Inventions & Innovations
Circular innovation that dates to around 3500 BC
What is the wheel? It was invented in Mesopotamia and is still in use today on roads, in industry, and in everyday life.
The Pilgrims are said to have landed here.
What is Plymouth Rock? The Mayflower Compact was drafted and signed on the ship while it was anchored in Provincetown Harbor, and it was the first organized government framework written and put in place in the New World.
This Mexican street food consists of a large shell stuffed with meat, chopped lettuce and tomatoes, shredded cheese, and/or guacamole.
What is taco? Mexican tacos originally used fish as the protein. Today, tacos have gone worldwide, with each region adding a local flair to the dish.
If you are visiting Washington state in September, you can attend a festival honoring this fruit.
What is apple? Many farms with apple orchards will allow you to pick your own apples.
This planet in our solar system boasts the coldest average surface temperature.
What is Neptune? Neptune has an average surface temperature of –330ºF (–200ºC). To put this into perspective, the coldest recorded temperature ever recorded on Earth was in 1983 at Vostok Station, Antarctica. It was –89ºF (–67ºC).
Johannes Gutenberg’s world-changing 15th-century invention that marked the beginning of the Renaissance
What is the printing press? Gutenberg’s invention allowed greater communication among the masses.
Remember this place, which played an important role in the history of Texas.
What is the Alamo? “Remember the Alamo” is the battle cry of remembrance of the battle that took place in the former Franciscan mission during Texas’ War of Independence from Mexico. The 200 Texan soldiers ultimately lost the battle after 13 days of a siege involving thousands of Mexicans.
This all-American popular sandwich is served on a bun rather than bread.
What is hamburger? Global hamburger consumption is highest in the United States.
In Warren, Wisconsin, you will find a festival at the end of September honoring this small tart fruit associated with the holidays.
What is cranberry? The festival draws 100,000 visitors from across the globe.
Personal communication device generally credited to Alexander Graham Bell
What is the telephone? The original landline is all but extinct today, with home phones moving to mobile devices and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
This huge expanse of diverse ecosystem is located in South Florida.
What are the Everglades? The freshwater wetlands cover 1.5 million acres, and they are the largest tropical wilderness in the world.
French in origin, this fluffy sweet or savory dish, with its foundation of custard and egg whites, is renowned for flopping.
What is soufflé? The word is derived from the French verb meaning “to puff up.” Overmixing the egg whites into the custard will prohibit the soufflé from rising properly. It begins to deflate as soon as you remove it from the oven, so it must be served immediately.
Around 3 p.m. every weekday, you are likely to encounter stop-and-go traffic in the city, the suburbs, and on country roads due to this vehicle.
What is a school bus? In most states, you must stop when a school bus is stopped, even if you’re on the other side of the road, to allow students to cross the road safely.
Eli Whitney’s invention that modernized agriculture
What is the cotton gin? Whitney received a patent for it in 1794.
After his assassination, Abraham Lincoln lay in state in this Philadelphia landmark.
What is Independence Hall? The Declaration of Independence was signed there, and the Continental Congress wrote the U.S. Constitution there as well.
This Indian flatbread is made with dairy and is softer than pita bread.
What is naan? Smaller naan can look like pita, which is made without dairy and is a firmer flat bread with a hollow interior. Naan is made with dairy and sometimes eggs.
On this September day in the northern hemisphere, Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun.
What is the autumnal equinox? On the equinox, Earth’s axial tilt aligns so that the sun is directly over the equator, making day and night nearly equal in length.
Alexander Fleming’s discovery that has saved millions of lives
What is penicillin? The Scottish bacteriologist’s 1928 discovery was the start of the antibiotic revolution.
The highest mountain peak in the United States is in this national park.
What is a National Park & Preserve? Located in Alaska, the park is home to Mount McKinley (also known as Denali). At 20,310, it is the country’s tallest peak.
This dish features sliced roasted duck served with a piece of skin and green onion wrapped in a crepe slathered with hoisin sauce.
What is Peking (or Beijing) duck? If that sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. Preparing the duck before it’s roasted is half the process. You won’t find many home cooks preparing this exquisite dish.
These awards for television programming are held in September.
What are the Primetime Emmy Awards? The first Emmy ceremony was in 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
World War II–era programmable digital computer
What is ENIAC? ENIAC was the first programmable digital computer. Your cell phone has greater computing power than the ENIAC had.
This famous landmark journeyed from across the pond to land in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
What is London Bridge? In the last century, the bridge began to sink into the Thames River in London due to heavy traffic, so officials in London looked for someone to purchase the bridge. In 1960, Robert P. McCulloch Sr. bought the bridge for $2.4 million. It was disassembled, shipped to Lake Havasu City, and reassembled.
This traditional Italian pizza features mozzarella cheese, tomato slices, and basil leaves.
What is Margherita? It was named in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy upon her visit to Naples in 1889, but the pizza was made as early as 1866.
Patriot Day falls on this day every year.
What is September 11? Patriot Day is a day of remembrance to commemorate those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks that occurred in 2001.