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The soapbox derby has a long history, dating back to the 1930's. Children of all ages can compete and usually enter the races with their own homemade soapbox car. There are several qualifying events that are held throughout the country. Winners of these events compete for the national title in Akron, Ohio.

One of these qualifying events took place in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1969. Bob Javens won this race and went on to race in Akron in the same year. The box cart that he won with is fondly remembered by the town. So much so, that the cart was placed in the Beaver Falls Museum where it is still on display, fully intact.

Illustration of snowman wearing top hat and skis in center with two fir trees in background.  Concentric circles of orange in the center, white and a blue border.  Text in black, orange and white.

The Duluth Winter Frolic was a winter event that began in 1926. The Frolic included sports events, like ski-jumping tournaments, hockey, skating and baseball on ice. It also included a parade, luncheons, dinners, costume contests, and a ball that crowned a Winter Frolic Queen.

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The SooperDooperLooper is a roller coaster at Hersheypark. The ride opened in 1977 and features several loops and a 165 foot tunnel.

Hersheypark is a theme park located in Hershey, PA and was founded in 1906. Originally, the park was a leisure area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company. In 1907, the park opened to the public.

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The 1899 Boston Food Fair was the fourth food fair that was presented and managed by the Boston Retail Grocer’s Association. It was held in the Mechanics Building from October 2-28th 1899. The fair included a plethora of food displays and demonstrations as well as exhibits on the latest industrial trends. Several bands were on hand to provide musical entertainment. Other forms of entertainment included an art gallery, a gypsy camp, and a sportsman area. Caterer Bow provided the food available for purchase at the restaurant and cafe and also distributed silver souvenirs every morning.

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The phrase “moon shot” is often used to reference an ambitious project or undertaking, particularly of scientific or technological nature. A “moon shot” project is often ground-breaking, requires extensive capital investment and has unclear chances of success. The phrase came into popular use in 1969 when the Apollo 11 mission landed the first human on the moon. However, the innovative and inspiring nature of the phrase may also be a derivative of the colloquialism “shoot for the moon”.

The typeface Amelia was designed by American artist, Stanley Davis in 1964. It’s visually emblematic of the 1960s where it was notably used for the title artwork on The Beatles 1968 Yellow Submarine film.

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Given Oregon’s extensive waterways and lush vegetation, it is no surprise that beavers are common throughout the state. These critters have played an important role in the state’s history and even its fashion as Oregonians of the nineteenth century commonly wore hats made out of beaver fur. Beavers have come to be a symbol of Oregon and have a special place on the state flag. They also serve as the mascot for Oregon State University.

The Pacific Regalia Company Makers was a button-producing business based in Portland, Oregon. Although it no longer exists, the company was churning out many political, as well as Oregon-related, buttons during the first half of the twentieth century. Perhaps the most well known product of theirs is a Teddy Roosevelt button created in the early 1900s when the U.S. president made a short visit to Portland.

Illustration of barefoot child wearing patched up clothes standing in front of trash can filled beyond capacity with nuclear missiles with white text on a red background.

Around one million people gathered together in New York's Central Park to protest nuclear weapons on June 12, 1982. It was the largest antinuclear demonstration and at the the time it was also the largest political demonstration in the history of the U.S. The main focus of the rally was nuclear disarmament while some participants were also protesting president Reagan's spending on nuclear weapons, linking it to poverty in minority communities.

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For two weeks prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby Festival Association sponsors the Kentucky Derby Festival. The Festival ran from 1935-37 and after an almost 20 year hiatus, restarted again in 1956. Activities include an air show, a fireworks display, a hot-air balloon race, a steamboat race, a parade, both a marathon and mini-marathon, and the basketball classic. One of the long time traditions of the festival includes the Royal Court where the official “queen” is selected by the spin of a wheel.

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Hobo Day is a tradition at South Dakota State University that goes back to November 2, 1912. It replaced the Nightshirt Parade which was the primary homecoming tradition from 1907-1911. South Dakota State University got the idea of Hobo Day from the University of Missouri. Traditionally, men grow beards and both men and women dress as hobos. The entire week of homecoming events incorporates the hobo theme and includes a Hobo Parade, a Bummobile, Hobo Camps, and the Miss Homelycoming pagent.

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The American Olympic Association was formed in November 1921, the name was changed to the United States of America Sports Federation in 1940, and lastly to the United States Olympic Association in 1945. Olympic games are funded nationally, meaning each country must sponsor their athletes. The National Olympic Committees' funding comes from their government, corporate sponsorship and personal fundraising.