Oh MA, it's one of those states that a lot of misconceptions come out of and truthfully, there are probably a lot of fun facts about Massachusetts that you don't even know about! Massachusetts is not always about history, in fact, it is a fun state that is filled with fun facts! If you've never been to Boston, never toured the North Shore and never dipped down to the Cape, you've got to take a look at my top 8 fun facts about Massachusetts that you might not be aware of!
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1. Boston Cream Pie
One of the best fun facts about Massachusetts revolves around a little, tiny pie – that is really a cake. This dessert is truly Boston (hence the name!) and it was created here. The very first Boston Cream Pie was created at the Parker House Hotel in 1856 (old, right?). It's still delicious and it's the official dessert of Massachusetts.
2. First Sewing Machine
If you've ever used a sewing machine or ever gotten anything sewn, you can thank Massachusetts for it! The very first sewing machine scaled for at-home use were created here. There were sewing machines created for company purposes, but Elias Howe is the inventor that decided to scale it to work in the home.
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3. First Public Beach
Ah, I bet that you didn't know that the very first public beach was stationed in Massachusetts, did you? Revere Beach has been around forever (actually, it was established in 1896) and it is still a fantastic beach to go to. I actually live and work right by Revere Beach, so this is totally my premier beach that I head to when the temperatures are too hot!
4. One of the First Computers Invented
All right, so there is a ton of controversy as to who invented the first computer and where exactly it came from, but one of the first computers invented happened right at MIT. It was in 1964 and it was a system called Multics. It was a time sharing, multi-user system. So much different than what we use right now!
5. Liquor Stores
So, this is a quote from the law: Massachusetts liquor stores can only open on Sundays if they are in Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Middlesex or Worcester counties and are within 10 miles of the Vermont or New Hampshire borders. How crazy is that, girls? So if you want to get your liquor, you've got to do it on Saturday. Of course, this law could have changed by now, but it was that way in the olden days!
6. Birth Control Pills
Did you know that the first testing of birth control pills actually started in Massachusetts? Testing began inn 1954 by Gregory Pincus and John Rock. They started the first human trials on about 50 women. It worked and in 1957, the FDA approved the pill, but really only for severe menstrual disorders, not as a contraceptive. In 1960, it was finally approved as a contraceptive.
7. Newspaper House
It's kinda weird here in MA, but did you know that in Rockport, Massachusetts, there is actually a house that is made of entirely of newspaper? All you have to do is drive by the houses and look for a house that states 'Paper House' on it. It was built in 1922 by a mechanical engineer. He wanted to build a summer home!
8. Maine
Finally girls, the last fun fact about Massachusetts that you might not know is that Maine actually used to be part of Massachusetts. Oh yes, until about 1820, Massachusetts was just one large state, instead of all of the little states that it is now.
Now that you know some fun facts about Massachusetts, how about a trip here? It sounds fun, right? Just avoid the traffic and you'll be fine. What other fun facts about Massachusetts do you have? Give it up in the comments!
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