My friend Jon Ludovina made this to celebrate the 4th of July. It’s a list of all the things, in his words, that “America has invented and given to the world free of charge. You’re welcome, world.”
I have no idea where he found all of this (or really, how true they all are), but I thought it was pretty awesome.
Which is your favorite? Mine has to be the coffee percolator. Or the ferris wheel. Or the cheesesteak. It’s a toss up, really.
– 1717 – swim fins
– 1776 – swivel chair
– 1792 – crackers
– 1829 – graham crackers
– 1796 – cupcakes
– 1801 – suspension bridge + fire hydrant
– 1806 – coffee percolator
– 1813 – circular saw
– 1815 – dental floss
– 1831 – doorbell
– 1843 – ice cream maker
– 1845 – baseball
– 1847 – doughnut
– 1849 – jackhammer + safety pin
– 1853 – potato chips + clothespins
– 1857 – toilet paper
– 1858 – pepper shaker + mason jar
– 1859 – escalator
– 1860 – vacuum cleaner
– 1861 – jelly beans + machine gun
– 1863 – roller skates + breakfast cereal
– 1865 – cowboy hat
– 1866 – urinal
– 1867 – motorcycle + paperclip
– 1868 – paper bag
– 1869 – football
– 1872 – the diner
– 1873 – jeans
– 1878 – motion camera
– 1880 – DC electricity
– 1888 – the motor, drinking straw + ballpoint pen
– 1890 – stop sign
– 1891 – ferris wheel
– 1891 – fork and zipper
– 1892 – tractors + AC electricity
– 1893 – laxatives
– 1894 – mouse trap + medical gloves
– 1895 – volleyball
– 1898 – candy corn, remote control
– 1897 – cotton candy, ice cream scoop, charcoal briquette
– 1901 – assembly line
– 1902 – air conditioner
– 1903 – Wright brothers planes
– 1907 – paper towel
– 1912 – traffic lights
– 1914 – fortune cookie + traffic cone
– 1916 – hamburger bun
– 1916 – light switch + marshmallow crème
– 1918 – french dip
– 1919 – toaster
– 1920 – eskimo pie
– 1921 – flowcharts + headrests
– 1922 – convertible + waterskiing
– 1924 – cheeseburgers
– 1927 – kool-aid + corndog
– 1928 – recliner + bubble gum
– 1929 – sunglasses
– 1930 – cheesesteak + chocolate chip cookie
– 1931 – electric guitar + strobe light
– 1936 – phillips head screw
– 1937 – computers
– 1939 – ATMs
– 1941 – deodorant
– 1942 – bazooka
– 1943 – slinky
– 1945 – microwave oven (cruise control)
– 1946 – tupperware
– 1946 – waterproof diaper
– 1948 – cable tv + frisbee
– 1948 – video games
– 1949 – Zamboni
– 1952 – barcode + artificial heart
– 1953 – markers
– 1954 – zipper storage bag
– 1957 – wireless mics, lasers + bubble wrap
– 1959 – spandex
– 1961 – slurpee
– 1964 – buffalo wings
– 1973 – cell phones
– 1963 – computer mouse
– 1960s – the internet
Happy 4th of July everyone! I think in addition to the obvious things, we can all add a reason or two to the list of why we’re proud to be Americans today.
Photo Credit: qthomasbower via Compfight