If you're a major player at trivia night, you shouldn't have any problem getting any of these general history questions right. Or, will you? Put your thinking cap on, and see how well you do!
1: Can you think back to history class and remember which war is sometimes called the Great War?
Wiki Commons by The U.S. National Archives
Raging from 1914 to 1918, World War I was called the Great War because it was a larger conflict than ever experienced. Throughout the course of the war, over 59 million military persons fought and nearly 8 million died. It ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
2: When it was first created in 1889, what city was supposed to display the Eiffel Tower?
Wiki Commons by Louis-Emile Durandelle
Now worth over $468 billion, the Eiffel Tower was originally meant to be displayed in Barcelona. The Spanish thought it would be unsightly, so they rejected Eiffel's offer to take it. Fortunately, Paris officials loved the idea and incorporated the tower into the 1889 World's Fair.
3: Without using Google, can you figure out which of these states was the 50th state admitted into the United States?
Shutterstock by leigh
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. Located in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is wider than any other state. All 137 of its islands stretch for almost 1,300 miles.
4: Which one of these occupations did Queen Elizabeth II have during World War II?
Wiki Commons
When her country needed her service, the future Queen of England bothered her father until he let her enlist in the military. During her time in the service, she was both a truck driver and a mechanic. Roughly a decade later, she ascended the throne where she has remained for over 60 years.
5: Which one of these famous explorers went in search of the fountain of youth?
Wiki Commons
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon never discovered a fountain of youth. He did, however, discover La Florida and Puerto Rico. In 1509, he was appointed governor of the now U.S. owned territory.
6: What band is credited for starting the British Invasion in 1964?
Shutterstock by Taya Ovod
Although all the bands on our list were considered part of the British Invasion, The Beatles led the way. Their 1964 Washington D.C. performance and an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show instantly gained them countless fans.
7: Can you correctly choose the right name for the pre-postal service mail operation that delivered on horseback throughout the American west?
Wiki Commons by Ernest and Elaine Hartnagle (original tintype from the Martin E. Ismert Collection - Kansas City, Missouri)
In 1860, the American west was still a wild and untamed place. Instead of conducting service as usual, the U.S. Postal Service was forced to adapt their methods for that region of the country. Using horses and riders, the Pony Express took on the enormous task of delivering mail from Missouri to California.
8: Where did the 1986 nuclear reactor meltdown occur? The radiation levels are still too high to occupy the region.
Wiki Commons by IAEA Imagebank
Faulty equipment caused reactor number four at the Chernobyl site to go into complete meltdown. Although the area is still considered uninhabitable, it has recently gained popularity as an odd tourist destination. It includes a visit to the 1,000-square mile area in the Ukraine known as the Exclusion Zone.
9: Where did the ill-fated Titanic start its maiden voyage?
Wiki Commons by Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island (NOAA/IFE/URI).
When the "Unsinkable Ship" set sail from Belfast on May 30,1911, no one could have imagined the unthinkable events that happened on a few days later. After striking an iceberg, the ship's hull was compromised. On April 15th, the lifeboats were lowered as the ship began to sink.
10: Who took a "giant leap for mankind" and walked on the moon in 1969?
Wiki Commons by Neil A. Armstrong
Followed by Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon when he stepped off of Apollo 11. While there were there, they planted a flag on the moon. Most of it can still be seen standing in current satellite imagery.
11: The Declaration of Independence was signed in which of these U.S. cities?
"Wiki Commons by Shelden Company, Inc."
With 56 signatories and six authors, the Declaration of Independence became official on July 4, 1776. Philadelphia's Independence Hall housed the historic moment.
12: Which of these American inventors came up with light bulbs and phonographs?
Wiki Commons
During his long and interesting lifetime, Thomas Edison was responsible for almost 1,100 patents. With only three months of formal education, his desire to learn went far beyond a classroom. As an adult, he liked to act as a generous donor and began helping to fund their projects.
13: Can you recall which decade the Challenger disaster took place in?
Wiki Commons by Kennedy Space Center
With successful Space Shuttle missions under its belt, NASA readied the world for another in 1986. This time, a civilian and a teacher named Judith Resnik was tagging along, and it delighted the nation. Unfortunately, faulty o-rings caused the vehicle to explode only 73 seconds after takeoff.
14: Who was the fearless woman who helped slaves escape with Underground Railroad during the American Civil War?
Wiki Commons by Photographer William H. Cheney, South Orange, NJ
Harriet Tubman began her mission by teaching other former slaves skills that could earn them money. Through her work, she was in close contact with Union Army leaders. Her relationships with them grew to include her work traveling the south and helping others escape.
15: What's the name of the most famous 15th century city built in the mountains of Peru?
Wiki Commons by Diego Delso
Located over a mile and a half up, Machu Picchu sits in the Andes Mountains. When the Incan civilization vanished from the region, they left behind a complete and functional city carved from the mountain rocks. Many of the structures and carvings point to their reliance on the stars and give clues about the culture's belief system.
16: What was the name of the volcano that destroyed Pompeii?
Jacob More
In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius buried the city of Pompeii in up to 23 of lava and ash. You can still travel to the city, and you can see the moment of the explosion preserved after excavation.
17: Do you know what New York City was called before it became The Big Apple?
Wiki Commons by Detroit Publishing Co. , publisher
Up until the Duke of York commissioned the taking of the city, New York was known as New Amsterdam. In the 1600s, it was a major stronghold of the Dutch, and they didn't take it sitting down. They once recaptured the city, but quickly lost it to the British again.
18: Who was the eccentric artist responsible for painting "The Last Supper" and the "Mona Lisa?"
Leonardo da Vinci
If ever there were a master of all trades, it was Leonardo da Vinci. During his short life, he painted masterpieces, helped define modern medicine, and even made plans for flight. It's hard to believe that he was a mere mortal.
19: Do you have any idea where the Great Fire of London started?
Wiki Commons
During the early morning hours of September 2, 1966, an ember from a bakery oven sparked a fire that quickly spread through Pudding Lane and on to the rest of the city. By the time it stopped raging over 70,000 homes had been destroyed.
20: After being jailed, what crime resulted in Joan of Arc being burned at the stake?
Wiki Commons by Hermann Stilke
Joan of Arc had convinced leaders that the voices in her head meant an assured victory. Although she was captured and jailed by the British during an attack, she was eventually only found guilty of dressing like a man. She was canonized almost 500 years later.
