South East Express Team 
Wikimedia Commons/Currier, Nathaniel The Annie C. Maguire’s Christmas Eve Wreck On Christmas Eve 1886, the Annie C. Maguire crashed into rocks just 100 feet from Portland Head Light in Maine. The ship, once a proud China trade clipper named Golden State, hit the ledge during a stormy night despite the crew clearly seeing the lighthouse. … Read more
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 76369-KN The German-Irish Mutiny at Fort Jackson Fort Jackson in 1862 saw the breaking point of human will. For twelve days, Union ships rained shells on the Confederate fort, turning it into a flooded hell. German and Irish immigrants from New Orleans made up most of … Read more
Wikimedia Commons/Calstanhope Jack Keene’s Depression-Era Dreams Built Modern Keeneland The Keene family saga began with a gift of 6,000 Kentucky acres from Governor Patrick Henry in 1790. John Keen built Keene Place in 1805 and started a horse racing tradition that ran through generations. In 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette even spent a night at … Read more
Shutterstock Cope and Marsh’s Bitter Fossil War at Monument Rocks The chalk hills of western Kansas hide a tale of spite, theft, and bones. From 1877 to 1892, two men turned Monument Rocks into a battleground for what we now call the “Bone Wars.” Edward Cope of Philadelphia and Yale’s Othniel Marsh paid fossil hunters … Read more
Life in Hawaii looks like paradise from the outside—but once you live here, you realize locals have their own set of quirks. What seems perfectly normal to islanders often leaves visitors wide-eyed and confused. From Spam feasts to slipper culture, Hawaiians have their own rhythm, and they’re not apologizing for it. 1. Eat Spam Like … Read more
Georgia is where Southern charm meets a little bit of chaos. To locals, the habits here are as normal as sweet tea, but to outsiders, they can look downright puzzling. From calling everything Coke to surviving Atlanta traffic, Georgians know how to live life on their own terms. 1. Call Every Soda “Coke” Whether you … Read more
Florida is a magical place where the weather is wild, the wildlife is wilder, and the locals are perfectly fine with both. To Floridians, these habits are just another day in paradise. To outsiders, they look like the setup for a news headline that begins with “Florida Man…” 1. Wrestle Alligators (or at Least Don’t … Read more
Connecticut might be small, but its quirks pack a punch. To locals, the Nutmeg State is full of perfectly normal habits, but to outsiders, they come off as equal parts confusing, snobby, and charmingly bizarre. From pizza wars to traffic chaos, Connecticut life is a whole mood of its own. 1. Treat Pizza Like a … Read more
Colorado isn’t just mountains, beer, and ski passes—it’s a lifestyle with its own set of quirks. To Coloradans, these habits are part of the high-altitude charm, but to outsiders, they look like straight-up madness. From skiing in shorts to worshipping craft breweries, life in the Centennial State is never boring. 1. Wear Shorts in a … Read more
California may be known for sunshine, beaches, and Hollywood glam, but the everyday habits of its residents can look completely unhinged to outsiders. To locals, though, these quirks are part of what makes the Golden State so unique. From avocado worship to traffic gymnastics, Californians have perfected their own brand of “insanity.” 1. Put Avocado … Read more