The Bay State has produced some famous people over the centuries. From literary icons like Louisa May Alcott to Jack Kerouac (to whom I am distantly related) to movie stars like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, there is an immense amount of talent that has emerged from this state. Several stars grew up in small Massachusetts towns, like TV and movie star, Steve Carell.
Concord, Massachusetts is a small town situated just northwest of Boston.
For example, literary giants like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott spent a significant part of their lives here. These great authors are buried at Author's Ridge, a section of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
Not only has this small town produced some incredibly talented authors but a famous modern-day star as well.
Beloved TV and movie actor and comedian Steve Carell was born in Concord on August 16, 1962.
As a child growing up in this small Massachusetts town, Steve Carell attended a boys' private school known as The Fenn School before attending Middlesex School for high school.
The Bay State definitely knows how to lead the pack, from things invented in Massachusetts to all other manner of innovations. Our state did the following 11 things before any other state in the nation. How incredible is that? Check out all of these Massachusetts firsts!
advertisement
1. The first free American public school, the Mather school, was founded in Dorchester in 1639. That's why we're wicked smaht.
The first game was the result of Dr. James Naismith's attempt to create a game that could be played indoors between the football and baseball seasons. That's him in the suit.
advertisement
9. Boston Common became the first public park in America in 1634.
11. In 1928, the first computer, a non-electronic "differential analyzer," was developed by Dr. Vannevar Bush of M.I.T. in Cambridge. Six integrators and several input and output tables had to be meticulously connected to produce the solution to each new problem.
Of all of the Massachusetts inventions, this one likely had the farthest-reaching effect on the world.
advertisement
Massachusetts is a leader in so many ways. How many of these Massachusetts firsts were you aware of? These firsts certainly make us proud of our Bay State roots! Are there any other Massachusetts inventions or things Massachusetts did first that we missed? Tell us in the comments! Don't forget to check out our previous article to discover some more fun facts about MA that prove we're a creative and innovative bunch.
You can also nominate your favorite Massachusetts fun facts, attractions, or places of business on our nomination page for the chance to see your suggestion(s) featured in an upcoming article!
As if we haven't given you enough reasons to fall in love with Massachusetts all over again, just wait until you discover the charming small town of Wellfleet. As you'll see in this video, it's the perfect destination for a weekend getaway:
It's so much fun to learn some of the most unusual or quirky facts about a state, isn't it? Well, the Bay State is no exception. We have compiled a list of fun facts about Massachusetts, some of which sound like they're made up but are actually true! From historical facts to interesting, fun facts about Massachusetts, there is so much we can still learn about our awesome state.
advertisement
1. The very first telephone was in Boston, Massachusetts.
Hello? Did you ever hear that Alexander Graham Bell spent time in Massachuetts and that the very first telephone, the device he invented, was in Boston? Therefore, the very first phone call was made in Bell's Boston laboratory back in 1876. You can learn more on the Library of Congress website.
2. Chocolate chip cookies were invented in Whitman, Massachusetts.
It was at the Toll House Inn where the chocolate chip cookie was invented in the 1930s. And we have Ruth Wakefield to thank for this classic American treat. 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 Cambridgdeport at the Kennedy Biscuit Works in 1891. They were also one of the very first commercially baked goods in the country.
advertisement
4. The game of basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts.
That's right, folks. What is now one of the most popular professional sports in the country (and the world) was invented in Springfield in 1891. The person who developed it was 30-year-old PhysEd instructor James Naismith who worked for the International YMCA Training School. He saw the need for an indoor sport during the winter months, so he developed the game.
5. The very first lighthouse in America was built in Boston.
Boston Light was first built in 1716 which pre-dates the Revolutionary War. Over the centuries, it's been moved, experienced a few fires, and more. 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.
advertisement
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. You can read more about this infamous book at the Boston Athenaeum on our website.
Located 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. It is now a museum you can visit.
8. At one point, it was illegal to put tomatoes in clam chowder in Massachusetts.
Dating back to 1939, a bill was passed making it illegal to put tomatoes in clam chowder in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now, who would do such a thing anyways?
You may think it was New York that had the first subway system, but it was actually Boston. Built between 1895 and 1897, there was a 1.5-mile route for streetcars that was the first subway system in the country.
10. The lake with the longest name in the world is located in Webster.
That's right! Have you ever been to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg? Can you pronounce it? With 45 letters and 14 syllables, it's the longest-named lake in the world. It's also referred to as Webster Lake.
advertisement
So, did you know any of these fun facts about Massachusetts? It's amazing how many inventions and firsts were made right here in the Bay State! Do you have any to add to this list? Please do so in the comments. And don't forget to take a look at this unique apparel from Wear Your Roots so that you can wear your state pride on your sleeve!
