Rats came to the New World on ships sent from England to organize Jamestown.

At 3,517 miles, Route 6 was once the longest U.S. highway starting in Cape Cod and ending in Bishop, Calif. U.S. 20, however, is 116 miles longer, running from Newport, Ore., to Boston.

George Washington never attended college.

Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. Alaska is the state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work.

“Bring it up for a vote” is American slang for “to vomit.”

This article appears in July 5 • 2002.

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