Showing posts with label statehood anniversaries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statehood anniversaries. Show all posts

November 8 - Montana becomes a State

 Posted on November 8, 2021


This is an update of my post published on November 8, 2010:




Montana became a state of the U.S. in 1889. This state is not very crowded. As a matter of fact, Montana's postal code abbreviation (MT) is particularly appropriate, as license plates and stickers can read:

Montana is MT

This of course could be read, “Montana is empty.”



But this “Big Sky” state lures millions of tourists every year to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Little Bighorn historical site, and the Louis and Clark Caverns. The postal code abbreviation is also appropriate because “Mt.” is sometimes used as an abbreviation for “mountain,” and the western third of Montana is covered with mountain ranges.


When we talk about how crowded or not-crowded a place is, we are talking about population density. Statistics about population density end up talking about averages, because we take the total population of the place and divide that number by the total area of the place. We get data we can compare:

Montana has about 7 people per square mile.
Japan has 899 people per square mile!


Some maps show population density.


Here is a quick quiz about population density in the U.S. and the world:

  1. Montana is only the third least dense state in the U.S. Name a state that is even less densely populated.

  2. Montana is about the same size as which nation?
    a. Australia
    b. Japan
    c. Austria

  3. What is the most densely populated nation in the world, with more than 43 THOUSAND people per square mile?
    a. Monaco
    b. Bangladesh
    c. India

  4. What is the least densely populated continent in the world?

  5. What is the least densely populated country in the world?
    a. Russia
    b. Iceland
    c. Mongolia

  6. Which of these countries has a population density around 1,200 people per square mile?
    a. China
    b. South Korea
    c. Egypt
Here is another kind of population density map.
On this map of France, can you spot Paris?


ANSWERS: 
1. Alaska and Wyoming are both less densely populated than Montana
2. b
3. a
4. Antarctica
5. c
6. b


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August 10 - Missouri Admission Day

 Posted on August 10, 2021


This is an update of my post published on August 10, 2010:


On this day in 1821, Missouri became the 24th state of the United States.

Missouri is famous for several things:


Gateway Arch – At 630 feet wide at the base and 630 feet tall, this is the tallest monument in the U.S. It was built between 1963 and 1965. This monument stands for the westward expansion of the U.S. During pioneer times, St. Louis was considered the “gateway” to the west because it was the starting point of many covered-wagon trips westward to California and Oregon.


The arch is created out of equilateral-triangle-shaped supports with carbon steel walls sandwiching reinforced concrete. It is covered with stainless steel and contains an egg-shaped “elevator” that is called a tram. The tram takes visitors up to the observation deck at the top of the arch.


The Gateway Arch is remarkable to see - especially from the top! -
But even more remarkable is the building of this marvel!




Boyhood home of Mark Twain and Mark Twain Cave – Hannibal, Missouri, has a great museum complex honoring one of America's greatest authors, Samuel Clemons. His more familiar pseudonym (or pen name) was Mark Twain.




The Mark Twain Cave is the site where fictional characters Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher got lost.


 
Here is the kids' portion of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum website. It includes homework help plus some inspiration for kids who want to become writers.

Here is a rather simple Samuel Clemons (Mark Twain) biography – plus a slide show, puzzles, and other activities.

Here is a much longer, but interesting and attractive, biography of Samuel Clemons.




Branson and Silver Dollar City is a popular tourist site. Silver Dollar City is a reconstructed mining town where Conestoga wagons are built and old-fashioned candles are dipped—plus a lot of other crafts and attractions. Nowadays the mining town has grown into a theme park with live shows, roller coasters and other thrill rides. Branson also offers a water-park, river boat, and other attractions.



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December 29 - Anniversary of Texas's Statehood

Posted on December 29, 2020

This is an update of my December 29, 2009 post:

On this date in 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the U.S. The name Texas comes from the Caddo Indian word teysha, which means “hello, friend.”

The phrase “six flags over Texas” hints at Texas's complex (we might even say “messy”) history:

Can you figure out which of the flags listed
below is which flag in the picture above?
1. Confederate States of America
2. France
3. Mexico
4. (Independent) Republic of Texas
5. Spain
6. United States of America

(Answers below)

Notice that there was no flag from the original inhabitants, the Caddo Indians and other Indian groups. This backs the point that comedian Eddie Izzard once made: Europe stole countries “with the cunning use of flags.”*



TEXAS TRIVIA
Take a quiz to see how much you know about Texas.

1) Texas is the ______ state in the U.S.

a. largest
b. second largest
c. third largest
2) Texas's official nickname is _________.
a. the Bluebonnet State
b. the Longhorn State
c. the Lone Star State
3) The Alamo (often referred to by the phrase, “Remember the Alamo!”) was the site of _____.
a) a victory of Mexican troops against Spain
b) a victory of Mexican troops against white “Texians”
c) a victory of white “Texians” against Mexico
4) The largest city in Texas is ________.
a) Houston
b) Dallas
c) Austin
5) One of the most important aspects of the Texan economy is _______.
a) cattle
b) wheat
c) oil
6) Which of these U.S. presidents were born in Texas?
a) Dwight D. Eisenhower
b) Lyndon B. Johnson
c) George W. Bush
d) “a” and “b” above
e) “b” and “c” above
f) all of the above

ANSWERS: 

SIX FLAGS: From left to right, 5, 2, 6, 4, 1, 3

TEXAS TRIVIA: 1.b - 2.c - 3.b - 4.a - 5.c - 6.d

* Warning: Eddie Izzard is very funny but uses some curse words in his act.



Texas has a reputation for everything BIG!

Big state, big (unobstructed) sky, big ranches and cars and hairdos and money and even hurricanes.


So, of course, there has to be some big art, too! Monumental land art (also called “earthworks”) is an art form that is large-scale and involves a sizable chunk of land. There are several pieces of monumental art in Texas. 


One is the Amarillo Ramp (a curved, almost fully circular ramp). 


Another is Cadillac Ranch. Cadillac Ranch features ten “Caddies” that are half buried in the ground. If you go see the sculpture, take a can or two of spray paint—because viewers are invited to participate with the art by putting their names, initials, or inspiring messages on the cars.

Above, the making of Cadillac Ranch

Below, generations of folks have left
their mark on this amazing art piece!


Isn't this tribute to Cadillac Ranch gorgeous???
It's called Electric Renaissance, and I have to
admit that it isn't located in Texas; it's in Nevada...


Plan your own monumental art piece. If you had a lot of money and land for land art, what would you create? Draw your plan.

Celebrate Texas!

Color a Texan flag, state flower, or map.

Take a virtual tour of Texas landmarks, or two tours, or seven! 

Learn to talk like a Texan.


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