The United States of America Pt. 2 Quiz

Answer: Bannack

The gold mine town of Bannock was founded in 1862 and named after the local "Bannock" Indians. In 1854, it served as the capital of the Montana Territory before it was moved to Virginia City. It became a ghost town in the 1970s after the last residents moved away.

Answer: Unicameral

The term 'unicameral' refers to the fact that Nebraska state legislature only has one house. A system of two legislative houses was considered by George Norris, a "New-Deal Republican", to be outdated and based on the British Parliamentary system of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The change from a bicameral system to a unicameral system in 1937 reduced legislative expenditure by 70% and simplified committee systems.

Answer: Crystal Bay

On the border between California and Nevada, and beside the shores of Lake Tahoe at Crystal Bay, lies the Cal-Neva resort and casino. It has two claims to fame. One is that it was part-owned by Frank Sinatra. Second, it is known for having the oldest continual-use gaming license in the state.

Answer: Portsmouth

Theodore Roosevelt chose Portsmouth for the signing of the cessation of the war between Imperial Russia and Imperial Japan in September 1905. The negotiations were held at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and led to Roosevelt getting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

Answer: Hoboken

The first recognised game of baseball was played at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey. The modern baseball field was created by Alexander Cartwright in 1845, and by 1860 baseball was being described as the "nation's pastime".

Answer: Los Alamos

Known as the Cerro Grande Fire, the controlled burning of scrub and brush was part of a ten-year plan to reduce the fire hazard in the Bandelier National Monument area. Within hours of the initial ignition of the control fires, the forestry staff had lost control of the fire. Fanned by high winds and tinder dry fuel, the fire raged uncontrolled for 32 days, resulting in the closure of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. It also caused the evacuation of Los Alamos, along with the destruction of 235 homes.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory is the largest of its kind in the world (research and test projects).

Answer: Chittenago

The "Oz fest" occurs for a three-day period in late May and early June in the village of Chittenago, Madison, NY. The festival starts with a parade in the morning, followed by children's costume contests before the main festival begins. The parade is noted for the appearance of some of the original Munchkins from the Judy Garland movie.

Answer: Edward Teach

Originally called Concord and weighing in at 300 tons, the flagship of the infamous Blackbeard was built by the British in 1710. It is believed that the ship got its later name from the War of the Spanish Succession, which was also known as Queen Anne's War.

Answer: Rugby

In 1931, a 15-foot tall rock obelisk was erected to mark the exact centre of North America. This designation is, however, unofficial. The U.S. Geological Survey has put the geographical centre 15 miles away near Balta.

Answer: Chillicothe

Seated beside the Scioto River in the state of Ohio, Chillicothe acted as state capital from 1803-10 and 1812-16. In between these dates, the capital was moved to Zanesville as part of a state legislative compromise to get a bill passed. In 1816, the state legislature voted to move the capital again to the more geographical centre of the state at Columbus.

Answer: Petunia #1

Capitol Site #1 was placed in a bed of petunias outside the State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City. According to "Time" magazine, the well, nicknamed Petunia, was drilled in 1942 and was productive for 43 years. Owned by Phillips Petroleum Co., the site has continued to yield small amounts of natural gas.

This led to a quip from the "Tulsa Tribune" newspaper: "Oklahoma still has the distinction as a capital: two sources of gas, one underground and one in the legislature".

Answer: Portland

Portland is sited between the Columbia and Williamette rivers and has sometimes been described as the "greenest" city in America. Portland has many rose gardens, including the International Rose Test Garden. Its nickname, "The City of Roses", was made official in 2003.

Answer: Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania in 1908 and lived at 104 North 7th Street. On his 75th birthday, Jimmy Stewart made his first public appearance to the town since he had left after graduating from high school. Amongst the celebrations in the town to honour Jimmy Stewart, the town unveiled a bronze statue of him in front of the county courthouse.

Answer: The White Horse Tavern

The White Horse Tavern was constructed before 1673 in Newport. It was once owned by the pirate William Mayes Jr in the early 18th century.

Answer: Bomb Island

Also known as Lunch Island, Bomb Island is situated west of Columbia, South Carolina in Lake Murray. The Purple Martin roost is the largest roost in North America. The reason for its name is that during WW2, American pilots used the island for bombing practise.

Answer: Clark

The city of Clark, South Dakota is a major grower of US potatoes--so much so that the city honours this mighty and versatile tuber with its own special day. Besides Mashed Potato Wrestling, there is Potato Sculpture, Best Decorated Potato contest and, of course, the Potato Dish Cooking contest. The first Potato Day festival was held in 1972.

Answer: Samuel Perry Carter

Samuel Perry Carter was a United States naval officer who served with the Union army during the Civil War and was ranked as a brevet major general. After the war, he returned to his naval duties, rising to the eventual rank of rear admiral. He was born in the city of Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Answer: Oneida

The name "Amarillo" probably comes from the indigenous yellow wildflowers or from the Amarillo Creek and Lake, which got their colouring from the yellow soil found along their banks. Oneida was created as a cattle town by J.T. Berry in 1887.

Answer: Beaver

More famously known as Butch Cassidy, Parker was born in Beaver in 1866. He was the first of 13 children born to Maximilian and Ann Parker. He took the name Cassidy in honour of his friend and fellow thief, Mike Cassidy.

Answer: Green Mountain Boys

Created by Ethan and Ira Allen, the Green Mountain Boys were formed to prevent the Albany government of New York from governing what is now the state of Vermont. During the War of Independence, the Green Mountain Boys, along with a certain General Benedict Arnold, attacked and captured a number of British strongholds.

These included Crown Point, Fort Ann and St. John. Eventually Vermont declared its independence from New York and formed its capital at Windsor.

Answer: Williamsburg

Jamestown was principally a state capital before the Revolutionary War for the first legislative body, the Virginia House of Burgesses, which met in 1619. The first capitol building in Williamsburg was built in 1705 by Henry Clay, the contractor who built the College of William and Mary. It burnt down in 1747.

Answer: Aberdeen

Aberdeen was nicknamed "The Hellhole of the Pacific" and "The Port of Missing Men" because of its high murder rate. Aberdeen was considered one of the grittiest towns on the west coast in the 1900s. It is believed that one of its patrons, Billy Gohl, killed some 140 people in Aberdeen, though he was only convicted of two murders.

Answer: Battle of Philippi

Known as the Philippi Races, the battle was the first organized land action of the Civil war. Dismissed as a skirmish, 3000 Union soldiers faced 800 Confederate soldiers, resulting in four casualties and wounded for the Union, and 26 for the Confederate forces.

Answer: Mount Horeb

Mount Horeb is known by some residents as the "Mustard Capital of the World" as well as the "Troll Capital of the World". The fascination with trolls is unclear, but the main street of the town is known as 'Trollway', and troll figures and emblems decorate many local business buildings.

Answer: Mother Featherlegs

On the Old Cheyenne Trail lies the monument to Mother Featherlegs, murdered by outlaw and confederate Dangerous Dick Davis the Terrapin in 1879. She got her name from the ruffled lace undergarments she wore. This is said to be the only monument to a prostitute in all of the US.