Query:
I'm devouring another Ken Burns documentary (I watch an unhealthy amount of them) this one on Lewis and Clark. I sort of don't care about them, but I enjoy the facts I pick up watching these documentaries that play the same effing songs over and over and over again ('Tis the Gift To Be Simple; Shenandoah, The Battle Hymn of the Republic...). They're unbelievably addicting.
Anyway.
So this documentary said something like "In 1801 the United States ended at the Mississippi river," and it got me to thinking: the next big addition in America was in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. Florida was bought in 1819... states were being added into the mid 20th Century...
But I've always taken it for granted that there always have been, and always WILL BE 50 States (from Thir-teen Original Co-lo-nies!). It's sort of like taking it for granted that the Sun will rise tomorrow. Because 1) If the Sun didn't rise tomorrow... well, neither would we, and 2) if we add more than 50 States, the song, "Fif-ty Nif-ty U-Ni-Ted States" wouldn't work anymore...
I don't know... it's like... what was it like for people when Alaska was added as a State. Or Hawaii... like... adding a STATE!? It's just sort of an unfathomable concept to me now.
Just sayin'.
posted by SuperBee at 8:22 PM
7 Comments:
Of course, I was a mere child of 50 or so at the time, but I remember that adding states had less mental impact than changing area codes years later. The biggest thing was, What will the new American flags look like? First it was 7 rows of 7 stars, then whatever it is today. Bee Eff Dee.
And then last year, both states put their first-ever candidates for Pres and VP on the ballot, running against each other. Not certain that ever came up, but it's mildly interesting.
Wasn't Lewis and Clark a teevee show?
7:24 AM
Squat - I remember the "Area Codes" debacle. We had to switch from 301 to 410. The horror. But I adapted. Now I think people with 301 area codes are weird. And don't get me started on 443.
That is a very interesting point you bring up... I never thought of that. But then, I'm not a terribly deep thinker.
Yes, Lewis and Clark was a Ken Burns documentary for PBS.
8:06 AM
How about when we went from not having to dial area codes for making local calls to having to include an area code for EVERY call? That was weird. I like that in DC there's only one area code so I don't have to dial an area code here for local calls. It feels quaint.
10:49 AM
LD - I remember that was also traumatic. And in DC, you don't need to dial 202 for anything before a number?! WOW. That's weeeeeeeird! :) I did not know that!
2:11 PM
Wait -- I think I was thinking of LOIS and Clark.
Other thing I remember is, after the 50th state was official, people started talking about the Philippine Islands, which was a US territory, as #51. Obviously that didn't happen, but THAT would have been weird -- state #51 on the other side of the globe. Even Sara Palin can't see it from her bedroom window.
8:53 AM
Meriwether Lewis is a great-great-something-great grandfather of mine. It's my only claim to fame.
1:00 PM
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9:00 AM
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