Jordan Friedman Archives

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Alaska's Denali towers above the landscape at 20,310’ tall.

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Why the Name of Alaska’s Peak Changed From Mt. McKinley to Denali

A gold prospector dubbed the peak Mount McKinley in 1896, but Alaskans have historically championed Denali, a name rooted in its Native American history.

How Health Insurance Got Its Start in America

A 1929 prepaid hospital plan created in Dallas gave rise to early health insurance companies—and helped spur the growth of a major industry.

7 Surprising Facts About the St. Louis Gateway Arch

Standing 630 feet tall with foundations sinking 60 feet into the ground, the St. Louis Gateway Arch is the tallest—and arguably one of the most visually daring—monuments in the United States. The soaring stainless steel arch, designed to withstand earthquakes and high winds, rises from the earth and then curves back into the ground, a […]

How Timekeeping Innovations Turned New Year’s Into a Midnight Celebration

The completion of the transcontinental railroad drove synchronization of public clocks—and the start of celebrating at the stroke of midnight.