The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the Bay State, is one of the most historically significant states in the U.S. It was there that the fight for independence from the British began. It was also there that the Pilgrims established their colony. These things are often what Massachusetts is known for, but many other interesting things have occurred there that many people do not know about. Listed here are some interesting facts about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts is home to some of the largest libraries in the country. Harvard’s library is second in size only to the Library of Congress. The Boston Public Library is the third largest library in the country behind the Library of Congress and the library at Cambridge’s Harvard University. There are roughly 29 million books housed in these two Massachusetts libraries.
Boston’s subway, known affectionately and not so affectionately as the T by Massachusetts residents, was built in 1897. This makes the T the oldest subway system in the United States.
Boston’s beloved Fenway Park, home field of the Boston Red Sox, opened on April 20, 1912. It is the oldest baseball field built for a major-league team.
The game of basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts. A teacher at the local college came up with the game in 1891. Springfield is now home to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Cambridge, Massachusetts’ Harvard University is the oldest college on the North American continent. It was established in 1636. It is also one of the best-known and most prestigious colleges in the world.
The first chocolate chip cookie was baked at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. It was invented by the co-owner of the inn, Ruth Wakefield. One day in 1930 Ruth ran out of baker’s chocolate while making her popular ‘Butter Drop Do’ cookies. She substituted with some Nestle’s chocolate, which she had cut into chunks. Thus, the chocolate chip cookie was born.
Boston is notorious for its traffic problems, which were supposed to be solved by the infamous ‘Big Dig.’ However, the Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Ave. can accommodate a strange traffic combination that no other place on Earth can. A boat can sail under the bridge, while a train rides along above it, a car drives above the train and a plane flies above the car.
Besides basketball and chocolate chip cookies, many other inventions have been conceived in Massachusetts. Inventions like the liquid-fueled rocket, vulcanized rubber, the sewing machine and volleyball are among a few of them.
These are just a few interesting facts about Massachusetts. Because of its long history, it would be impossible to list them all here. Many presidents were born and have died there. Notorious crimes have occurred there. Some of the founders of the nation have walked the streets of the capital city and so much more. If you ever have a chance to visit Boston, you would hardly be able to walk down a street where something historical had not occurred. Massachusetts truly is an interesting place.
Sources
Chocolate Chip Cookie, 1/6/10, mit.edu/invent/iow/wakefield.html
Massachusetts Facts and Trivia, 1/6/10, 50states.com/facts/mass.htm
Interesting Facts about Massachusetts, 1/6/10, house.gov/capuano/about/didyouknow.shtml
Massachusetts, 1/6/10, history.com/states.do?action=detail&state;=MA&contentType;=State_Fun_facts&contentId;=154458
