as sleek, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower
200
This mountain range stretches from Georgia to Maine
What are the Appalachian Mountains?
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions and mountain systems associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain
200
What country gifted the United States the Statue of Liberty?
france
France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its wines and sophisticated cuisine. Lascaux’s ancient cave drawings, Lyon’s Roman theater and the vast Palace of Versailles attest to its rich history.
300
This city hosts the largest Mardi Gras party
New Orleans
California
What is New Orleans?
300
This key town is known as __ West, even though it’s on the other side of the country
What is Key West?
Key West, a U.S. island city, is part of the Florida Keys archipelago. It's also Florida's southernmost point, lying roughly 90 miles north of Cuba. Famed for its pastel-hued, conch-style houses, it’s a cruise-ship stop also accessible from the mainland via the Overseas Highway. It’s known more for its coral reefs – destinations for diving and snorkeling – than for its beaches
300
"The Sunshine State"
Florida
Florida is the southeasternmost U.S. state, with the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. It has hundreds of miles of beaches. The city of Miami is known for its Latin-American cultural influences and notable arts scene, as well as its nightlife, especially in upscale South Beach. Orlando is famed for theme parks, including Walt Disney World
300
Name two major rivers that share a name with a state
Missouri River, the Mississippi River, the Illinois River, the Ohio River, the Colorado River
300
This Dam is named after the 31st president of the United States... not the vacuum cleaner
What is the Hoover Dam?
400
Name three states that were part of Mexico before the Mexican-American war
California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming
400
This Ohio city is home to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland
Dayton
Cleveland, Ohio.
Ohio is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the west, and Michigan to the northwest
400
"The Empire State"
New York
New York City comprises 5 boroughs sitting where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At its core is Manhattan, a densely populated borough that’s among the world’s major commercial, financial and cultural centers. Its iconic sites include skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and sprawling Central Park. Broadway theater is staged in neon-lit Times Square
400
True or false: both the highest and lowest points of elevation in North America are in the US
true!
- Highest Point: Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) in Alaska, towering at 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level.
- Lowest Point: Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, resting at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.
400
This US city is known for having a bean/cloud gate?
Chicago
Maine
What is Chicago?
"The Bean" in Chicago is the popular nickname for Cloud Gate, a massive, mirrored public sculpture in Millennium Park. Designed by artist Anish Kapoor, its name and meaning span multiple layers, from its liquid mercury-like aesthetics to its status as a beloved civic inside joke
500
This state is the nation's leading producer of maple syrup
What is Vermont?
500
This eastern state capital shares its name with a famous English explorer
Raleigh
Durham
What is Raleigh?
Raleigh was also a scholar and a poet, but he is usually remembered for introducing the essential potato, and the addictive tobacco. However, his reckless nature eventually made him unpopular at court
500
"The Aloha State"
Hawaii
Although Alaska and Hawaii were United States territories in the late 19th century, they were not admitted to the union until 1959. In January 1959, Alaska became the 49th state admitted to the union. Over half a year later, Hawaii joined as the 50th state.
500
This state has more coastline than all other states combined
Alaska
Rhode Island
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by land mass, spanning over 586,000 square miles. Known as "The Last Frontier," it features dramatic mountain ranges like Denali, immense coastlines, and vast, untouched wilderness. While rich in oil and natural resources, its remoteness creates a unique, high cost of living
500
Nothing can be built taller than this pointy landmark is Washington, D.C.
What is the Washington monument?
- Record-Breaking Engineering: At 555 feet, it remains the world’s tallest obelisk. Upon its completion in 1884, it was the tallest building in the world until the Eiffel Tower surpassed it in 1889.
- A Distinct Two-Toned Color: Construction took 36 years, stopping entirely during the Civil War. When work resumed in the 1870s, builders could not match the exact shade of the original marble. As a result, the monument features a visible color change about a third of the way up.
- Mortar-Free Construction: The immense structure is held together entirely by gravity and friction, with no mortar used to bind the heavy blocks.
- Commemorative Interior: The inner walls hold 193 carved memorial stones contributed by states, cities, foreign countries, and various organizations.
- An Iconic Capstone: The very peak of the obelisk is capped with an aluminum tip, which was considered a rare and precious metal at the time of construction