A View from on High
Your cart sways at the top of this circular ride at the amusement park.
What is a Ferris wheel? The London Eye was the first giant Ferris wheel. As of 2023, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world is in Dubai. It is just over 820 feet tall, and it’s called the Ain Dubai, or Dubai Eye.
It is the art of designing a dance, as well as the term for the sequence of dance movements themselves.
What is choreography? American Ballet co-founder George Balanchine and Broadway legend Bob Fosse are considered two of the greatest American choreographers.
This Southwestern state capital shares its name with a mythical bird that rises from the ashes.
What is Phoenix? Phoenix, Arizona, is the only state capital with more than one million people.
This was the term for the banning of alcohol sales from 1920–1933.
What is Prohibition? Drinking was allowed, but selling alcohol was prohibited. That gave rise to speakeasies. It took the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to repeal Prohibition.
This is the head covering worn by the bride at a wedding.
What is a veil? Wedding veils were first documented during the Roman Empire, when they were used to hide the bride and keep her safe on her walk to the altar.
You’re flying high in this wicker basket propelled by propane or butane.
What is a hot-air balloon? Propane is the most common fuel used to heat the air, which keeps the balloon afloat.
This is a written self-portrait
What is an autobiography? A biography is the story of someone’s life as written by another. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is one of the best-selling autobiographies ever.
In 1883, this luxury train began running from Paris to Constantinople (now Istanbul).
What is the Orient Express? The original Orient Express is slated to run again in 2025 using refurbished cars from the 1920s and 1930s. The train is famous for both its luxury and as the setting of Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express.
This decade is remembered as a quiet one of conformity and stability, but the Korean War also took place.
What is the 1950s? Except for the Korean War from 1950–1953, it was a quiet decade that saw a dramatic rise in the middle class and a continuation of the baby boom produced by WWII.
Those who served actively in the military are these.
What are veterans? Title 38 of the U.S. Code defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.”
The most breathtaking views of this 278-mile-long Arizona gorge are from the air.
What is the Grand Canyon? It’s a four-hour drive from the north side to the south side. Some of its fossils are believed to be 1.2 billion years old.
This is the craft of motion-picture making.
What is cinematography? It encompasses a combination of art and science. Dr. Zhivago (1965) is an example of stunning cinematography without the use of modern technologies, such as computer-assisted graphics.
This mountain range stretches from Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, to New Mexico.
What are the Rocky Mountains, or the Rockies? The mountains are full of precious metals, minerals, and sapphires.
This economic event characterized the 1930s.
What is the Great Depression? Many people who lost their homes moved into shantytowns known as “Hoovervilles.” Women used accessories to update their wardrobes since many could not afford new clothing. Miniature golf was also popular due to its low cost.
This “V” state is one of the commonwealths in the United States.
What is Virginia? Three other U.S. states are commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. All were original colonies before 1776, and English common law heavily influenced their legal systems.
The Walt Disney character Peter Pan can fly with the aid of “lovely wonderful thoughts” and this.
What is fairy dust? Peter Pan initially flew unaided in the story. The two additions were added later for safety reasons by the tale’s writer, J. M. Barrie, after some children reportedly tried flying out of their beds at home.
This is “the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.”
What is geography? That’s National Geographic’s definition of geography. The study includes an area’s natural environment and culture, not just its boundaries and physical attributes.
Ankara is the capital city of this country.
What is Turkey? It is the country’s second-largest city and is also known as Angora. It was once under Persian control.
The sinking of this British passenger ship was indirectly responsible for the United States’ entry into World War I.
What is the RMS Lusitania? It was hit by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, on its trip from New York City to Liverpool, England, and sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
When you start a diet, you might have this kind of appetite—a nine-letter word beginning with V.
What is voracious? One way to tame a voracious appetite is to drink a full glass of water when you first feel hungry, because dehydration is often confused with hunger.
The highest peak in North America is in this state.
What is Alaska? The peak is Mount Denali in the Alaska Mountain Range, with an elevation of 20,310 feet. Mount Logan in the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon, Canada, is the second-highest peak.
This is the science of mapmaking.
What is cartography? Mapmaking has a long history dating back to around 16,500 BC. The view of the world expressed through cartography has changed over time. For example, early maps showed Greece as the center of the world, and it was surrounded by water—unlike the peninsula we know it is today.
The Darién Gap spans these two countries
What are Panama and Colombia? The gap is 60 miles long on the Pan-American Highway. Instead of roads, those traveling through the gap must pass through the jungle area on foot.
In 1940, these Biblical manuscripts were discovered in the West Bank.
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? It has been called the greatest discovery of the 20th century. Young Bedouin shepherds discovered them near the Dead Sea. They were throwing rocks, and they heard something shatter. They followed the sound to a cave and found the scrolls inside broken clay jars.
This Cornelius was the wealthiest man in America during the mid-19th century, and there is a Southern university named for him.
What is Vanderbilt? His nickname was “The Commodore,” a name he earned because of his shipping business, which started with one small boat in the New York Harbor. His wealth was built from his transportation empire, and he was worth $100 million at the time of his death—a time when $100 million was an unimaginable fortune.