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Maine, also known as “The Pine Tree State” and “Vacationland”, was the 23^rd State to enter the Union on March 15, 1820. Maine is located at the most northeastern point of the United States. It’s best known for its rocky coast, low mountains, heavy forests, and waterways. As a coastal state it is also known for its seafood. An image of a lighthouse is also featured on the Maine state quarter. 

Illustration of a fort with black text above and below on a light yellow background

Fort Mackinac is one of the many attractions that is featured at the Mackinac Island State Park in Michigan. It sits on a limestone bluff 150 feet above the Straits of Mackinac. Originally constructed between 1780-81, it is one of the oldest and most complete forts in the United States. The fort stands as one of the only American Revolutionary War forts remaining. In 1895, the fort was transferred over to the state of Michigan and it became part of the first state park in that state, Mackinac Island State Park. Today 14 original buildings remain open as a museum for guests and visitors to the fort.

Black text and an illustration of a red heart on a white background

“From the heart of” was a slogan trademarked by Lucy’s Canvas in 1978. By 1982, the trademark was abandoned. Lucy’s Canvas started as a canvas tote bag retailer in Boston but the owner quickly created other themed specialty stores, including “have a heart” gift stores, full of merchandise with hearts on it, and “from the heart of” stores which celebrated a particular city with a wide range of products.

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England with a population of 694,583. The city was settled by Puritans from England in 1630, although Native Americans had inhabited the area since 2400 B.C.. Boston is known historically for several famous events that preceded the American Revolution such as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Today, the city is known for its educational institutions which have a focus on law, science, and technology.

Photograph of a house that is the main offices of the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University

Located at Indiana University Bloomington, the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology is an academic department that promotes the study of vernacular arts and their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Previously, the Folklore Institute and the Ethnomusicology Institute functioned as two separate units but were brought together into one academic department in the early 2000s due to their closely aligned disciplines. Students who are part of this department can take classes that highlight topics such as cultural diversity, different mythologies, and also the types of music that are enjoyed by different cultures around the globe.

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Since 1791, Washington, D.C. has served as the nation’s capital. It was named after Revolutionary War hero and first U.S. president George Washington, and created by combining donated land from Virginia and Maryland. It continues to represent the hub of U.S. government and remains the central location where American politics is handled. Today, Washington, D.C. is the sixth most populous metropolitan area in the country and has a sizeable African-American population.

Along with the White House and U.S. Capitol, a number of national monuments and museums call Washington, D.C. home, including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington National Cathedral. The city is also responsible for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is celebrated every spring. The event commemorates the March 1912 gift of cherry blossom trees extended by Tokyo’s mayor Yukio Ozaki. The gift was offered to strengthen the budding friendship between the United States and Japan. Interestingly, the first batch of cherry blossom trees sent over in 1910 had to be burnt after they were found to be infested with agricultural pests.

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The American Folklore Society was created in 1888 in Cambridge, Massachusetts by students of folklore. Members of the Society consist of scholars, anthropologists, teachers, librarians, and private citizens from all over the world. The society provides resources to its members to assist them in endeavors that involve curriculum development, museum exhibitions, festivals, and other educational programs.   

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The Sisters of the Swish was an organization that primarily supported the celebration of any given town's anniversary. Members traditionally dressed in the clothing from the time period from when the town was established. It was a social sorority that worked in conjunction with the Brothers of the Brush to coordinate celebration events. Mrs. J.W. Hooker was the leader of the Abilene, Texas Sisters of the Swish. Any woman in Abilene was able to join. Membership was free but members were all required to purchase membership buttons. 

Black and white photography of a cat with black text above and below on a silver background

USBE stands for the United States Book Exchange, which is a 60-year-old nonprofit organization that provides back issues of scholarly journals, periodicals, and popular magazines to libraries across the world. Their website launched in 1995, and in 1997, included information about their at mascot at the time, a grey cat named Greystoke. Unfortunately there is only one solid reference to Greystoke, and it is unclear when the cat stopped serving as mascot. 

Five characters from the movie on a blue background

Star Trek is a 2009 science fiction film that is the 11th film for the Star Trek film franchise, which originated in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The 2009 movie stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, and Zoe Saldana, and focuses on the prevention of Earth's destruction after the planet Vulcan is destroyed.  

Photograph and illustrations of the characters of Star Trek on a black background with white text

The Star Trek Collector's Edition VHS series was released from 1986 to 1991. Consumers could purchase the videos two episodes at a time through a subscription service. There was also a Betamax version that was released of the same collection.