10 Unique Trivia Facts About Massachusetts You Might Not Have Heard Before

Are you a Bay Stater who likes to put your Massachusetts trivia knowledge to the test? I know I enjoy a trivia night every once in a while (sometimes I even win). Read on to discover 10 facts about Massachusetts that are sure to impress your friends and family and maybe even win you a prize at the next trivia event!

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You probably know that basketball was invented in Massachusetts, but the sport of volleyball also has its origins here. In 1895, a Holyoke YMCA physical education director invented this now-popular sport.

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And speaking of great inventions, did you know that a Massachusetts citizen also gets credit for baking the first chocolate chip cookie? Back in 1936, a woman named Ruth Graves, who lived in the town of Whitman, made up the first batch of one of my all-time favorite desserts. Thank you, Ruth!

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Thanks to a group of Franklin second-grade students, this colorful speckled insect became a state symbol in 1974. Rumor has it that you are granted good luck if a ladybug lands on you.

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Did you know that our neighbors to the north were once Bay Staters too? That’s right! Maine was considered a part of Massachusetts until it became the 23rd state in the year 1820.

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Famous actor John Belushi’s tragic death in 1982 made headlines around the world. The larger-than-life comedian brought joy to so many people. But did you know that his final resting place is in a quaint cemetery on Martha’s Vineyard? Or is it?

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We all know how much Bay Staters love their Dunks! The first Dunkin Donuts coffee shop made its debut in Quincy in 1950. The original store is still turning out great coffee and donuts and has been remolded in a retro style to reflect its important place in Massachusetts history.

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Massachusetts has a lot of wacky laws on the books, and one of them involves how we serve seafood. Our regional specialty, clam chowder, must be served New England style, with no tomatoes.

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Robert McCloskey’s beloved story about the Boston Mallard family has been delighting children since it was first published in 1941. The story is now considered to be the official children's book of Massachusetts. The famous ducks attract many visitors to their permanent spot at the Boston Public Garden.

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Yes, it’s true! Those plastic containers that you use every day to store your leftovers, lunches, and snacks, were invented right in the town of Leominster! Entrepreneur, Earl Tupper first came up with the idea of an airtight “wonderbowl,” but the concept that turned Tupperware into a household name was the Tupperware party, the brainchild of Tupper's female colleague, Brownie Wise.

Boston Public Library/flickr

Think you can pronounce Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg correctly? This scenic lake in Webster (also known as Webster Lake), holds the record for having the longest geographical name in the USA.

How many of these facts about Massachusetts did you know? Any other secret bits of Bay State knowledge that you would like to share with our readers?  If you would like to wear your Massachusetts pride on your sleeve (literally), be sure to check out the cool state gear at Wear Your Roots.