Originally, the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. The copy that persists today was written on parchment—a velum, which is a treated animal skin. However, we all know it takes drafts and drafts before you can get to a final copy, and most of those drafts of the Declaration were written on hemp!
Back in the 1800s, the majority of paper was actually made of the durable material we know as hemp.
Liberty Island May Be Home to a Pirate Ghost
The famous Liberty Island used to be occupied by teams of pirates. In 1892, during the time when a fort was erected on the island, two soldiers heard rumors of the island’s past frequenters and decided to try to find buried treasure that was said to be left behind by some pirates.
They actually found the treasure box, but when they tried to open it a demon supposedly appeared to stop them. The figure was thought to be the spirit of Captain Kidd, a famous pirate who was said to have buried his treasure on the island.
Parents Used to Tag Their Abandoned Children So They Could Identify Their Bodies Later
Things were pretty bleak in the 17th and 18th centuries and many parents did not have enough money to care for their children They either left them at the hospital or sent them to be reared in work homes.
Often, the parents would give the children small tokens such as buttons or lockets, things that were specific enough for the parents to be able to recognize the tokens later so that they could identify their children if they met them again, or if they happened to pass away.
Washington’s Birthday Was the Last Time the Liberty Bell Rang
On February 19th, 1846 the Liberty Bell Rang for the last time.
This was 47 years after George Washington died, but it was his birthday nonetheless and we’re sure he would’ve been proud to hear the Liberty Bell ring.
More Americans Share DNA With the Mayflower Pilgrims Than You Might Think
Almost 35 million residents of America are estimated to share DNA with at least one of the original riders of the Mayflower.
And we thought turkey birds were the only major legacy they left behind.