November 16 - National Fast Food Day

 

Happy National Fast Food Day! On November 16, any and all food lovers get a dose of their favorite convenience food today.  

 
Whether they use the drive-thru, dine-in or get it to go, fast food will grill up, fry up and broil up menu staples.  

First popularized in the United States in the 1950s, fast food is considered any meal with low preparation time and served to a customer in a packaged form.  

The meal makes for quick dine-in, take-out or take-away. Most fast-food restaurants offer drive-thru service. 

In 1951, Merriam-Webster dictionary first recognized the term “fast food”. 

  

Following World War I, automobiles became popular and more affordable. At that time, restaurants introduced the drive-in. 

Much like today’s food trucks, Walter Anderson first began selling hamburgers out of an old streetcar body at a Wichita intersection. While the menu was limited, the hamburgers were a crowd-pleaser.  

When the popularity of his hamburgers grew, he partnered with E.W. Ingram and opened the first White Castle in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The enterprising restauranteurs were the first in the fast-food business. They sold hamburgers for five cents each. 

The United States has the larges fast food industry in the world. American fast food restaurants are located in over one hundred countries. 

Fun Fact: The first Happy Meal was served in June 1979. 

While fast-food began as sandwiches and sides, the menus expanded over-time. Today fast-food includes fish, a variety of fried chicken, tacos, pizza and a wide selection of sides.  

Sodas quench the thirst and desserts sweeten the menu. From ice cream and shakes to pies and cakes, fast food delivers.  

As times changed, restaurants added breakfast items to the menu, too. Expanding their hours increased their workforce and their menu options, as well. However, not all fast-food chains offer breakfast. 

 
HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Invite a group out to your favorite fast-food restaurant. Share some rings and a shake. Do you prefer breakfast or lunch? No matter which one you prefer you can get it to go to make it faster as well!  

Give a shoutout to your favorite fast-food restaurant using #NationalFastFoodDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this speedilious food day. 

What is your favorite fast food(s)? 

#NationalFastFoodDay 

@WhiteCastle

@Foodimentary 

@nichecinema 

November 16 - National Indiana Day

 

Happy National Indiana Day! Today we observe the 19th state to join the union back on December 11, 1816. 

 
This U.S. state is located in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. It is the thirty-eighth-largest by area and the seventeenth-most populous of the fifty United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. 

 
Indiana was the 19th state to enter the Union. 5th U.S. James Monroe had just defeated Rufus King in the 1816 presidential race to become Commander in Chief. 

The second state to enter the Union from the Northwest Territory, Indiana grew rapidly. 

As the “Crossroads of American, we can thank the many interstates and railroads transversing the state for getting us across the country. Indiana’s highways and byways do not keep the state from a rural feel in a growing urban world.  

With an abundance of rivers, streams and farmland, Lake Michigan to the North, words don’t fail Hoosiers. Her authors, poets and songwriters have a continuous source of inspiration. 

They are also inspired by a sport that started with a peach basket long ago. Basketball fills hearts of Hoosiers, as the film with the same name would tell you. As far as the citizens of the fine state go, it’s a mystery how they earn their name. 

From miners, farmers, inventors, entertainers, industrialists, and many more, Indiana grows more than corn. There’s plenty to see as the heartland helps keep the country moving right along. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Join National Day Calendar® as they recognize Indiana’s pioneering and progressive history. Explore border to border and unearth the most peaceful heartland and entertaining nightlife! Use #NationalIndianaDay to share on social media. 

 

"Who bids his time tastes the sweet of honey in the saltiest tear; and though he fares with slowest feet joy runs to meet him drawing near." ~James Whitcomb Riley 

 
For a complete list of Indiana State and National Parks & Historic Sites visit www.in.gov and www.nps.gov. Check out a few of the featured sites around the state below.  

 
NATURE and HISTORY 

 
Chain O’ Lakes State Park – Albion 

Fort Harrison State Park – Indianapolis 

Indiana Dunes State Park – Chesterton 

McCormick’s Creek State Park– Spencer 

Mounds State Park – Anderson 

Shakamak State Park – Jasonville 

Tippecanoe River State Park – Winamac 

Turkey Run State Park – Marshall 

George Obear Overlook Park – Delphi 

George Rogers Clark Historic Site – Vincennes 

MUSEUMS 

Conner Prairie – Fishers 

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis – Indianapolis 

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum – Auburn 

Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science – Evansville 

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum – Indianapolis 

Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections – Carmel 

Grissom Air Museum – Peru 

James Whitcomb Riley Museum – Indianapolis 

Angel Mounds – Evansville 

 
Hidden Treasures 

 
Kirkwood Observatory – Bloomington 

West Baden Springs Hotel – West Baden Springs 

Cathedral Labyrinth – New Harmony 

Gennett Records Walk of Fame – Richmond 

We also observe these famous figures born in Indiana of whom are still recognized today for their past accomplishments, heroics, talents, ingenuity and innovations: Little Turtle, Chief Menominee, Juliet V. Strauss, Wilbur Wright, James Whitcomb Riley, Cole Porter, Wendell Willkie, Ernie Pyle, Orville Redenbacher, Kurt Vonnegut, Gil Hodges, James Dean, Dan Quayle, John Mellencamp, Larry Bird, and Michael Jackson. 

 
Visit the link below to see those of notable birth who were not mentioned on the list above.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Indiana 

Here's to The Hoosier State!

 

#NationalIndianaDay 

@INdnrstateparksandreservoirs 

@nationalparkservice 

@IndianaFootball 

@HoosiersMovie 

@IndianapolisMotorSpeedway 

@imsmuseum 

@childrensmuseum 

@chainolakessp 

@FortHarrison 

@INDUNES 

@mccormickscreeksp 

@moundsstatepark 

@shakmaksp 

@tippecanoeriversp 

@TurkeyRunandShades 

@GeorgeRogersClarkNationalHistoricalPark 

@connorprairie 

@ACDAM1974 

@evansvillemuseum 

@MuseumofMinatures 

@GrissomAirMuseum 

@RileyMuseumHome 

@AngelMoundsSHS 

@HistoricHotelsofAmerica 

@Tripadvisor 

@atlasobscura 

@nichecinema