10 Things You Never Thought You’d Need To Know (But You Really Do)

1. Where is the “ham” in hamburgers?

Answer: The name hamburger is a reference to Hamburg, Germany, where salted beef steaks where a local favorite of sailors back in the day. Hamburgers as we know them today have ties to Texas history. Curious? Go check this out…

Reference: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-aren-t-hamburgers-made-of-ham

2. Where was the first state fair held in the United States?

Answer: The first U.S. state fair was that of New York, held in 1841 in Syracuse, and has been held annually to the present year.

Reference: http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/encyclopedia/entries/new-york-state-fair.html

3. Why are hotdogs called hotdogs instead of hot sausages or hot porkies?

Answer: Those Germans again! Some think it started as a joke about the shape of German dachshunds resembling the delicious sausages they also brought with them to the “new world”.

Reference: http://www.hot-dog.org/culture/hot-dog-history

4. What country is credited as having the first roller coaster?

Answer: We owe Russia for these staples of amusement parks.

Reference: Coker, Robert (2002). Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker’s Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines, Metrobooks, New York. ISBN 1586631721. pg 14

5. What is the smallest town in the U.S.?