Our Senator
- What does Senator Brown do?
- Senator Brown works very hard in Washington DC, the capitol of the United States, to make sure that the people of Massachusetts can have a fair vote for what is best for the country. He loves the support of kids of all ages and you can ask the Senator any question you want by clicking here. return to top
- How does the government work?
- The government is set up so that people can vote on rules and laws so that we can all decide together. When you vote for your Senator, he can help make decisions so that they help both your state and the country. return to top
- What is the government?
- The government is a group of people and rules that work together to help make sure you can be who you want to be and live in a free country. The government is what helps make sure we have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and all of the important jobs that help make our country safe. Firemen, policemen and even astronauts help keep the United States of America strong, and the government helps them work for you. return to top
Massachusetts Fun Facts
- Nickname: Bay State
- Capital: Boston
- State Folk Hero: Johnny Appleseed
- State Dog: Boston Terrier
- State Horse: Morgan Horse
- State Insect: Lady Bug
- State Fossil: Dinosaur Tracks
- State Muffin: Corn Muffin
- State Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
- State Folk Song: “Massachusetts”
- State Cat: Tabby Cat
- State Bird: Black Capped Chickadee
- State Fish: Cod
- State Flower: Mayflower
- State Beverage: Cranberry Juice
- State Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie
(Source: “Fun Facts,” Mass.gov)
Famous Residents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Samuel Adams, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, John Hancock, Paul Revere, Daniel Webster, Jack Lemmon, Ben Affleck, John Kerry
Links for Kids
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Ben's Guide to Government
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First Gov for Kids
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Kids in the House (of Representatives)
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White House for Kids
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NASA for Kids
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FEMA for Kids
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Smithsonian Institution's Kids' Castle
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U.S. Mint for Kids
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U.S. Department of Energy for Kids
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State Department's Geography Learning Site
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Central Intelligence Agency: K-5th Grade
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Central Intelligence Agency: 6-12th Grade
Other Fun Facts
Other Fun Facts
Massachusetts had the first:
- Subway system in the United States: The T was built in 1897.
- Town of Franklin: Although over 30 communities in the colonies eventually renamed themselves to honor Benjamin Franklin, the Massachusetts Town of Franklin was the first to change its name in 1778.
- Game of basketball: It was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891. Today, the Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield.
- Public Park: Boston Common became the first public park in 1634.
- College in North America: Harvard was founded in 1636.
- Sewing machine: Elias Howe of Boston invented it in 1845.
- Nuclear-powered surface vessel: The USS Long Beach CG (N) 9 was launched at Quincy in 1961.
- Public elementary school in America: The Mather school was founded in Dorchester in 1639.
- Thanksgiving: The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621.
- Public Beach: Revere Beach was the first public beach in the United States and is host to Suffolk Downs horse racing track, Wonderland dog racing track and a 14-screen cinema complex.
- Volleyball game: In Holyoke, William G. Morgan, created a new game called "Mintonette" in 1895. After a demonstration given at the YMCA in nearby Springfield, the name "Mintonette" was replaced with the now familiar name "Volleyball."
Unusual Facts from Massachusetts:
- There is a house in Rockport built entirely of newspaper.
- The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
- The Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane.
- Glaciers formed the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard during the ice age.
- The Children's Museum in Boston displays a giant milk bottle on the museum's wharf. If it were real it would hold 50,000 gallons of milk and 8,620 gallons of cream.
Science and Education in Massachusetts:
- The American industrial revolution began in Lowell. Lowell was America's first planned industrial city.
- Hingham's Derby Academy founded in 1784 is the oldest co-educational school in the United States. Hingham's First Parish Old Ship Church is the oldest church structure in the United States in continuous use as a place of worship.
- Robert Goddard, inventor of the first liquid fueled rocket, was born and lived much of his life in Worcester and launched the first rocket fueled with liquid fuel from the neighboring town of Auburn.
Learn About Massachusetts
Impress your friends with these interesting facts about your home state!
- Nickname: Bay State
- Capital: Boston
- State Folk Hero: Johnny Appleseed
- State Dog: Boston Terrier
- State Horse: Morgan Horse
- State Insect: Ladybug
- State Fossil: Dinosaur Tracks
- State Muffin: Corn Muffin
- State Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
- State Folk Song: “Massachusetts”
- State Cat: Tabby Cat
- State Bird: Black-Capped Chickadee
- State Fish: Cod
- State Flower: Mayflower
- State Beverage: Cranberry Juice
- State Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie
Unique to Massachusetts:
- Massachusetts holds the two largest cites in New England, Boston, the largest, and Worcester.
- In 1838 the Boston & West Worcester Railroad was the first railroad to charge commuter fares.
- The fourteen counties in Massachusetts are made up of 43 cities and 308 towns.
- The first The USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides,' the oldest fully commissioned vessel in the US Navy is permanently berthed at Charlestown Navy Yard. Since 1897 the ship has been overhauled several times in Dry Dock 1.
- The Boston Tea Party reenactment takes place in Boston Harbor every December 16th.
- The 3rd Monday in April is a legal holiday in Massachusetts called Patriot's Day.
- John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried in the crypt at the United First Parish Church in Quincy.
- The signs along the Massachusetts Turnpike reading "x miles to Boston" refer to the distance from that point to the gold dome of the state house.
- The first U.S. Postal zip code in Massachusetts is 01001 at Agawam.
