Fun Facts About Mass Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

Boston built the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or MBTA, in 1897. Still in operation today, it is the oldest subway system in the United States.

Answer: Norfolk

John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy and George H. W. Bush were all born in Norfolk County. The Adams' lived in Quincy, Kennedy lived in Brookline before moving to Cape Cod, and the elder Bush was raised in Milton before moving to Texas.

Answer: Mayflower

Also the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth, the Mayflower is also the official flower of Nova Scotia. It was adopted as the official flower of the Commonwealth by the General Court on May 1, 1918. Unfortunately, it has been on the endangered plant list since 1925, when lawmakers passed a bill making it illegal to pull up or damage the mayflower in any way.

Answer: Harvard

Harvard University was founded in 1636 to train men to become clergy members. Today, Harvard is considered to be one of the top schools in the nation and educates both men and women.

Answer: 14

The counties are: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester. Together, the counties are made up of 43 cities and 308 towns!

Answer: Black-capped Chickadee

The black-capped chickadee is one of the most common birds in the U.S. It is from four to five inches in size, with its tail making up nearly half its length. The general coloring is gray, with brown, black and white also present.

Answer: Revere

In the 1970s, Revere Beach was home to an amusement park, until a fire forced it to close. Still a public beach today, Revere Beach is now also home to a horse racing track, a dog racing track and a movie theater.

Answer: Boston cream pie

The Boston Cream Pie, created in the 19th century, was chosen as the official state dessert in 1996. A history class from Norton High School sponsored the bill. The pie beat out other candidates, including the chocolate chip cookie and Indian pudding.

Answer: sewing machine

Elias Howe invented the first sewing machine in 1845. Unfortunately, he never patented his invention, leaving Isaac Singer free to patent the machine as his own in 1853.

Answer: American Elm

The American Elm was adopted as the official tree of Massachusetts on March 21, 1941, to commemorate the fact that General George Washington took command of the Continental Army beneath an American Elm on Cambridge Common in 1775.

Answer: Volleyball

William Morgan invented volleyball in Holyoke in 1895. At first, he called it "Mintonette." He later changed the name to "volleyball" and the craze caught on!

Answer: Fig Newton

Fig Newtons were first mass-produced by Kennedy Biscuit Company in Boston, which had a history of naming products after the surrounding area. At first, the cookie was just called "The Newton."

Answer: Ladybug

In 1974, a second-grade class in the town of Franklin became concerned about the lack of a state insect. They petitioned their local representative to create a bill to name the ladybug the official state insect. The bill passed and was signed into law a year later.

Answer: Rockport

Rockport is a seaside town located in northern Massachusetts. Its independent shops and small-town charm make it a popular tourist destination.

Answer: Cod

The fishing industry has always been a vital part of the Massachusetts economy. To remind lawmakers of that fact, the fishing industry presented the House of Representatives with a statue of a cod, which is hung in the House Chamber. The statue is known as the "sacred cod" and has become the unofficial mascot of the House.

Not to be outdone, the Senate created their own mascot and named it the "Holy Mackeral."