Family Background
East or west, choose your pick -- because Banneker's ancestors hailed from this coast of Africa.
What is the West Coast?
Among the first to do so, Banneker correctly predicted the life cycle of this notorious locust.
What is the 17-Year Cicada?
Disagreeing with his views on race, Banneker exchanged letters with this famous American politician.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
In the year 1731, Banneker was born on this day, which has become the day named in his honor.
What is November 9th?
Years later, many of his own would wish for 40 acres and a mule -- but Banneker himself grew up on 100 acres of this cash crop.
What is tobacco?
This dangerous chemical process destroyed nearly all of Banneker's possessions on the day of his funeral.
What is fire?
While not the first in America, nor the first in Maryland, Banneker created this striking technological marvel that was rare enough to earn him local popularity.
What is a clock?
Uncommon for his time, Banneker was born with this legal status afforded to all full American citizens.
What is freedom?
Banneker learned how to read and write from this important family relative, even though this person was once an indentured servant.
Who is his grandmother?
Only one portrait of Banneker was made during his lifetime -- and it was printed on the front of this kind of informational publication, many of which he authored himself.
What is an almanac?
As his age and wisdom multiplied, Banneker was fascinated by this academic discipline, which you still study in school today.
What is mathematics?
While he grew one addictive plant, it was this other addictive substance that caused the famous Banneker great weight gain, and likely hastened his death at the age of 74.
What is alcohol?
It might surprise you to learn that she was once considered non-white, as Banneker's grandmother was an indentured servant hailing from this country.
What is Ireland?
Self-taught skills in this scientific discipline was likely the reason why Banneker's neighbor's cousin asked him to assist with the survey of a very important area.
What is astronomy?
Banneker left his home town only once -- and it was to assist with the survey of this important area.
What is the District of Columbia (D.C.)?
In 1789, at the ripe old age of 58, Banneker predicted this important astronomical alignment.
What is an eclipse?
Banneker's neighbors, the Ellicotts, introduced him to this peace-loving, anti-slavery religious branch of Protestant Christianity, famous for their oats.
Who are the Quakers?
Banneker's farm was located in Oella, Maryland, nowadays more commonly associated with this important Howard County city, named after Banneker's neighbors -- it boasts a historic old-town district, and its nearby Patapsco Valley State Park is where Mr. Hoobler got married.
Banneker's Almanac contained accurate ephemerides -- that is, charts of these important bodies.
What are heavenly/celestial bodies (planets/moons/comets/etc)?
This humorous rhyming phrase, invoking a mustachioed potato chip, accurately describes Banneker's relationship status till the day he died.