Rolla, MO "The Middle of Everywhere" Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Founded in 1870, this school was the first technological learning institution west of the Mississippi. Later called Missouri University of Science and Technology, what was the school's original name?

Answer: Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

The school was known as the University of Missouri-Rolla from 1968 until 2007. In 2007, the name was changed to the University of Science and Technology.

Missouri Technological University was one of the other names considered for the 2007 change.

The University of Missouri refers to the University of Missouri-Columbia ("Mizzou"),

2. The headquarters of the only United States National Forest in Missouri is located in Rolla. Which famous Missourian is the forest named after?

Answer: Mark Twain

Covering almost 1.5 million acres, Mark Twain National Forest can be found in 29 counties throughout Missouri. Although not the largest National Forest in acreage, MTNF is located in more counties than any other.

Harry S Truman (1884-1972) was the 33rd President of the United States and the first president from Missouri. President Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri (in Southwest Missouri) and died in Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of 88.

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) was born in Neosho, Missouri (located in Southwest Missouri) was an American painter and muralist. In 1935, he was commissioned to create a mural for the state capitol in Jefferson City, Missouri. Many consider "A Social History of Missouri" to be Benton's greatest work.

Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) purchased both the St. Louis Dispatch and the St. Louis Post newspapers merging them into the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which continues today as St. Louis' daily newspaper. The Pulitzer Prize journalism award is named for Joseph Pulitzer.

3. Rolla is located almost exactly halfway between which two larger cities?

Answer: St. Louis and Springfield

Interstate 44 runs through Missouri from the Southwest to the Northeast. Rolla is located on I-44 almost exactly halfway between Springfield and St. Louis.

4. Rolla is the capital seat of which county?

Answer: Phelps

Phelps County was formed from portions of Pulaski, Maries, and Crawford counties. It was named for John S. Phelps, a U.S. Congressman and former Missouri governor.

5. During the American Civil War, Rolla was an important military post with as many as 20,000 Union troops stationed there. The original Phelps County Courthouse was transformed into what during the war?

Answer: A hospital

Construction began on the courthouse in 1860. During the war, the unfinished lower floor was first used as a hay storage barn and later a hospital for wounded soldiers.

General Nathaniel Lyon, commanding general of the Union Forces, was killed at the battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, and his body was brought to Rolla to be transported back East for burial.

A new courthouse was dedicated in May 1992. The old courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

6. This ancient megalith is located on the Salisbury Plain in England. For those of you who don't want to travel that far, you can see a partial reconstruction of it in Rolla. What is this famous structure?

Answer: Stonehenge

Located on the northwest corner of the Missouri S&T campus, and dedicated on June 20, 1984 during the summer solstice, this partial reconstruction of Stonehenge received an award from the National Society of Professional Engineers for one of 1985's Ten Outstanding Engineering Achievements.

7. From 1926 to 1979, you could "Get Your Kicks" on this famous highway that ran right through the middle of Rolla.

Answer: 66

Rolla is just one of the many wonderful places you can visit while traveling along historic US Route 66. The highway is sometimes called the Will Rogers Highway.

8. Rolla High School has many notable alumni, including Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and heptathlete Chantae McMillan. What is the mascot of Rolla High School?

Answer: Bulldog

Rolla High School usually serves just over 1000 students in grades 10 through 12. It has been a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Award, and has also received the A+ School designation.

9. Located less than two hours west of Rolla, this lake is the largest man-made, non-flood control lake in the United States.

Answer: Lake of the Ozarks

All of these lakes listed are wonderful places to visit in Missouri, with many opportunities for fishing, boating, camping, hiking, golf and much, much more! The Lake of the Ozarks has a surface area of 54,000 acres.

10. Phelps County has more ___ streams than any other in the state.

Answer: Trout

With such notable rivers as the Gasconade, Little Piney and Meramec all located in Phelps County, you're just minutes away from some of the best fishing, floating, canoeing, camping, kayaking and hiking in the state.

Source: Author Ms_Teri_Sue

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Take this quiz and see how how much you know about my hometown, Rolla, Missouri, and find out why Rolla is called "The Middle of Everywhere".

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>