10 Interesting Facts About Independence Day

1. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, but did you know it wasn't declared a national holiday until 1941?

2. There are eleven cities in America with the word "independence" in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.

3. The iconic Uncle Sam was first popularized during the War of 1812, when it was used on supply containers, but he wasn't adopted as a national symbol until 1961.

4. Historical research has failed to confirm that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag. Sorry Betsy!

5. Not all members of the Continental Congress supported a formal Declaration of Independence, but those who did were so passionate about it that one representative rode 80 miles by horseback to reach Philadelphia so he could vote in support of independence.

6. The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when, according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.

7. The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner" is set to the tune of an English drinking song called "To Anacreon in Heaven.".

8. The iron framework of the Statue of Liberty was devised by the same engineer who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. His name was Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel.

9. The patriotic poem "America the Beautiful" was published on July 4, 1895 by Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates. Girlz rule, boys drool!

10. Father of the country and architect of independence George Washington held his first public office when he was only 17. He continued in public service until his death in 1799. Good guy, that George.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Celebrate and be grateful for your freedom!