Know It All

The first settlement in Alaska was established by Russian whalers and fur traders in 1784. Alaska became the property of the United States in 1867 when U.S. Secretary of State William Seward paid Russia two cents per acre, a total of $7.2 million for the land.

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There are only two ways to get into the inner canyon of Arizona's Grand Canyon; hike in by mule or raft in on the Colorado River.

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There are six national parks and 50 state parks in Arkansas, known as The Natural State.

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How well do you know the state of California? Can you name the state flower, bird, animal and motto? You're really good if you know the state tree, insect and mineral. See answer at end.

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Colorado is the only state ever to turn down the Olympics. The 1976 Winter Olympics were to be held in Denver. However, a vote in 1972 showed that 59 percent of Colorado residents did not want the Olympics to be held in their state because of the cost and pollution the games would bring. The 1976 Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria.

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The first woman to receive a U. S. patent was Mary Kies of South Killingly, Conn. She received a patent in 1809 for a method of weaving straw with silk or thread. Her invention boosted the nation's hat industry.

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The percentage of doctoral-level (Ph.D.) scientists and engineers is higher in the state of Delaware than in any other state. Delaware also has a higher rate of patent awards, per person, than any other state.

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Tourism is the largest industry in Florida with 58.9 million tourists that visit Florida every year. Tourism directly employs 839,541 Floridians.

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The Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville, Ga. has the largest collection of kangaroos outside of Australia.

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Hawaii is the world's leading harvester of macadamia nuts. It takes 345 pounds of pressure to crack the outer shell of a macadamia nut. That's why they are always sold shelled.

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The Capitol Building in Idaho is heated unlike any other Capitol building in the country. It is heated by geothermal water. The hot water is tapped and pumped from a source 3,000 feet underground.

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Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Ill. in 1955.

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The state of Indiana has more miles of interstate highway per square mile than any other state and more major highways intersect in Indiana than in any other state. No wonder the state motto is "Cross Roads of America."

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Actor Don Ameche is buried in an unmarked grave in Dubuque, Iowa. Ameche starred as John Bickerson in the 1940s radio comedy series "The Bickersons." He won an Oscar for his role in the 1985 movie "Cocoon."

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The largest amount of gold stored anywhere in the world is in the underground vaults in Fort Knox, Ky. Over $6 billion worth of gold is kept there.

The state bird of Louisiana is the pelican. The state flag pictures a pelican feeding its young and a pelican is also featured on the Louisiana state seal.

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Ninety percent of the United States lobster supply is caught off the coast of Maine. The largest lobster ever caught in Maine measured 36 inches from nose to tail.

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Author Edgar Allan Poe was buried in the Westminster Cemetery in Maryland in 1875. The "Pennies for Poe" campaign has been ongoing since the 1870s. Visitors to the grave often leave pennies at the grave site. The coins are collected and used to pay for upkeep of the cemetery.

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The first public park was Boston Common in Massachusetts. The 50-acre property was established as a park in 1634. The park was used for public hangings until 1817, and for common cattle grazing until 1830.

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Some famous folks from Michigan: Gilda Radner (1946-1989), Tom Selleck (born 1945), Lily Tomlin (born 1939), Madonna (born 1959), Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born 1959).

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The largest mall in the United States is the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. Opened in 1992, the mall has 520 stores.

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Answer: California state flower: Golden Poppy, state bird: California Valley Quail, state animal: Grizzly Bear (pictured on the state flag), state motto: Eureka! (Greek word meaning "I have found it"), state tree: California Redwood, state insect: the California dogface butterfly, state mineral: Gold.

Know It All is compiled by Kerry McArdle. It runs in the weekend and Wednesday editions of the Daily Journal. Know any trivia or facts you would like to share? E-mail knowitall@smdailyjournal.com or fax 344-5290