4th of July things you might not know

4th of July is a time for fireworks, barbeques, and celebrating our independence. Here are 10 things that I bet you don’t know about this day in July…

(1) The first public Fourth of July celebration took place at the White House in 1801.

(2) We all know that Betsy Ross sewed the first U.S. flag but who designed it? The Betsy Ross House says that it was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey Delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

(3) The words "under God" were not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954.

(4) The Liberty Bell is tapped, not rung, every 4th of July.

(5) Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence 24 were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants, 10 were farmers and large plantation owners.

(6) The formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence was on July 4th, 1776 but it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941.

(7) The iron framework of the Statue of Liberty was designed by the French Engineer who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel.

(8) Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who chose the Bald Eagle.

(9) More than 74 million Americans will barbeque today.

(10) Calvin Coolidge is the only president who was born on July 4th although, there are three presidents who have died on July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.