The Chisholm Trail was the major route out of Texas for livestock. Although it was used only from 1867 to 1884, the longhorn cattle driven north along it provided a steady source of income that helped the impoverished state recover from the Civil War.

Easily navigable waterways with an abundance of natural resources (coal, timber, natural gas, iron and limestone) helped Pittsburgh become the industrial center for a growing nation. Most people recognize one thing about Pittsburgh's history, that it was known as an industrial hub for coal mining and steel production.

Kitty Hawk became world-famous after the Wright brothers made the first controlled powered airplane flights at Kill Devil Hills, four miles south of the town, on December 17, 1903.

December 7, 1941 is "a date which will live in infamy," according to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese led the United States to enter World War II.

Site of Civil Rights events in 1960s; Montgomery Bus Boycott

Chicago was a city that grew quickly due to its location. It is located near Lake Michigan. Canals linked Chicago to the Mississippi River. Chicago became a major railroad hub used for transportation and shipping goods in and out of the city. This made it a good place for immigrants to move where they could find jobs.