It’s always fun to learn quirky or unusual facts about a state, isn’t it? Well, the Bay State is no exception. From the historic to the downright surprising, we’ve rounded up a list of Massachusetts facts that might even stump the most dedicated trivia lover.
1. The Very First Telephone Was in Boston
You probably knew that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. But did you know he did in Boston? That’s right, the very first phone call was made in Bell’s Boston laboratory back in 1876.
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies Were Invented in Whitman, MA
We have Ruth Wakefield to thank for this classic American treat. She invented the chocolate chip cookie at the Toll House Inn in the 1930s. Everyone say, “Thank you, Ruth!”
3. Another cookie, the Fig Newton, was also invented in Massachusetts
Named after the town of Newton, the Fig Newton was developed in Cambridgeport at the Kennedy Biscuit Works in 1891. They were also one of the very first commercially baked goods in the country.
4. The game of basketball was invented in Springfield, MA
That’s right, folks. What is now one of the most popular professional sports in the country (and the world) was invented in Massachusetts in 1891. 30-year-old PhysEd instructor James Naismith saw the need for an indoor sport during the winter months, leading him to create the game we know and love today.
5. The Very First Lighthouse in America Was Built in Boston
Boston Light was first built in 1716 which pre-dates the Revolutionary War. It’s survived several fires and relocations over the centuries, but is still standing. Today, it sits on Little Brewster Island in the Boston Harbor and is considered the oldest continuously-used lighthouse in the country. You can learn more about its history on the National Park Service website.
6. The Boston Athenaeum Has a Book Bound in Human Skin
Yes, you read that correctly. While a horrifying thought, the book’s author, a career criminal by the name of James Allen, requested that the book be bound in his own skin after he died.
7. There’s a House Made of Paper in Rockport
The Paper House is just that — a house made of (mostly) paper. While the framing, roof, and floors are made of wood, most of the rest of the house and the furniture inside is made of paper. It was built between 1922 and 1924 and lived in until 1930. Now, it’s a museum you can visit the next time you’re in Rockport, MA.
8. It Was Almost Illegal To Put Tomatoes in Clam Chowder
In 1939, a politician drafted a bill making it illegal to put tomatoes in clam chowder in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The punishment for tomato lovers? Manual labor. While the bill never became law, the debate still lives on today. Tomato or toma-no?
9. The First Subway System Was in Boston
Many think this claim to fame belongs to New York, but it’s actually Boston that gets bragging rights. The Tremont Streetcar subway opened in 1897, making it the first subway system in the country.
10. The Lake With the Longest Name in the World Is in Webster, MA
Have you ever been to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg? Can you pronounce it? With 45 letters and 14 syllables, making it the longest-named lake in the world. It’s also referred to as Webster Lake.
You can add Lake Webster and everything else on your travel bucket list to your upcoming trip using the Only In Your State’s itinerary planner…