10 Cool Facts About Upstate New York (We Invented WHAT?!)

Living in Upstate New York, while some might want to call it "Small-bany" others love calling it home. We're surrounded by such a beautiful area and so close to so many cool places to explore!

We've also had some pretty cool stuff happen all around us, upstate! Take a peak at these 10 facts about Upstate New York: 

1.    The New York State Thruway is the longest toll road in the U.S.

2.    Adirondack Park, in New York's Forest Preserve is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier and Olympic parks COMBINED.

3.     The very first passenger train in American ran from Albany to Schenectady. It was 11 miles.

4.    Gloversville, NY once employed 600+ people in the home of one of the largest record pressing plants in the U.S and made vinyl records, cassettes, 8-tracks and compact discs.

5.    The potato chip was invented in Saratoga Springs by George Crum.

6.    The Woodstock Music Festival was actually held on a dairy farm in Bethel, NY, after Woodstock and Wallkill turned it down. The festival was three days in August 1969 with 400,000 people.

7.    Albany, the state capital of New York, named after the Duke of Albany is actually known as the city of many names. The Mohicans, called the city PempotowwathutMuhhcanneuw, or "the 1st fireplace of the Mohican nation." The Dutch called it Beverwijck or "Beaver District."

8.    Howe Caverns is the largest cave open to the public in the northeastern U.S.

9.    Perforated toilet paper was invented in Albany by Seth Wheeler

10. Shortly after being elected, President Abraham Lincoln was in Albany visiting friends at the same time John Wilkes Booth was performing at a theater in Ablany

Sources: randomhistory.com, dailymail, wikipedia