COTTON WAS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME TO ALABAMA UNTIL ITS DESTRUCTION BY THE BOLL WEEVIL IN 1915. MARTIN LUTHER KING LED CIVIL RIGHTS PROTEST IN MONTGOMERY IN 1955. ALABAMA SECEDED FROM THE UNION IN 1861, MONTGOMERY BECAME THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL. BIRMINGHAM IS KNOWN AS THE `PITTSBURGH OF THE SOUTH' FOR ITS IRON ANDSTEEL INDUSTRY. THE BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY IN 1864 WAS THE ONLY MAJOR CONFLICT IN ALABAMA DURING THE CIVIL WAR. SECRETARY OF STATE SEWARD NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE OF ALASKA IN 1867 FOR $7,200,000. ALASKA IS THE ONLY U.S. TERRITORY THAT ONCE BELONGED TO RUSSIA, ONLY 55 MILES SEPARATES THE U.S. AND RUSSIA AT THE BERING STRAIT. ALASKA'S NATIVES INCLUDE THE ESKIMO IN THE NORTH, ATHABASCAN IN THE INTERIOR, AND HAIDA, TSIMSHIAN, AND TLINGIT IN THE SOUTH. MOUNT McKINLEY IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN NORTH AMERICA, ITS ELEVATION IS 20,320 FEET. DURING W.W. II THE JAPANESE OCCUPIED THE ISLANDS OF KISKA AND ATTU IN THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN UNTIL RECAPTURED BY THE U.S. AND CANADA IN THE SUMMER OF 1942. THE HOOVER DAM(FORMERLY THE BOULDER DAM) IS THE HIGHEST DAM IN THE WORLD (727 FT.)AND LAKE MEAD, BEHIND IT IS THE LARGEST ARTIFICIAL LAKE. ARIZONA PRODUCES LEAD, ZINC, SILVER, GOLD, URANIUM AND IS THE NATION'S LEADING PRODUCER OF COPPER ARIZONA HAS THE LARGEST INDIAN POPULATION IN THE U.S. WHICH INCLUDES THE PIMA, PAPAGO, APACHE, HOPI, AND NAVAJO TRIBES CORONADO EXPLORED MOQUI COUNTRY AND THE GRAND CANYON IN 1540. KIT CARSON EXPLORED THE SAME AREA IN 1800. PHEONIX, AND TUSCON ARE ARIZONA'S INDUSTRIAL CENTERS, WITH MAJOR ELECTRONIC AND AIRPLANE PLANTS 95 PER CENT OF THE ALUMINUM ORE PRODUCED IN THE U. S. COMES FROM THE TOWN OF BAUXITE IN ARKANSAS ARKANSAS HAS THE ONLY DIAMOND MINE IN THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN MURFREESBORO. IT WAS DISCOVERED IN 1906. IN 1803 THE UNITED STATES ACQUIRED THIS AREA IN THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. ARKANSAS IS A PRIME SOURCE OF NOVACULITE, ONCE USED BY INDIANS FOR ARROWHEADS, AND NOW PRIMARILY USED FOR WHETSTONES. FAMOUS HEALTH RESORTS ARE LOCATED AT ARKANSAS'S NATURAL SPRINGS. THE MOST FAMOUS IS HOT SPRINGS. ON APRIL 18, 1906 AN EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE DESTROYED A LARGE PART OF SAN FRANCISCO. THE EARLY HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA IS REFLECTED IN THE SURVIVING 20 SPANISH MISSIONS ACROSS THE STATE. FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA BEGAN BUILDING MISSIONS IN 1760GOLD WAS DISCOVERED AT SUTTER'S MILL IN 1848, STARTING THE GOLD RUSH WHICH BROUGHT 80,000 PEOPLE TO THE TERRITORY IN 1849. THE BAY BRIDGE, OPENED IN 1936, IS THE LONGEST BRIDGE IN THE WORLD OVER NAVIGABLE WATER. JUAN CABRILLO IS CREDITED WITH THE DISCOVERY OF CALIFORNIA IN 1542. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS RUN THROUGH COLOARDO FORMING THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. MINING US A LEADING INDUSTRY OF COLORADO; URANIUM, VANADIUM, ZINC, AND MOLYBDENUM ARE THE MAJOR ORES MINED. THE UTES, THE OLDEST RESIDENTS OF COLORADO, NOW LIVE ON A SMALL RESERVATION IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE. THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN COLORADO ARE MT. ELBERT(14,431 FT.), LONG'S PEAK (14,255 FT.) AND PIKE'S PEAK(14,110 FT.). DENVER, THE ONLY MILE-HIGH CAPITAL IS THE CULTURAL AND BUSINESS CENTER OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION AND IS THE LARGEST CITY BETWEEN TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA. LEADING MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OF CONNECTICUT ARE CLOCKS, WATCHES, BRASS PRODUCTS, PINS, NEEDLES, SILVERWARE, AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS. THE FIRST ENGLISH SETTLERS CAME FROM MASSACHUSETTS, THEY FOUNDED WETHERSFIELD, WINDSOR IN 1634. CONNECTICUT'S FIRST INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INCORPORATED IN 1795. TODAY HARTFORD IS KNOWN AS THE INSURANCE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. DR. HORACE WELLS OF HARTFORD FIRST USED ANESTHESIA IN 1844. WEBSTER PUBLISHED THE FIRST AMERICAN DICTIONARY IN 1807. COLT PATENTED THE REVOLVER IN 1835. CHARLES GOODYEAR DEVELOPED THE VULCANIZING PROCESS IN 1843. E.I. DU PONT ESTABLISHED A POWDER MILL ON THE BRANDYWINE IN 1802, THIS WAS THE START OF THE U.S. CHEMICAL INDUSTRY. THE COLONISTS AT PORT CHRISTINA (1638) INTRODUCED THE LOG CABIN TO AMERICA. DELAWARE WAS THE FIRST STATE TO RATIFY THE CONSTITUTION. REPRESENTATIVES OF DELAWARE LEAD THE PRESIDENT'S INAUGURAL PARADE IN WASHINGTON. DELAWARE IS THE ONLY STATE WHOSE TERRITORY ONCE BELONGED TO SWEDEN AND HOLLAND. IN 1776, CAESAR RODNEY RODE FROM DOVER TO PHILADELPHIA TO CAST THE DECIDING VOTE IN FAVOR OF LEE'S RESOLUTION TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE. UNLIKE OTHER STATES ON THE ATLANTIC COAST, FLORIDA WAS NOT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES. IT BECAME A TERRIRORY IN 1819 AND A STATE IN 1845. FLORIDA OCCUPIES THE LARGEST PENINSULA IN THE NATION, OVER 400 MILES OF LOW FLAT LAND THAT SEPARATES THE ATLANTIC AND THE GULF OF MEXICO. ST. AUGUSTINE, THE OLDEST CITY IN THE U.S., WAS FOUNDED IN 1565. FOR MANY YEARS FLORIDA WAS THE SCENE OF THE SEMINOLE WARS IN WHICH ANDREW JACKSON WAS A GENERAL. SHEPHERD WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE(1961), GLENN WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH(1962), AND ARMSTRONG WAS THE FIRST TO WALK ON THE MOON(1969). IN 1838 THE ENTIRE CHEROKEE NATION(17,000) WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR ANCIENT TRIBAL LANDS IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA TO OKLAHOMA. STONE MOUNTAIN, A 1600 FT. HIGH MASS OF SOLID GRANITE LOCATED NEAR ATLANTA IS ONE OF GEORGIA'S NATURAL WONDERS. ELI WHITNEY INVENTED THE COTTON GIN AT A PLANTATION NEAR SAVAHHAH IN 1793. GEORGIA WAS THE LAST OF THE COLONIES ESTABLISHED BY ENGLAND. IT WAS FOUNDED TO SERVE AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE CAROLINA COLONY AND THE SPANISH IN FLORIDA. JAMES OGLETHORPE ESTABLISHED SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN 1733. HAWAII IS COMPOSED OF OVER 20 ISLANDS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC, ABOUT 2400 MILES FROM SAN FRANCISCO. THE ISLANDS ARE A CHAIN OF VALCANIC MOUNTAINS. THE HAWAIIN ISLANDS WERE DISCOVRED BY JAMES COOK IN 1778, HE NAMED THEM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. IN 1782 KING KAMEHAMEHA BECAME RULER OF HAWAII, IN 1810 HE UNITED THE OTHER ISLANDS INTO THE KINGDOM. IN 1875 A TREATY WITH KING KALAKAUA GAVE THE U.S. EXCLUSIVE USE OF PEARL HARBOR. IN 1900 HAWAII BECAME A TERRITORY, AND S.B. DOLE BECAME THE FIRST GOVERNOR. IN 1903, HIS COUSIN, J.B. DOLE, BEGAN SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION OF PINEAPPLES. THE FIRST ELECTRIC POWER FROM THE ATOM WAS DEVELOPED AT THE ATOMIC ENERGY REACTOR STATION AT ARCO, IDAHO IN 1951. IDAHO IS THE THIRTEENTH LARGEST STATE, BUT ONE OF THE TEN SMALLEST IN POPULATION. FRANKLIN WAS IDAHO'S FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN 1860. GOLD DISCOVERED THAT YEAR BROUGHT SETTLERS TO THE AREA. THE NATION'S LARGEST SILVER MINE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTH NEAR COEUR D'ALENE. IDAHO PRODUCES MORE LEAD AND SILVER THAN ANY OTHER STATE. IDAHO'S NATURAL WONDERS INCLUDE CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT, HELL'S CANYON, THE DEEPEST IN THE NATION, AND SHOSHONE FALLS. CHICAGO, THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST CITY IS THE NUMBER ONE LIVESTOCK MARKET AND MEAT PACKING CENTER. IT'S ALSO THE WORLD'S GREATEST RAILROAD CENTER. ILLINOIS HAS THE LARGEST COAL RESERVES IN THE COUNTRY. THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY WAS CHOSEN TO PERMIT A PORT ON LAKE MICHIGAN SO COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATION COULD BE MAINTAINED WITH NORTHERN STATES. ILLINOIS IS THE EMPIRE STATE OF THE MIDWEST. CORN, OATS, HAY, WHEAT, AND SOYBEANS ARE THE CHIEF CROPS, WHILE COAL, FLUOSPAR AND PETROLEUM ARE ILLINOIS'S CHIEF MINERALS. ELWOOD HAYNES BUILT AMERICA'S FIRST SPARK IGNITION AUTO AT KOKOMO. WYANDOTTE CAVE (SECOND LARGEST IN THE U.S), FRENCH LICK MINERAL SPRINGS AND WEST BADEN MINERAL SPRINGS ARE INDIANA'S NATURAL FEATURES. GENERAL HARRISON DEFEATED TECUMSEH AT TIPPECANOE IN 1811. THIS GAVE HIM HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SLOGAN `TIPPECANOE AND TYLER, TOO'. THE SITE OF THE CAPITAL WAS A DENSE FOREST WHEN IT WAS CHOSEN. TODAY INDIANAPOLIS IS THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST CITY NOT ON NAVIGABLE WATERS. INDIANA'S CITIES ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS - GARY (IRON AND STEEL), FORT WAYNE (MACHINERY), AND ELKHART (MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS). IOWA IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST FARM STATES, WITH 97% OF ITS LAND CULTIVATED. IOWA FARMS HAVE BEEN MADE MODELS OF SCIENTIFIC FARMING. PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV OF THE USSR VISITED THE GARST FARM IN 1959. IOWA IS AN AGRICULTURAL LEADER AND SYMBOLIZES THE GREAT AMERICAN CORN BELT. THE SAUK, FOX, IOWAY, SIPUS, WINNEBAGO AND POTAWATOMI TRIBES OCCUPIED THE IOWA AREA. IOWA HAS OVER 100,000 FARMS, SUPPLYING ONE TENTH OF THE COUNTRY'S FOOD SOME YEARS. IT'S CROP VALUE RANKS SECOND TO CALIFORNIA. KANSAS, THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE STATES HAS BEEN THE HUB OF TRAVEL ROUTES. THE CHISHOLM, SANTA FE AND OREGON TRAILS PASS THROUGH THE STATE. IN 1887 MRS. MEDORA SALTER BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR IN THE WORLD. OVER HALF THE PRIVATE AIRCRAFT BUILT IN THE WORLD ARE MADE IN WICHITA, THE LARGEST CITY IN KANSAS. THE WORLD'S LARGEST KNOWN GAS FIELDS ARE AT HUGOTON, AND THE WORLD'S GREATEST SALT DEPOSITS AT HUTCHINSON. THE OSAGE, KANSA, WICHITA, PAWNEE, COMANCHE AND APACHE INDIANS LIVED IN THE KANSAS AREA. IN 1769, DANIEL BOONE LED THE FIRST GROUP OF SETTLERS THROUGH THE CUMBERLAND GAP TO THE WILDERNESS OF KENTUCKY, THE FIRST WESTERN STATE. PIONEERS BROUGHT THOROUGHBRED HORSES TO THE BLUE GRASS PASTURES AROUND LEXINGTON, NOW THE NATION'S LEADING THOROUGHBRED BREEDING REGION. KENTUCKY IS FAMOUS FOR ITS BOURBON WHISKEY, FIRST MADE BY ELIJAH CRAIG IN 1789. BOTH LINCOLN AND JEFFERSON DAVIS, PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERACY WERE BORN IN KENTUCKY. MAMMOTH CAVE IS ONE OF THE SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD. LOUISIANA HAS BEEN UNDER 8 FLAGS- FRANCE, SPAIN, BRITAIN, NAPOLEONIC, REPUBLIC OF WEST FLORIDA, REPUBLIC OF LOUISIANA, CONFEDERACY AND THE U.S. FLAG. IN 1803 THE U.S. BOUGHT THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY FROM FRANCE FOR $15,000,000, DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE NATION. NEW ORLEANS, THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY REFLECTS ITS FRENCH HERITAGE IN THE ANNUAL MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION, THE OLD FRENCH QUARTER AND CREOLE RESTAURANTS. THE FIRST OIL WELL WAS DRILLED IN 1901 IN JENNINGS. TODAY LOUISIANA RANKS IN THE TOP FIVE IN OIL PRODUCTION. PART OF LOUISIANA'S HISTORY IS FROM THE ACADIANS, WHO MOVED TO LOUISIANA FROM NOVA SCOTIA DURING 1760-1790. THE ACADIANS ARE KNOWN AS CAJUNS. MAINE WAS INHABITED BY 25,000 ALGONKINS WHEN THE FIRST COLONISTS CAME. EARLY SETTLERS RELIED ON FISHING AND SHIP BUILDING. COD, TUNA, SHELLFISH, AND SARDINES COME FROM MAINE TODAY. THE FIRST NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE REVOLUTION, THE BATTLE OF MARGARETTA, WAS OFF THE COAST OF MACHAIS, MAINE. MAINE IS FAMOUS FOR ITS POTATO CROP, THE NATION'S LARGEST. BLUEBERRIES, APPLES, POULTRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE ALSO FROM MAINE. THE VIKINGS WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE REACHED THE MAINE COAST IN 1000. VERRAZANO EXPLORED THE COAST IN 1524. THE NATION'S LARGEST BAY, THE CHESAPEAKE, SEPARATES MARYLAND'S MAIN LAND FROM IT'S EASTERN SHORE. IN 1814 FRANCIS SCOTT KEY OF FREDERICK, COMPOSED THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER WHEN FT. McHENRY SURVIVED BRITISH BOMBARDMENT. THE PENNSYLVANIA-MARYLAND STATE LINE WAS MEASURED IN 1767 BY BRITISH MATHEMATICIANS, MASON AND DIXON. IT IS CALLED THE MASON-DIXON LINE. CHARLES I GRANTED THE LAND TO LORD BALTIMORE (CECIL CALVERT) IN 1632. HIS BROTHER (LEONARD CALVERT) ARRIVED WITH 200 SETTLERS IN 1634. ANNAPOLIS WAS MADE THE CAPITAL OF THE 13 STATES UNDER CONFEDERATION FROM 1783-1787. MASSACHUSETTS WAS FOUNDED BY ACCIDENT IN 1620. THE MAYFLOWER PILGRIMS WERE HEADING FOR VIRGINIA, WHEN STORMS FORCED THEM NORTH TO PLYMOUTH HARBOR. THE PILGRIMS ESTABLISHED MAJORITY RULE, THE TOWN MEETING, THE FIRST TAX SUPPORTED SCHOOLS, THE FIRST COLLEGE AND THE FIRST LIBRARY IN THE COLONIES. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION STARTED AT LEXINGTON AND CONCORD IN 1775. LED BY DANIEL WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO BRING THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY TO NATIONAL ATTENTION. MASSACHUSETT'S HISTORY BEGAN WITH THE EXPLORATION OF ITS COAST BY JOHN CABOT IN 1497-1498. MICHIGAN IS THE ONLY STATE TO BORDER ON FOUR OF THE FIVE GREAT LAKES. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY STATE MADE FROM TWO PENINSULAS. THE MACKINAC BRIDGE, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SUSPENSION BRIDGES CONNECTS MICHIGAN'S TWO PENINSULAS. IN 1892 HENRY FORD BUILT THE FIRST AUTO IN DETROIT IN 1892. DETROIT'S TRADITION OF SKILLED CARRIAGE MAKERS AND MOTORS FOR BOATS PROVIDED FAVORABLE CONDITIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST HORSELESS CARRIAGE. MARQUETTE ESTABLISHED SAULT SAINTE MARIE, MICHIGAN'S FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT IN 1668. THE MESABI RANGE, THE WORLD'S LARGEST IRON ORE DEPOSITS WERE DISCOVERED IN 1890. TODAY 50 MILLION TONS A YEAR ARE PRODUCED, 60% OF THE NATIONS TOTAL. VIKINGS MAY HAVE VISITED MINNESOTA, THE SOURCES OF THIS INFORMATION THE KENSINGTON RUNE STONE IS BELIEVED BY SOME TO BE A HOAX. MINNESOTA IS `THE LAND OF SKY BLUE WATERS', OVER 4000 SQUARE MILES OF WATER ARE FOUND IN THIS LEVEL STATE. MINNESOTA RANKS SECOND IN RAISING TURKEYS. IT ALSO PRODUCES WHEAT, CORN, SOYBEANS, FLAXSEED AND LIVESTOCK. MANUFACTURING IS THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY. IN THE 1850'S THE SIOUX AND OJIBWAY GAVE UP THEIR LANDS TO THE SETTLERS, WHO TURNED TO LUMBERING AND FARMING. DURING THE 1830'S IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL TREATIES, THE ENTIRE CHICKASAW AND CHOCTAW NATIONS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR LANDS. DURING THE 19TH CENTURY STEAMBOAT TRAFFIC ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DEVELOPED THE PORTS OF VICKSBURG AND NATCHEZ. THE UNION VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF VICKSBURG WAS SAID BY GRANT TO HAVE `SEALED THE FATE OF THE CONFEDERACY'. MISSISSIPPI'S GULF COAST IS THE NATION'S PRIME SOURCE OF SHRIMP ANDOYSTERS. NATCHEZ HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF ANTEBELLUM MANSIONS INTHE SOUTH. AS PART OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE, MISSOURI ENTERED AS A SLAVE STATE, WHILE FUTURE STATES NORTH OF ITS SOUTHERN BOUNDARY WOULD BE FREE. MISSOURI HAS BEEN ONE OF THE U.S.'S MAJOR SOURCES OF LEAD FOR OVER 50 YEARS. MARK TWAIN'S `ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER' (1876), AND `ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN' WERE WRITTEN ABOUT LIFE IN MISSOURI. THE TALLEST MONUMENT, SAARINEN'S GATEWAY ARCH, SYMBOLIZES ST. LOUIS'S ROLE AS THE `GATEWAY OF THE WEST'. ST. LOUIS, NAMED AFTER KING LOUIS OF FRANCE, IS AMERICA'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF BEER, SECOND IN AUTOMOBILES AND SECOND AS A RAIL CENTER. THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN DEER LODGE VALLEY IN 1852 AND AT ALDER GULCH IN 1863 BROUGHT THE FIRST SETTLERS TO MONTANA. IN 1876 GENERAL CUSTER AND OVER 200 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED AT LITTLE BIG HORN BY SIOUX ABD CHEYENNE WARRIORS. MONTANA'S 31,000 INDIANS LIVE AT INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK, A BLACKFOOT RESERVATION, SETTLED BY ASSINIBOINE AND SIOUX. SILVER AND COPPER ARE IMPORTANT MINERALS IN MONTANA. BUTTE HAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST COPPER MINES. THE BLACKFOOT, CROW, SIOUX, KOOTENA, AND CHEYENNE INDIANS LIVED IN MONTANA. NEBRASKA HAS THE ONLY UNICAMERAL OR ONE HOUSE LEGISLATURE IN THE NATION. THE SYSTEM WAS ADOPTED IN 1937. J. STERLING MORTON STARTED A TREE PLANTING PROGRAM WHICH GAVE TREELESS NEBRASKA A 24,000 ACRE FOREST. HE ALSO FOUNDED ARBOR DAY IN 1872. IN 1862 THE FIRST HOMESTEAD IN THE U.S. WAS CLAIMED BY DANIEL FREEMAN NEAR BEATRICE. NEBRASKA'S CATTLE RAISING AND DAIRY FARMING MADE OMAHA A MAJOR CATTLE MARKET AND PACKING CENTER. THOUSANDS OF PIONEERS PASSED THROUGH THE OVERLAND TRAIL TO CALIFORNIA. FEW SETTLED IN NEBRASKA UNTIL THE HOMESTEAD ACT WAS PASSED IN 1862. LAKE TAHOE, LEHMAN CAVES, AND DEATH VALLEY ARE AMONG THE NATURAL ATTRACTIONS OF NEVADA. COMSTOCK LODE, ONE TO THE WORLD'S RICHEST SILVER DEPOSITS WAS DISCOVRED IN 1859, BRINGING THE FIRST SURGE OF PEOPLE AND PROSPERITY TO NEVADA. COPPER ORE WAS DISCOVERED AT ELY IN 1904. MANGANESE, MERCURY, TUNGSTEN, LEAD AND ZINC ARE THE OTHER MINERALS FOUND IN NEVADA. HOOVER DAM THE HIGHEST IN IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WAS COMPLETED IN1936. NEVADA RANKS 7TH IN SIZE, BUT REMAINS ONE OF THE SMALLEST STATES IN POPULATION. CARSON CITY IS THE SMALLEST CAPITAL IN THE NATION. CAPTAIN JOHN MASON, THE FOUNDER OF THE STATE, WAS GIVEN GRANTS TO THE LAND IN 1622. MT. WASHINGTON (6,288 FT.), PART OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, IS THE HIGHEST PEAK IN NEW ENGLAND. THE N.H. GAZETTE, FOUNDED IN 1756, IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY PUBLISHED PAPER IN THE U.S.. NEW HAMPSHIRE'S NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE FELSPAR, MICA, GRANITE, TIMBER AND MAPLE SUGAR. NEW HAMPSHIRE'S QUARRIES PROVIDED THE STONE FOR THE FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND MANY OTHER NATIONAL MONUMENTS. NEARLY 100 BATTLES WERE FOUGHT IN N.J. DURING THE REVOLUTION. WASHINGTON WON THE BATTLE OF TRENTON AFTER CROSSING THE DELAWARE RIVER IN 1776. MENLO PARK, NEAR PLAINFIELD, IS THE RESEARCH LABORATORY WHERE THOMASEDISON DEVELOPED HIS INVENTIONS. THE DELAWARE WATER GAP, A DEEP GORGE, CUTS THROUGH NEW JERSEY'S KITTATINNY MOUNTAINS. NEW JERSEY'S ATLANTIC COAST HAS OVER 100 MILES OF SANDY BEACHES DOTTED WITH VACATION RESORTS. HENRY HUDSON CLAIMED NEW JERSEY FOR THE DUTCH IN 1609. IN 1674 THE TREATY OF WESTMINSTER GAVE ENGLAND CONTROL OF NEW JERSEY. CORONADO VISITED THE LAND OF NEW MEXICO IN 1540, 80 YEARS BEFORE THE PILGRIMS LANDED AT PLYMOUTH ROCK. THE PUEBLO INDIANS LIVED IN APARTMENT LIKE ADOBE STRUCTURES FOR CENTURIES. THEY STILL LIVE THERE TODAY ON RESERVATIONS. NEW MEXICO HAS THE NATION'S GREATEST SOURCE OF URANIUM ORE. THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELEPHANT BUTTE DAM AND NAVAJO DAM(1962) CREATED LARGE AREAS OF NEW FARMLAND DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO COTTON. URANIUM, OIL, COPPER, ZINC AND POTASH ARE THE MINERALS FOUND IN NEW MEXICO. NEW YORK CITY WAS MADE THE NATION'S FIRST CAPITAL IN 1789. TODAY IT IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE AND THE WORLD'S TRADE CAPITAL. THE ALGONQUIN, MOHAWK CAYUGA, ONEIDA, SENECA AND ONANDAGA INDIANS LIVED IN NEW YORK. PETER MINUIT PURCHASED MANHATTAN FROM THE INDIANS IN 1626. BOTH ROOSEVELTS CAME FROM NEW YORK, AND ALSO FAMOUS WRITERS- WASHINGTON IRVING, JAMES F. COOPER, WALT WHITMAN AND HERMAN MELVILLE. NEW YORK EXTENDS FROM ITS OCEAN PORT TO ITS GREAT LAKES PORT AT BUFFALO. THE ROUTE BETWEEN THE PORTS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR N.Y.'S GROWTH. THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONY WAS ESTABLISHED ON ROANOKE ISLAND IN 1585. IT IS CALLED THE `LOST COLONY' BECAUSE ITS 150 SETTLERS VANISHED. NORTH CAROLINA GROWS MORE TOBACCO THAN ANY OTHER STATE AND ALSO HAS THE NATION'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF TEXTILE MILLS. CULPEPER'S REBELLION IN 1677, WAS AGAINST THE NAVIGATION ACT. IT WAS THE FIRST REBELLION AGAINST FOREIGN RULE IN AMERICA. THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW THE FIRST POWERED AIRCRAFT AT KITTY HAWK IN 1903. A STRING OF ISLANDS OFF THE MAINLAND KNOWN AS THE OUTER BANKS PROTECT THE COAST FROM THE OCEAN. CAPTAIN KIDD AND BLACKBEARD BURIED STOLEN TREASURE HERE. THE MANDAN INDIANS, WHO WERE SKILLED ARTISANS AND FARMERS WERE DESTROYED IN 1837 BY A SMALL POX EPIDEMIC. THE GARRISON DAM, ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER WAS COMPLETED IN 1953. ITS 200 MILE LAKE ADDED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FARMLANDS. NORTH DAKOTA LEADS THE NATION IN GROWING FLAX AND RYE. IT IS SECOND TO KANSAS IN WHEAT PRODUCTION. THE ARIKARA AND HIDATSA TRIBES LIVED IN NORTH DAKOTA. AT RUGBY, NORTH DAKOTA IS A STONE CAIRN MARKING THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF NORTH AMERICA. OHIO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A STATE, DEFINED IN THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787. THOUGH OHIO RANKS 35TH IN SIZE, IT RANKS 6TH IN POPULATION, 3RD IN MANUFACTURING AND 12TH IN FARMING. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY WAS ORGANIZED IN 1799. OHIO WAS THE FIRST OF THE ORGANIZED TERRITORIES CARVED FROM THE NORTHWEST. OHIO'S NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE FERTILE LAND, CLAY, COAL, AND GAS. DURING THE 18TH CENTURY THE IROQUOIS, ERIES, MIAMIS, WYANDOTTES AND OTTAWAS FOUGHT THE FRENCH, ENGLISH AND SETTLERS FOR OHIO LAND. IN 1830 CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE WESTERN LOUISIANA TERRITORY AS INDIAN TERRITORY. THE `FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES' -CHEROKEE, CREEK, CHOCTAW, CHICKASAW AND SEMINOLE ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT NATIONS UNDER U.S. PROTECTION. IN 1905 THE INDIANS ADOPTED A CONSTITUTION AND PROPOSED TO FORM A NEW STATE NAMED SEQUOYAH. CONGRESS REFUSED THEM STATEHOOD. SETTLERS FARMED AND RAISED CATTLE, BUT POOR, FARMING PRACTICES CREATED THE `DUST BOWL' IN THE WESTERN SECTION. OKLAHOMA RANKS 4TH IN PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS, AND 1ST IN HELIUM. IN 1902 OREGON ADOPTED DIRECT LEGISLATION THROUGH INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM AND THE PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM IN 1904. THE COLUMBIA RIVER PROVIDES ONE-THIRD OF THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POTENTIAL OF THE CONTINENTAL U.S.. OREGON HAS MORE STANDING TIMBER THAN ANY OTHER STATE, AND LEADS THE NATION IN LUMBERING. PONDEROSA PINE IS FOUND IN THE EAST AND DOUGLAS FIR IN THE WEST. PIONEERS IN COVERED WAGONS ENDURED THE OREGON TRAIL OVER THE MOUNTAINS TO SETTLE IN THE FERTILE WILLIAMETTE AND COLUMBIA RIVER VALLEYS. THE DONATION LAND ACT MADE OREGON'S LAND FREE TO SETTLERS IN 1850. THE KEYSTONE STATE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 13 COLONIES. IT WAS THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CENTER OF COLONIAL AMERICA. WILLIAM PENN BUILT A SOCIETY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. HIS `HOLY EXPERIMENT' WAS THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS ADOPTED BY CONGRESS IN PHILADELPHIA IN 1776. PITTSBURGH, THE CITY THAT DOMINATES WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, IS THE NATION'S STEEL CAPITAL. PHILADELPHIA BECAME THE CAPITAL OF THE U.S. IN 1790. IN 1800 THE U.S. CAPITAL WAS MOVED TO WASHINGTON. RHODE ISLAND IS OUR SMALLEST STATE, BUT SUPPORTS MORE PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE THAN ANY OTHER STATE. GEORGE CORLISS OF PROVIDENCE DEVELOPED STEAM ENGINES FOR MILLS IN 1848. THE FIRST TORPEDO WAS BUILT AT BRISTOL IN 1885. SAMUEL SLATER BUILT THE FIRST COTTON MILL IN AMERICA AT PAWTUCKET IN 1790. THE FIRST POWER LOOM IN AMERICA WAS BUILT AT PEACEDALE IN 1814. IN 1638 ROGER WILLIAMS BELIEF IN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DROVE HIM FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO THE SOUTH WHERE HE FOUNDED PROVIDENCE. PROVIDENCE IS NEW ENGLAND'S SECOND LARGEST CITY AND IS THE COSTUME JEWELRY OF THE WORLD. SOUTH CAROLINA WAS THE FIRST STATE TO SECEDE FROM THE UNION IN 1860.THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER WAS THE PLACE OF THE FIRST CONFLICT OF THE CIVIL WAR. IN 1865 GENERAL SHERMAN MARCHED ACROSS THE STATE AND BURNED COLUMBIA, THE CAPITAL CITY. JOHN CALHOUN TRIED TO FORBID A TARIFF AGAINST COTTON. IN 1832 THE ORDINANCE OF NULLIFICATION WAS PASSED FORBIDDING EXECUTION OF FEDERAL TARIFFS IN THE STATE. SOUTH CAROLINA RANKS SECOND IN TEXTILE PRODUCTION. LUMBERING, AND FURNITURE MANUFACTURING ARE OTHER INDUSTRIES IN THE STATE. THE STATE'S COASTAL LOWLANDS WERE SUITED FOR THE LARGE PLANTATIONS INTRODUCED TO COLONIAL AMERICA BY ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER. IN 1876 GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE HOMESTAKE AREA IN THE BLACK HILLS. THIS IS THE LARGEST GOLD MINE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE IS THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE FIFTY STATES. GUTZON BORGLUM CARVED THE PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, LINCOLN AND THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN MT. RUSHMORE. AT THE END OF THE SIOUX WAR CRAZY HORSE WAS SLAIN AND THE U.S. TOOK POSSESSION OF THE BLACK HILLS - ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST GOLD MINES. SOUTH OF THE BLACK HILLS ARE THE BADLANDS WHERE SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED FOSSILS OF PREHISTORIC ANIMALS. TENNESSEE WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF THE CAROLINA TERRITORY. IN 1784 SETTLERS APPLIED FOR STATEHOOD AS FRANKLIN. FRANKLIN EXISTED UNTIL 1788. TENNESSEE WAS THE FIRST CONFEDERATE STATE TO REJOIN THE UNION IN 1866. OVER 800 CIVIL WAR BATTLES WERE FOUGHT IN TENNESSEE, INCLUDING SHILOH, STONE'S RIVER, CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA. THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY AUTHORITY BUILT 3 DAMS IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER VALLEY TO CONTROL FLOODS AND PROVIDE LOW COST POWER. THE TVA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1933. TENNESSEE HAS THE NATION'S RICHEST SOURCES OF ZINC AND MARBLE. TEXAS WAS AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC FROM 1836-1845. THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS WAS FORMED WHEN SAM HOUSTON DEFEATED THE MEXICANS AT SAN JACINTO. THE DISCOVERY OF OIL BENEATH THE TEXAS SURFACE WAS IN 1901, WHEN THE SPINDLETOP GUSHER BLEW IN, PRODUCING A RECORD OF 100,000 BARRELS A DAY. HALF OF THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCED IN THE U.S. COMES FROM TEXAS. TEXAS IS ALSO THE NATION'S GREATEST SOURCE OF SALT, MAGNESIUM AND SULPHUR. HOUSTON IS KNOWN FOR ITS OIL REFINERIES, MILLS, AND CHEMICAL PLANTS, DALLAS FOR ITS OIL AND COTTON AND FORT WORTH FOR ITS CATTLE. TEXAS IS A LEADING PRODUCER OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, COTTON, RICE, SORGHUM. THE KING RANCH IS LARGER THAN RHODE ISLAND. IN 1847 BRIGHAM YOUNG LED THE FIRST MORMON SETTLERS 1000 MILES TO THE SALT LAKE VALLEY TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION. THEY ESTABLISHED UTAH'S 1ST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT. IN 1848 SEAGULLS APPEARED AND DESTROYED SWARMS OF CRICKETS SAVING THE MORMON'S CROPS. THE MORMON PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY LED TO THE UTAH WAR IN 1857 IN WHICH THE U.S. ARMY OCCUPIED UTAH. IN 1890 THE CHURCH SUSPENDED THE PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY. THE WORLD'S LARGEST OPEN PIT COPPER MINE AND THE LARGEST STEEL PLANT OF THE WEST ARE NEAR PROVO. COPPER MINING, PETROLEUM REFINING, STEEL MAKING AND BUILDING GUIDED MISSILES ARE UTAH'S PRINCIPLE INDUSTRIES. IN 1775 ETHAN AND IRA ALLEN AND THE GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS DROVE THE NEW YORKERS OUT OF THE `NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS' OR GREEN MOUNTAINS. VERMONT'S CONSTITUTION WAS THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO PROVIDE A STATE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND TO FORBID SLAVERY. VERMONT HAD THE TOWNSHIP AS THE BASIC UNIT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE VERMONT TOWN MEETING HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY FOR CENTURIES. VERMONT IS FAMOUS FOR ITS MAPLE SYRUP. MARBLE AND GRANITE ARE ITS OTHER MAIN RESOURCES. THE LARGEST GRANITE QUARRY IN THE WORLD IS NEAR BARRE. SINCE THE FIRST SKI TOW IN THE U.S. WAS BUILT AT WOODSTOCK IN 1934, VERMONT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WINTER RESORTS. THE FIRST PERMANENT ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN THE U.S. WAS JAMESTOWN IN 1607. VIRGINIA BECAME THE LARGEST AND WEALTHIEST COLONY. FOUR OF THE NATION'S FIRST FIVE PRESIDENTS WERE FROM VIRGINIA- WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, MADISON AND MONROE. IN 1766 PATRICK HENRY ATTACKED THE STAMP ACT. IN 1775 HE DELIVERED HIS FAMOUS SPEECH IN RICHMOND. CORNWALLIS SURRENDERED TO WASHINGTON AT YORKTOWN IN 1781 DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES, THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY, MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1619. THE WORLD'S FAIR WAS HELD IN SEATTLE IN 1962. THE SPACE NEEDLE, A 607 FT. REVOLVING RESTAURANT IS A PERMANENT COMPLEX FROM THE WORLD'S FAIR. ROBERT GRAY OF BOSTON DISCOVERED AND NAMED THE COLUMBIA RIVER IN 1792, GIVING THE NATION ITS FIRST CLAIM TO THE AREA. MT. RAINIER (14,410 FT.) IS THE HIGHEST PEAK OF THE CASCADE RANGE. SEATTLE, ON THE PUGET SOUND, IS THE LEADING PORT AND THE COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL CENTER OF THE NORTHWEST. WASHINGTON IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE IN THE NORTHWEST. IT IS THE CENTER FOR ALUMINUM PROCESSING AND AIRPLANE MANUFACTURING. WEST VIRGINIA SECEDED FROM VIRGINIA IN 1861 WHEN VIRGINIA SECEDED FROM THE UNION. THIS WAS A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES. JOHN SALLEY DISCOVERED BITUMINOUS COAL NEAR RACINE IN 1742. WEST VIRGINIA LED THE NATION IN MINING COAL AND PRODUCING METALURGICAL COKE FOR 25 YEARS. WEST VIRGINIA HAS OVER 200 NATURAL SPRINGS. BIG SPRING IS THE LARGEST, BERKELEY AND WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS ARE FAMOUS RESORTS. THE FINAL BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION WAS THE AMERICAN VICTORY AT FT. MC HENRY IN 1782. THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR WAS AT PHILIPPI ON JUNE 3, 1861. WISCONSIN IS THE DIARY CAPITAL OF THE NATION AND THE NATION'S LEADING PRODUCER OF BEER. MARGARETHE SCHURZ OPENED THE FIRST KINDERGARTEN IN THE U. S. IN WATERTOWN IN 1856. THE RINGLING BROTHERS FIRST CIRCUS WAS ORGANIZED AT BARABOO IN 1884. THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS AT RIPON IN 1854. IMMIGRANTS FROM GERMANY, POLLAND, HOLLAND AND THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES STARTED THE DAIRY, POULTRY AND HOG FARMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WISCONSIN PIONEERED THE INCOME TAX AND PRIMARY ELECTION LAWS. WYOMING HAS THE LARGEST COAL RESERVE IN THE NATION. IT ALSO HAS AMPLE OIL AND NATURAL GAS. IN 1925 MRS. NELLIE TAYLOE ROSS BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR IN THE NATION. WYOMING IS THE SECOND HIGHEST STATE (AVG. ELEV. 6700 FT.). DEVIL'S TOWER, GRAND TETONS AND YELLOWSTONE ARE ITS NATURAL WONDERS. SACAJAWEA, THE SHOSHONE GIRL GUIDE OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, IS BURIED AT THE WIND RIVER RESERVATION. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ESTHER H. MORRIS, `MOTHER OF WOMEN SUFFRAGE', WYOMING TERRITORY BECAME THE FIRST GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD TO GRANT WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS.
