Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, was 13 years old when World War II began in 1939.

While many British children were evacuated from London to the countryside or other safe havens, Elizabeth and her siblings remained behind with the Queen Mother and their father.

In 1945, when the princess turned 18, she broke royal tradition — and protocol — by enlisting in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, a women-only branch of the British Army.

While enrolled in the ATS, Elizabeth trained as a mechanic and truck driver. Though she never saw combat, she is the only female member of the royal family to have served in the British Army.

Long before she trained as a nurse, Mary took a particular interest in supporting British troops during World War I. She designed a program that provided every member of the armed forces with a Christmas gift.

The History Press reported that the program raised over £162,000 in 1914 — £15.9 million ($21 million) today, per the Bank of England — and facilitated the distribution of tins filled with luxury items like tobacco and chocolate to active service members.

By the time the war ended, 2 million gifts had been distributed through the program.

Mary was the first child of a sitting monarch to train at Great Ormond Street, a children's hospital in London, The History Press reported.

As heir apparent to the throne, Edward trained in the Royal Navy from 1907 until 1911. However, at the start of World War I in 1914, he joined the army as a staff officer in the Grenadier Guards, Britannica reported.

Despite being willing to, Edward never served on the front lines of the war.

The Secretary of State for War at the time, Herbert Kitchener, deemed it too dangerous for the heir to the throne to risk dying in the war — or worse, being captured by enemy forces and used as leverage.

"What difference is it if I am killed? The king has four other sons," Edward once asked Kitchener, according to his New York Times obituary.

"If I were certain you would be killed, sir, I don't know whether I should be right to restrain you," Kitchener reportedly responded. "What cannot permit is the chance of the enemy securing you as his prisoner."

Edward VIII became king in 1936 but abdicated the throne later that year.

Michael, a grandson of George V and a cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, began training at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in 1961. Two years later, he was commissioned into the 11th Hussars, a regiment of the British Army.

According to his royal profile, he completed service in Germany, Hong Kong, and Cyprus during his 20-year military career.

Throughout his lengthy military career, he has held multiple military titles, including Honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force and Senior Colonel of the King's Royal Hussars.

William was commissioned as an officer in the British Army after completing his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2006.

Two years later, he transferred to the Royal Air Force, where he trained as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot. He served in active duty for three years, aiding in hundreds of rescue missions.

The heir to the throne never served on the front lines, as his brother Prince Harry did in Afghanistan.

While he was still studying at the University of Cambridge in 1971, Charles trained and qualified with the Royal Air Force as a pilot.

However, he spent most of his military career with the Royal Navy, which he served with between 1971 and 1976.

Charles' military career would prove to be a turning point in his life. When he was deployed, he left behind his then-girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles. While he was away, she became engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles, setting off a chain of events that led him to marry Princess Diana.

The youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II had a brief stint in the military. Edward joined the Royal Marines in 1986 after graduating from the University of Cambridge, but left training after just four months.

Edward was supposed to complete his training in one year, and his decision to quit sparked considerable media attention.

"Prince Edward is leaving the marines with great regret but has concluded that he does not wish to make the service his long-term career," a statement from Buckingham Palace read at the time, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Like Prince Harry, Andrew — Queen Elizabeth's third child after Charles and Anne — is one of the few working royals to have served in active combat.

He served as a helicopter copilot during the Falklands War, engaging in missions related to submarine warfare. He retired from active military service in 2001, earning the title of commander after 22 years in the Royal Navy.

Prince Andrew later stepped down from his royal duties and was stripped of his royal patronages and military titles in 2022 after Virginia Giuffre accused the prince of forcibly having sex with her when she was 17 years old. Giuffre said disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein introduced the pair.

Prince Andrew denied the allegations, which were made public in a 2015 defamation suit. In August 2019, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson issued a statement to Business Insider "emphatically denying" the claims.

In 2022, Andrew settled a lawsuit brought by Giuffre over the allegations. Andrew did not admit to sexually abusing her but agreed to pay Giuffre an undisclosed amount and make a donation to her nonprofit advocating for victims of trafficking.

John Jacob Astor, 48, was a member of the prominent Astor family and helped build the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. He was also an inventor, a science-fiction novelist, and a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

He was traveling with his wife, Madeleine, in Europe when she became pregnant. To ensure the child would be born in the US, the couple booked a trip home on the Titanic.

The New York Times reported that Astor was last seen smoking a cigarette on the deck. His wife, who was 30 years his junior, survived the disaster.

He had a fortune worth somewhere between $90 and $150 million, CNBC reported, when he boarded the fateful ship, or between $2.9 and $4.8 billion in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation. He was the richest passenger on board the Titanic.

Gracie achieved prominence in the wake of the Titanic disaster because of his meticulous and detailed account of the tragedy.

The historian and Alabama native, who had written a book on the American Civil War's Battle of Chickamauga, was on the Titanic, returning from a European vacation.

He was woken up when the ship crashed into an iceberg. After escorting several women to the lifeboats, Gracie helped other passengers evacuate the ship.

When the ship sank, Gracie surfaced beside an overturned lifeboat. He managed to climb on top with other men, and they spent much of the night balanced there.

The historian was one of the first Titanic survivors to die after being rescued, on December 4, 1912, after a prolonged illness. He was 54.

The New York Times reported at the time that Gracie's final words were "We must get them all in the boats," according to Alabama News Center.

Stead was a highly influential editor who, in an uncanny twist, may have foreseen his death on the Titanic.

As the editor of The Pall Mall Gazette, the newspaperman published an explosive and controversial investigative series about child prostitution, Britannica reported. He is credited with helping to invent investigative journalism.

A devoted spiritualist, Stead also established a magazine dedicated to the supernatural and a psychic service known as Julia's Bureau.

He also wrote a fictional story in 1886 that resembled the real-life events of the Titanic in unsettling ways.

"How the Mail Steamer Went Down in Mid Atlantic by a Survivor" tells a story of an ocean liner that sinks in the Atlantic.

In the story, only 200 passengers and crew members of the original 700 people on board survive the disaster because of a lifeboat shortage.

His website reported that Stead didn't hang around on deck as the Titanic sank. Instead, he reportedly spent his final hours reading in the first-class smoking room. He was 62 years old.

Leslie, the Countess of Rothes, was one of the Titanic's most famous passengers.

A popular figure in London society, Leslie became a countess after marrying Norman Evelyn Leslie, the Earl of Rothes, in 1900.

Leslie and her cousin Gladys Cherry booked a trip on the Titanic.

When Leslie made it into a lifeboat, she reportedly found it understaffed and volunteered to help row it away from the sinking ship.

The countess reportedly helped take care of her fellow survivors on board the Carpathia and was dubbed "the plucky little countess" in the press.

After surviving the Titanic disaster, Leslie became a prominent philanthropist and worked as a nurse during World War I.

Andrews was no ordinary Titanic victim. 

The longtime Harland & Wolff employee designed the ship itself. He traveled on the Titanic's maiden voyage to observe the ship and make recommendations on areas where the ship could be improved.

When an iceberg damaged the Titanic's hull and he learned that five of its watertight compartments had holes in them, Andrews immediately knew the ship was going to sink, the BBC reported.

The 39-year-old shipbuilder then began helping women and children into the lifeboats. He made no attempt to exit the ship and was last seen in the first-class smoking room not wearing a lifebelt.

Brown, a socialite and philanthropist, is best known for surviving the Titanic disaster.

Biography reported that she was born in Missouri to Irish immigrants. She married James Joseph Brown in New York City. The couple became fabulously wealthy when Brown's mining business struck ore.

Margaret Brown became a well-known socialite with a penchant for dramatic hats and social activism on behalf of women and children.

She was returning from a voyage around Europe when she decided to book a trip on the Titanic.

During the disaster, she reportedly helped row the lifeboat and demanded that the group of survivors row back to the spot where the ship went down to look for survivors. This earned her the nickname "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" — though her friends and family reportedly called her Maggie.

Brown's life was immortalized in the Broadway musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," which was later adapted into a Hollywood film. Kathy Bates also portrayed her in the award-winning film "Titanic."

Thayer was well known in 1912 as both a former cricket player and a Pennsylvania Railroad Co. executive.

The railroad company vice president was traveling on the Titanic with his wife and son following a trip to Berlin. After the ship struck an iceberg, Thayer made certain that his wife and their maid boarded a lifeboat.

According to Encyclopedia Titanic, Gracie's account of the events reported seeing Thayer looking "pale and determined" on deck before the ship sank. Thayer's body was never found. His son survived by diving into the water and swimming to an overturned lifeboat.

Ismay may have survived the sinking of the Titanic, but he never lived down the public scorn he received in the wake of the disaster.

The White Star Line managing director was the highest-ranking company official to survive the disaster. He boarded a lifeboat 20 minutes before the ship sank into the Atlantic.

He later said he turned away as the Titanic slipped beneath the surface of the water, saying, "I did not wish to see her go down. I am glad I did not," The Telegraph reported.

Ismay received a lot of flak for boarding a lifeboat before other passengers. He was ostracized in society and ultimately resigned from his post and kept a low profile.

The BBC reported in 2012 that Ismay's family said the press unfairly maligned him and that he never fully recovered from the ordeal.

Isidor and Ida Straus first met after the Civil War when a penniless Straus moved to New York City.

Isidor and his brother later acquired Macy's, and he eventually became a powerful businessman and a member of the US House of Representatives.

Straus was reportedly offered a spot on a lifeboat while the ship was sinking. He declined, saying he wouldn't board a raft until every woman and child had gotten off the ship.

Ida then refused to leave her husband. When her husband urged her to evacuate the ship, she reportedly responded, "I will not be separated from my husband. As we have lived, so will we die, together."

She then ordered her maid to board a lifeboat and gave her a mink coat, quipping that she wouldn't need the garment anymore. The couple was last seen together on the deck of the Titanic. Isidor's body was recovered from the ocean, but Ida was never found.

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York, memorialized Isidor and Ida Straus with a cenotaph bearing a line from the "Song of Solomon."

"Many waters cannot quench love — neither can the floods drown it," it reads.

Cosmo Duff-Gordon and his wife, Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon, were two of the most prominent passengers on board the Titanic. 

Cosmo Duff-Gordon was a major landowner and society figure in the UK known for his fencing skills. His wife was a top British fashion designer whose innovations included the precursor to the modern-day fashion show.

The Duff-Gordons booked a trip on the Titanic to travel to New York City on business. When disaster struck, they both escaped on the first lifeboat that embarked off the ship.

Vogue reported that Lady Duff-Gordon described the scene on the Titanic, saying, "Everyone seemed to be rushing for that boat. A few men who crowded in were turned back at the point of Capt. Smith's revolver, and several of them were felled before order was restored. I recall being pushed towards one of the boats and being helped in."

In the wake of the tragedy, Cosmo Duff-Gordon received criticism for not adhering to the ship's "women and children first" evacuation policy.

A few years later, in 1915, Lady Duff-Gordon escaped death again after canceling her voyage on the doomed Lusitania.

Guggenheim was a member of the powerful Guggenheim family, which earned its fortune in the mining industry.

He was traveling on the ship with his mistress, Léontine Aubart, and staffers.

Guggenheim was initially optimistic about the ship's prospects, telling his maid: "We will soon see each other again. It's just a repair. Tomorrow the Titanic will go on again," according to "Life Titanic: The Tragedy That Shook the World,"

Britannica reported that Guggenheim, whose body was never recovered, dressed in his best evening attire and quipped, "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen."

He later passed on a message for his estranged wife to a Titanic survivor.

"If anything should happen to me, tell my wife in New York that I've done my best in doing my duty," he said.

After getting her start as a young girl in vaudeville, Gibson became a model and launched a career as a silent film star.

She was 22 years old when she booked a passage on the Titanic. Gibson reportedly heard the ship crash into an iceberg. She grabbed her mother, and together they escaped the ship on the first lifeboat.

"I will never forget the terrible cry that rang out from people who were thrown into the sea and others who were afraid for their loved ones," Gibson told a newspaper reporter shortly after the disaster, The History Press reported.

Gibson subsequently appeared as herself in a now-lost 1912 film about her experience called "Saved From the Titanic." The History Press reported that Gibson sported the same clothes in the film as she had on during the disaster. Gibson quit acting shortly afterward.

After that, Gibson's life is a bit cloudy. Her affair with a prominent film producer was a scandal in America and prompted Gibson to move to Paris. As World War II began, there were allegations that she was a Nazi sympathizer — the veracity of those rumors is unclear.

Later, while living in Italy in the 1940s, the former actor was imprisoned by fascists. She survived prison but died shortly after the war ended.

The industrialist was the founding president of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., a now-defunct steel-manufacturing business. 

Wick had been traveling in Europe to improve his health. Unfortunately, he booked a trip on the Titanic to return to the US.

Encyclopedia Titanica reported that he was last seen on the ship's deck waving to his wife, daughter, cousin, and aunt as they escaped on a lifeboat.

Bowerman survived the sinking of the Titanic and went on to have an extraordinary career.

Biography reported that the British suffragette and Cambridge graduate booked a trip on the ocean liner with her mother to visit friends living in America and Canada.

They both survived the catastrophe by getting on the same lifeboat as Margaret Brown.

When WWI broke out, Bowerman served in a traveling hospital unit that moved across Europe. Later, in 1923, she was admitted to the bar and became the first woman barrister to practice in the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.

Biography said that later in life, Bowerman headed the establishment of the UN's Commission on the Status of Women.

Hays started in the railway business as a teenage clerk. He went on to become the president of the Grand Trunk Railway, which operated in Canada and the Northeastern US. 

The American railway magnate may have had some reservations about embarking on the Titanic's maiden voyage. Encyclopedia Titanica reported that he told his companions that the trend toward large boats might end in tragedy.

Hays' wife, Clara, and their daughter, Orian, were evacuated from the ship on lifeboats. 

After Charles and Clara were separated, she called out to every other lifeboat they came across, hoping that he had made it on one of them.

But Hays had died when the Titanic sank — his body was later recovered and buried in Montreal.

An author and a single mother, Candee wrote the early feminist work "How Women May Earn a Living" in 1900.

The American writer traveled extensively and befriended several prominent people, including Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan.

She booked a passage on the Titanic to return to the US to care for her son who'd been injured. The writer teamed up with Margaret Brown to operate the oars of the lifeboat.

Even after surviving the Titanic, Candee continued to travel the world, undaunted. She also spoke of the men aboard's bravery during the disaster.

"The men were the heroes, and among the bravest and most heroic, as I recall, were Mr. Widener, Mr. Thayer, and Colonel Astor," Candee said in a 1912 interview, Titanic Archive reported. "They thought only of the saving of the women and went down with the Titanic, martyrs to their manhood."

Harris was a major player on Broadway when he died on the Titanic. He was returning to the US after a business trip to London.

He went down with the ship after ensuring his wife, Renee, who had previously broken her elbow after falling down the ship's grand staircase, got on a lifeboat.

"Harry lifted me in his arms and threw me into the arms of a sailor and then threw a blanket that he had been carrying for me through the hours," his wife said, according to the author Charles Pellegrino's website.

Renee achieved prominence by taking up her husband's line of work and becoming one of the first female theatrical producers in the US.

The Independent reported that Behr, a banker and tennis star, booked a trip on the Titanic only to pursue his future wife, Helen Newsom.

Behr survived the disaster because he was asked to help row one of the lifeboats. Encyclopedia Titanica reported that he may have asked Newsom for her hand in marriage while they were adrift in a lifeboat.

Behr went on to continue his successful tennis career, The New York Times reported.

Futrelle achieved success as a mystery author before dying on the Titanic.

The Georgia native started out as a journalist, working for the New York Herald and The Boston Post — two now-defunct papers.

Futrelle is best remembered for his fictional stories. He wrote a series about the fictional detective professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen. His most famous story was "The Problem of Cell 13."

Futrelle and his wife dined with Henry and Renee Harris on the night the ship sank. Futrelle ensured that his wife got on a lifeboat and was last seen speaking on deck with Astor.

Rosenbaum was a stylist, fashion buyer, and journalist who was returning to the US on the Titanic after embarking on a reporting assignment in Paris.

The Telegraph reported that a year before the Titanic disaster, Rosenbaum had "survived a car accident the year before in which her fiancé, a German gun manufacturer, had been killed."

Following the accident, her mother purchased her a small musical toy pig as a good-luck charm.

As the ship went down, the stylist would play the toy's tune to calm and distract the crying children on her lifeboat, The Daily Mail reported.

"The children were crying and whimpering," Rosenbaum said, The Huffington Post reported. "And I said, I believe I'll play music and maybe the children would be diverted. ... And the poor children were so interested, most of them stopped crying."

Butt led a distinguished — and varied — career before dying during the Titanic disaster.

Arlington National Cemetery's website said that Butt started out as a reporter but enlisted in the US Army during the Spanish-American War.

He served in Cuba and the Philippines. In 1908, he became President Theodore Roosevelt's military aide and served Roosevelt's successor, William Taft, in the same capacity.

Butt's "health began to deteriorate in 1912 because of his attempts to remain neutral during the bitter personal quarrel" between Roosevelt and Taft, which may have prompted his decision to travel to Europe.

There are a number of unverified accounts of Butt's behavior during the sinking — with many sensationalized stories of the military officer leading the evacuation or threatening male passengers who tried to ignore the ship's "women and children first" protocol.

"If Archie could have selected a time to die, he would have chosen the one God gave him," Taft said in a private memorial service, according to the Smithsonian. "His life was spent in self-sacrifice, serving others."

He added: "Everybody who knew him called him Archie. I couldn't prepare anything in advance to say here. I tried, but couldn't. He was too near me."

Taft then said: "To me, he had become as a son or a brother."

The president later broke down weeping while delivering the eulogy at Butt's funeral.

The Astor family dates back to the early 1700s when the original John Jacob Astor (pictured) came to the Americas from a small village in Germany to make a name for himself.

He started making money in the fur-trading businesses, but his real fortune began when he entered the world of real estate, Biography reported.

One of his first big purchases was a plot of land in the middle of Manhattan, modern-day Times Square. Quickly, Astor bought land all around Manhattan, becoming one of the richest men in the world and creating a dynasty. 

When John Jacob Astor IV was born to William Astor and Caroline Webster Schermerhorn in 1864, the Astor name was already well-respected in high society, and the family's fortune was one of the world's largest. 

The New Netherland Institute reported he first attended St. Paul's School in Concord and then went on to Harvard University, but there is no official record of him graduating from the college.

After schooling, Astor went abroad for a few years before returning to New York to take up the family business: real estate. 

In 1893, William Waldorf Astor built the Waldorf Hotel on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street.

Reportedly, he built the hotel to spite his cousin, John Jacob Astor IV. In retaliation, Astor built a competing hotel in 1897 on the adjacent corner and named it the Astoria Hotel.

Architectural Digest reported that when the cousins were finally convinced that joining both hotels would be a smart business decision, a 300-foot marble corridor was built between them. The famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was born. 

For the next few decades, the hotel became a symbol of luxury, wealth, and class in New York. It was considered one of the best hotels in the country and even in the world. 

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel closed in 1928 and was demolished, making room for the Empire State Building. The new Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was built farther uptown in 1931, long after Astor's death.

In 1904, Astor opened the St. Regis Hotel, which The New York Times called "the finest hotel in America" at the time.

The St. Regis Hotel said that Astor aimed to make the hotel technologically advanced and ensured that each room had a telephone, making the hotel's rooms as practical as they were glamorous.

Some historians call the hotel Astor's "greatest achievement," according to Biography.

In 1894, Astor published his first and only science-fiction novel, "Journey in Other Worlds."

"A 'Journey in Other Worlds' races far ahead of the nineteenth century to imagine what life would be like in the year 2000," the Amazon synopsis reads.

"At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Earth is effectively a corporate technocracy, with big businesses using incredible advances in science to improve life on the planet as a whole," it continues. "Seeking other planets habitable for the growing human population, the spaceship Callisto, powered by an antigravitational force known as apergy, embarks on a momentous tour of the solar system."

In 1898, he patented a bicycle brake, invented a vibratory disintegrator (used to generate gas from peat), and created a pneumatic road-improver. He also helped invent a turbine engine. 

Ava Lowle Willing and Astor had two children together, Vincent and Alice.

Although they seemed like the perfect, upper-class family, the marriage was largely unhappy.

The couple got divorced in 1909, setting Astor up for one of the family's biggest scandals. 

When Astor and Madeleine Talmage Force married in 1911, it became a scandal — at the time, divorce was rare and remarrying was even more so.

The controversy over their relationship even made its way onto screens decades later. In the 1997 Oscar-winning movie "Titanic," Rose points out Astor and his pregnant wife to Jack. 

"His little wifey there, Madeleine, is my age and in delicate condition. See how she's trying to hide it? Quite the scandal," she says.

At the time, Astor was one of the world's richest men, and he certainly was the wealthiest aboard the Titanic.

CNBC reported that he had a fortune worth between $90 and $150 million when he boarded the fateful ship. Today, when adjusted for inflation, he would be worth between $2.9 and $4.9 billion.

Biography reported that Astor was among the first few people who knew the ship was sinking.

He woke his sleeping, pregnant wife and told her to get dressed in her warmest clothes. He then put all of the couple's jewelry on her, took her to the deck, and placed her in a lifeboat.

She clung to her husband and wanted to stay with him, but he reportedly said, "The sea is calm. You'll be alright. You're in good hands. I'll see you in the morning."

The New York Times reported that Astor was last seen smoking a cigarette on the deck. He was wearing a dinner suit and holding a personalized pocket watch.

Astor was among the 306 bodies found by the crew of the Mackay-Bennett in the weeks after the tragedy, according to the Nova Scotia Archives, but only one of 59 bodies that were claimed by victims' relatives and returned home. 

The initials sewn into his jacket reportedly identified him. The New York Times reported his pocket also contained a solid gold watch engraved with the initials JJA.

Many of the Titanic's victims were buried in a cemetery (pictured) in Halifax, but Astor's son, Vincent, traveled there to claim his father's body and bring it home to New York.

If Astor made it to the US, it's believed he would have made his and Madeleine's unborn child the heir to his fortune.

However, most of his money went to his first son, Vincent (pictured), from his first marriage.

John Jacob Astor VI received only a small portion of his father's fortune, but Vincent went on to donate a large sum of his father's money and became a philanthropist in New York City. 

As the most famous person to die in the tragedy, Astor's name and reputation have survived through the years.

In fact, he has been portrayed in several TV shows and movies. Most notably, Eric Braeden played Astor in "Titanic." 

Williams, commonly known as R. Norris Williams, was born on January 29, 1891, in Geneva, Switzerland, though his parents were from the US, The New York Times reported.

A descendant of Benjamin Franklin, he grew up in a wealthy family as the son of a prominent lawyer, Charles Duane Williams, who taught him how to play tennis as a child.

After a bout of measles halted his original travel plans to the US, where he planned to attend Harvard University, he booked a ticket on the Titanic, the Times reported.

Williams was 21 when he and his father, 51, boarded the ship at Cherbourg, France, on April 10, 1912.

They both held first-class tickets, according to the Mariners' Museum and Park.

Of all the first-class and second-class passengers who boarded the Titanic, 45% of those passengers died in the sinking, according to Britannica, compared to 75% of third-class passengers who died.

Williams later recounted the events of the ship's sinking in an unpublished memoir, which was passed on to his widow and his four children after his death, Main Line Times & Suburban reported.

During the sinking, he freed a passenger trapped in one of the cabins by breaking down a door that was stuck, Sports Illustrated reported. A member of staff then approached him and threatened to fine him for damaging the ship's property.

A similar scene occurs in James Cameron's film "Titanic," when Jack and Rose break down a door during their escape and are reprimanded for damaging White Star Line property.

Both men either jumped into the water or were washed overboard, The New York Times reported.

Williams later wrote in his memoir, parts of which were republished by Main Line Times & Suburban in 2012, that his father was crushed by a falling funnel, though his accounts differed slightly at different points in his life.

To escape the sinking boat, Williams removed his shoes and swam to a lifeboat about 100 yards away, although he recalled being weighed down by a fur coat he was wearing over his life jacket, The New York Times reported.

He reportedly held on to the lifeboat before climbing into it, and sat up to his knees in freezing water and waited to be rescued.

The Times reported that "only about a dozen" of the passengers in Williams' lifeboat survived.

Once on the Carpathia, Williams was told by a doctor that his frostbitten legs would need to be amputated.

However, the aspiring tennis professional refused.

"I refuse to give you permission," Williams said, according to his 1968 obituary. "I'm going to need these legs."

Determined to save his legs, Williams walked around Carpathia's deck every two hours, eventually regaining sensation in his lower body, The New York Times reported.

The same year he survived the Titanic sinking, Williams won the US National Tennis Championships in mixed doubles alongside Mark K. Brown and ranked among the top 10 players in the world, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In 1916, he won the national title again and became the highest-ranked tennis player in the US.

In addition to his prowess on the tennis course, Williams also served in the US Army during World War I and was awarded two honors, the Légion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre, according to the Olympics.

After the war, Williams resumed his tennis career, and in 1920, he won a Wimbledon doubles title, The New York Times reported.

However, his tennis career reached its peak at the 1924 Paris Olympics when Williams won a mixed-doubles gold medal with his tennis partner, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman.

According to the Olympics, after retiring from professional tennis, Williams worked as an investment banker and then served as president of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

He was named a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1957, nine years before his death at the age of 77.

Williams died on June 2, 1968, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

According to his New York Times obituary, he was survived by his widow, Frances "Sue" Gillmore Williams, three sons, and one daughter.

His widow died on June 13, 2001, according to Main Line Times and Suburban.

"Mac and cheese is amazing in the slow cooker and one of my favorite ways to make it," Leigh Anne Wilkes told Business Insider.

Wilkes likes to use a variety of cheeses in her recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese — including sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, and Parmesan — and she tops it with a generous amount of crispy bacon.

"Whether you have a houseful of kids or it's just the two of you, the slow cooker can make cooking so much easier," Wilkes said. "I often refer to it as my secret weapon to getting dinner on the table."

Mashed potatoes can be a big hassle, from parboiling them to mashing and finding a space for them on the stove.

However, mashed potatoes can easily be made in a slow cooker. Just make sure to add water to your pot, or you won't get the desired consistency. The potatoes should take about four hours to become tender enough to mash. Then, add heavy cream, butter, or chives to taste.

"Even if you don't cook in the slow cooker, it is the perfect way to keep things warm," Wilkes said. "The biggest challenge with a holiday meal is getting all the food done at the same time and the slow cooker is a perfect place to keep things warm while the rest of the meal finishes cooking. If your potatoes finish up before the main dish, keep them warm in the slow cooker."

However, you'll want to give yourself plenty of time, as it will take multiple hours for the potatoes to soften.

One of the benefits of making a slow-cooker Buffalo chicken dip — or any other side dish in a slow cooker — is that it can be prepared well ahead of time and reheated when you're ready to eat.

Green bean casserole is a favorite side dish at many holiday gatherings, from Thanksgiving to Easter, and a recipe can easily be made in a Crock-Pot or slow cooker.

Wilkes told BI one of her favorite ways to use a slow cooker on Easter or another holiday is to make her recipe for honey or maple-glazed carrots. 

"The slow cooker is the perfect thing to use when putting together a holiday meal," Wilkes said. "Especially when you are limited on oven space, it can be your second or third oven. I often have two or three slow cookers going for a holiday meal."

Simply toss them in with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and cook until tender.

Top with balsamic glaze, goat cheese, pine nuts, and more for a delicious side dish.

This recipe for slow-cooker scalloped potatoes from Damn Delicious instructs you to prepare the cream sauce beforehand, before pouring it over sliced potatoes in the slow cooker and cooking them on high heat for four to five hours.

You might be shocked to discover you can actually make warm, fluffy dinner rolls in a slow cooker. One recipe from I Heart Eating teaches you how to make the perfect dinner-roll dough and bake it only using a slow cooker.

"These Crock-Pot rolls are amazing," Wilkes said.

Plus, since this recipe calls for frozen rolls, it cuts out a lot of the extra prep work. To make, dip each roll into mayonnaise, then melted butter, then cheese, and place them in the slow cooker. Then, sprinkle garlic powder and parsley over the top and bake for two hours on high.

I know that for my family, we usually have both lamb and ham on the table at Easter dinner. If you want to make another kind of meat as a side dish or alternative, a slow cooker can be a great way to make cleanup and cooking a snap.

"If I am cooking a smaller ham, I will always cook it in the slow cooker," Wilkes told Business Insider.

Wilkes' recipe uses a glaze made from brown sugar, maple syrup, and brown mustard. 

Architect Stanley Meston designed the original look for McDonald's restaurants, which featured a red-and-white color scheme. When the McDonald brothers first saw the design for their new restaurant, they were concerned that the roof was too flat.

Meston recommended adding the now-iconic golden arches to the building's roof to create a more dimensional look.

A location in Downey, California, is the oldest still-operating restaurant featuring the original red-and-white design.

This London restaurant, pictured in 1985, looks remarkably similar to urban McDonald's restaurants of today. 

This outdoor courtyard, with its wooden tables and benches, looks quite different from most McDonald's seating areas now, though some McDonald's locations are still housed in historic buildings.

There are still surprising, unique McDonald's restaurants around.

Before the 1960s, the McDonald's menu was simple. It included burgers, cheeseburgers, fries, milkshakes, and other fast-food classics. The first new item to be added to the national menu was the Filet-O-Fish sandwich in 1965.

In 1968, the Big Mac was released nationwide, followed by the Quarter Pounder with cheese in 1973. In 1979, Happy Meals were introduced for the first time. 

USA Today reported that many customers in the 1980s were looking to reduce their fat intake and were shaking up their diets by introducing more lean protein and poultry.

For McDonald's, adding chicken to the menu was a no-brainer.

Today, employees often wear T-shirts that reflect the chain's most popular and current promotions.

For McDonald's customers in the 1980s, the restaurant was a symbol of America, which translated into the chain's advertising campaigns. 

In honor of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, McDonald's introduced the slogan "If the US wins, you win." With every purchase, McDonald's customers received a scratch-off ticket that revealed a certain sporting category.

The New York Times reported that if a US Olympian won gold in that category, they could exchange the ticket for a free Big Mac. A silver earned you free french fries, and a bronze medal won customers a free Coke.

The Tuscaloosa News reported that customers were caught off guard when Reagan made an unplanned stop at an Alabama McDonald's restaurant in 1984.

"The President of the United States ordered a Big Mac, a large order of fries and sweet tea, proffered a $20 bill from his right front pant pocket, got his $17.54 in change, and looked around for a place to enjoy his meal," a reporter on the scene later wrote in 2006. 

When asked about the last time he had eaten at McDonald's, Reagan replied that it was before he "got this job."

"But I kind of miss it sometimes," he continued. "I figured as long as I had the opportunity, I might as well take advantage of it and stop."

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The tuna salad was moist and packed with chopped tomatoes, but it tasted flavorless, underseasoned, and bland overall.

The wrap could have benefited from other vegetables, like celery or red onion, to add more of a crunch.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax.

The wrap came with a creamy mustard spread, which I wasn't sure how to use. I ended up dipping the sandwich into the spread as I ate, which added a sharp spiciness to the sandwich.

The meat tasted fresh. However, other than the mustard sauce, it didn't pack much flavor.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax. I thought this was a little pricey for a meatless wrap that didn't come with a dipping sauce.

The wrap was simple, and the hummus was just as creamy as described.

The chopped carrots, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red cabbage gave it a Mediterranean flair and added flavor. Overall, however, I didn't feel completely satiated by this meatless option. I'd need a bit more than this wrap to fill me up at lunchtime.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The turkey breast was moist and flavorful, and the turkey bacon added a slight smokiness. The spinach added a touch of freshness, and the tomato-flavored wrap added even more flavor to this take on a club sandwich.

However, I thought the wrap could have used a touch more mayonnaise, and the tomato flavor in the sauce didn't come through as much as I expected it to.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The fresh flavor of the spinach and pungent Swiss cheese really came through, as did the honey Dijon mustard sauce. I thought the tortilla was also really flavorful.

However, other wraps from Trader Joe's delivered a more dynamic flavor profile. This wrap was undeniably tasty but just a little boring.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

This wrap was really moist and flavorful, and the nuttiness of the pesto, which came on the side, added a vibrant flavor that really impressed me.

The two different types of cheese also added a lot of moisture and flavor to the wrap. I liked the addition of the pesto sauce, which I drizzled over the top of the wrap as I was eating.

I'd definitely buy this again for an easy lunch on the go.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

The wrap features chicken meat tossed in spicy Buffalo sauce, complete with diced celery in a tomato-flavored flour tortilla. It also includes a packet of blue cheese dressing.

I thought this wrap was super flavorful and had just the right amount of spice. I dipped the sandwich in the blue cheese dressing provided, which added a more savory flavor.

The wrap was moist without being soggy, and overall, it impressed me.

It cost $4.99, excluding tax.

Unlike the wraps, this sandwich came served on a multigrain rustico roll.

I loved every part of this sandwich and thought it would make the perfect lunch for the office or a refreshing beachside snack in the summer.

The apple slices added a tart contrast to the savory turkey and Dijon mayonnaise, while the nutty, grainy bread tied all the flavors together.

It was also heartier and more filling than many of the wraps despite being less expensive in most cases. I thought that made this sandwich the best value by far.

It cost $5.49, excluding tax.

This wrap reminded me slightly of a chicken Caesar wrap but had even more flavor. The tarragon's fragrant flavor balanced out the fresh notes of the lettuce and mayonnaise, while the almonds added the ideal amount of nuttiness and crunchy texture.

It had a great depth of flavor and kept me full all day. However, it was also one of the highest-calorie wraps I tried, so keep that in mind if you're trying to cut back on your intake.

That said, based on flavor and size, I thought this wrap was great value for the money, and I'd definitely buy it again.

I arrived at the restaurant around noon on the day of the menu's release. There were multiple customers inside, but I didn't hear anyone else ordering any of the pickle items.

The prices for the new menu were surprisingly affordable. Most chains are focusing on value as people tighten their budgets, and Popeyes is no exception, according to LaCount.

"Value is not just about price," he said. "It's about what you get for that price. Having fun offerings like the pickle menu, where a lot of people get to try new foods and experiment, gives you the opportunity to try something new at a relatively cheap price-point."

It cost $5.49, excluding tax, at the location I visited.

The sandwich was also topped with the chain's signature pickle slices.

The dill pickle flavor really popped, and the slightly spicy glaze, which was more of an oil than a sauce, was balanced out by the moist, crispy chicken breast. The bun also toned down the heat, while the thickly cut pickles added even more briny flavor and a nice crunch.

This sandwich improved on both the original and spicy Popeyes chicken sandwich. I'd definitely order it again.

The fried pickles cost $3.49, excluding tax.

I'd never had fried pickles at a fast-food chain before, so I was eager to see if I preferred these over other Popeyes sides like the Cajun fries or mac and cheese.

The pickles were crispy but still moist. There was an even layer of breading on the pickle slices, but not so much that it overpowered the tart, briny flavor of the pickles.

The pickles tasted great on their own, but I also liked them paired with the ranch.

The pickle-glazed wings can be ordered boneless or bone-in. I tried a six-count of the bone-in wings, which cost $6.99, excluding tax.

The thick glaze clung to the crispy wings in an even coating. The flavor profile was surprisingly spicy, but not too hot that it was overwhelming. The meat inside was juicy, and I couldn't believe how much flavor was packed into such a small bite.

Out of all the items I tried, this is the one I'll be ordering again.

The pickle glaze also tracks with food trends that are resonating with Gen Z, such as sweet and spicy combinations.

The chilled pickle lemonade and frozen pickle lemonade both cost $4.49, excluding tax.

It was mostly sweet, with a slight hint of briny, dill flavor thanks to the addition of pickle juice.

It paired well with the other items on the menu, but I could also see myself ordering this on its own or even as a mixer for cocktails.

The pickle items have the potential to reach scores of people who love briny flavor profiles — especially Gen Z, which is a target audience for the pickle menu, according to LaCount.

I was genuinely impressed by the menu. In fact, it's the first Popeyes release that has truly excited me since the viral relaunch of its chicken sandwich in 2019, which sparked the infamous "chicken sandwich wars."

While a "pickle war" may not be on the horizon, I can say I'd be first in line to defend these pickle-glazed wings.

Alabama's famous white barbecue sauce — invented by a pitmaster in Decatur, Alabama, in the 1920s before becoming a popular choice across the state — is creamy and tangy, made with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and ground black pepper.

Alaska's salmon is said to be the freshest, pinkest salmon around. According to the state, it's the top producer of wild salmon in the world.

Also known as "Navajo tacos," these are popular in Arizona. The fried dough is topped with traditional taco fillings like meat, beans, and cheese.

Caught locally and tucked between two buttered buns, the deep-fried catfish sandwich is best paired with a side of fries and slaw.

Though the famed French Dip originated in this sunny state, California is best known for its avocados. Try one of California's fresh avocado club sandwiches to see why.

You've heard of the Denver omelet, but have you heard of the Denver sandwich? It's a traditional Denver omelet filled with diced ham, onions, and green bell peppers, and then stuck between pieces of toast. Extra points if you add ham and hash browns.

Connecticut is known for its non-traditional hamburgers, which are served on white toast with a choice of onion, tomato, or cheese, but no condiments. Try one at Louis' Lunch in New Haven.

Anyone visiting this seafood-obsessed state should try a soft-shell fried crab sandwich topped with coleslaw and leafy greens.

The Sunshine State is known for its Cuban sandwich, which features generous portions of ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on two slices of Cuban bread.

Those visiting Georgia — the original home of Chick-fil-A — should partake in a classic fried chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and spicy mayo.

Kālua-style pork is common fare at most luaus, but the slow-roasted and shredded meat is also amazing on sandwiches. Try yours with pineapple coleslaw for an extra Hawaiian punch.

The Best Sandwich Shack in Idaho really lives up to its name. Locals swear by the "Meat Your Maker" — a combo of steak, Italian sausage, bacon, and more.

Illinois is known for an open-faced sandwich called the Horseshoe, made with thick-sliced toasted bread, your choice of meat, and topped with french fries and a secret cheese sauce.

Indiana claims to have the best pork tenderloin in the nation. Put it to the test by tasting a Hoosier sandwich, or a breaded tenderloin on bread.

Purists insist on trying it with only a few dill pickles and some mustard, but you can also get it with lettuce, tomato, and other fixings.

It's made with unseasoned ground beef, sauteed onions, and sometimes topped with pickles, ketchup, or mustard on a bun.

"Runza" or "bierocks" are a bun-shaped bread pocket filled with beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. The recipe was spread by German immigrants to the Midwest.

It consists of an open-faced sandwich with turkey and bacon covered in cheesy Mornay sauce and baked or broiled until the sauce begins to brown.

The classic po'boy is made with French bread and roast beef or fried seafood. A "dressed" po'boy has lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, onions, and hot or regular mustard.

What else would you order in Maine but a classic lobster roll? Served on a lightly grilled bun and filled with steamed and buttered lobster, these sandwiches taste like summer.

You can find some of America's freshest crabs in Maryland. Try a crab cake sandwich on a buttered bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

If you've never tried the Fluffernutter sammie, you're missing out.

It's made with soft white bread topped with peanut butter and marshmallow Fluff, which was invented by Archibald Query of Somerville, Massachusetts.

Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor is known for its corned beef sandwiches, especially the Oswald's Mile High, which is made with corned beef and yellow mustard on double-baked, hand-sliced Jewish rye bread.

Though the war over which restaurant invented it continues, Minnesota is the official home of the Jucy Lucy — a burger cooked with cheese on the inside that oozes out at the first bite.

It consists of two tender pig ears served on a small bun with mustard, slaw, and hot sauce.

Feast on Missouri's famous Gerber, an open-faced sandwich with French bread, garlic butter, ham, provolone, and paprika, and then perfectly toasted.

Montana is known for its huckleberries, which grow in the wild during the summer and fall seasons. Try its famous huckleberry jam for a delicious PB&J.

It's made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, and is best served on rye bread.

Some variations contain five burger patties with bacon and, of course, a side of fries.

One of the proudest accomplishments of this state is its delicious maple syrup. Order a fried ham and cheese Monte Cristo drizzled with it for the ultimate breakfast sammie.

Stop by any Garden State diner and try the signature Jersey breakfast sandwich. It's thick-cut Taylor ham (or pork roll) with egg and American cheese on a hard Kaiser roll or bagel.

A cheeseburger is one thing, but a green chile cheeseburger takes it to a whole other level. This state's signature vegetable adds a major kick to this classic American dish.

There's nothing more NYC than a pastrami sandwich from Katz's Delicatessen in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The famous deli, which opened its doors in 1888, is one of the city's oldest delis and arguably the most famous deli in the country. 

Scores of celebrities and politicians have frequented the restaurant over the years, and it was even featured in the classic 1989 romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally."

Katz's is where the iconic "I'll have what she's having" scene took place.

Just like Hawaii, one of North Carolina's best sandwiches is pulled pork, but make sure to smother it in a tangy, vinegar-based barbecue sauce.

This state's huge Scandinavian population loves their Smørbrød, a classic open-faced sandwich commonly made with rye bread, roast beef, Gravlax (a type of salmon), butter, lettuce, Jarlsberg cheese, pickled herring, hard-boiled eggs, honey mustard, or cucumber.

Not to be confused with Louisiana's po' boy, Ohio's Polish boy is a sausage sandwich native to Cleveland. It has a link of kielbasa covered with a layer of french fries, barbecue or hot sauce, and coleslaw, all on a bun.

What's better than chicken-fried steak? That same breaded and fried steak on a hamburger bun with your choice of condiments.

Portland is known for its delicious vegan food. Falafel pitas, in particular, are a popular choice, packed to the brim with veggies and hummus.

The state's most famous food by far is the classic Philly cheesesteak.

Thinly cut steak handsomely topped with cheese on a roll is delicious by itself, but don't be afraid to add sautéed onions, peppers, mushrooms, mayonnaise, hot sauce, salt, pepper, or ketchup.

This tiny state is home to a very big sandwich. The Dynamite, which hails from Woonsocket, is a sloppy Joe burger made with onions, bell peppers, and celery. Be careful — it is spicy.

People say the tuna melt was born in 1965 in South Carolina at the Woolworth's lunch counter. Head there and see for yourself why this simple delicacy is a Charleston classic.

South Dakota's walleye is next level, so it's no surprise that the state is known for its walleye sandwiches. When the flaky fish is fried to perfection, it will melt in your mouth.

Sink your teeth into Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich, made with peanut butter, banana, and bacon. Just be careful — the mix of salty, sweet, and savory is highly addictive.

Barbecue brisket is Texas's national dish, so try yours on some hardy, homemade bread with or without onions and bell peppers.

When in Utah, it's perfectly acceptable to dig into a burger topped with a quarter-pound of thin-sliced pastrami.

"Pastrami burgers," which originated at Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City, are slathered with a Thousand Island-style sauce as well as tomatoes, shaved lettuce, and onions.

The "Vermonter" takes advantage of its state's freshest ingredients, like turkey, ham, Vermont cheddar cheese, green apples, and honey mustard.

There's almost nothing more classic than a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, and Virginia is known for its excellent cheeses and succulent ham.

Due to its large Vietnamese community, Seattle is home to some of the best bánh mì sandwiches in America.

The inexpensive staple is usually made with pate, bright, crunchy vegetable slaw, fish sauce, and sliced jalapeño pepper or fresh cilantro.

Stop into Ben's Chili Bowl and order a chili half-smoke, a half-pork, half-beef smoked sausage served on a warm steamed bun with mustard, onions, and spicy homemade chili sauce.

Make a delicious apple and turkey sandwich with West Virginia's Golden Delicious apples. Cheese and apples sound like a weird combo, but it's worth it.

This Midwestern state has a large German immigrant population, so it's no surprise that its most famous sandwich contains classic bratwurst. Eat the sausage roll topped with mustard, sauerkraut, and cheese curds — another thing for which Wisconsin is well-known.

Wide-open Wyoming is where the buffalo roam ... and occasionally appear on menus. Try a bison meatball sandwich when you're here to taste the state's most famous meat.

The most basic cheeseburger at McDonald's cost $3.49, excluding tax and fees, at my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York.

The cheeseburger had a smattering of diced onions across the bottom of the patty and inside the bottom bun. The cheese made the burger patty and top bun stick together, sandwiching the other ingredients inside.

Overall, it was a good snack but not hearty enough to satiate me for a full meal. I also thought the bun was a little flavorless, and the cheese could have been more melted.

The condiments also overpowered the taste of the burger — this cheeseburger really only tasted of cheese and ketchup to me, while the bun made my mouth feel a little dry.

I didn't really taste the onions, though I thought the pickles were tart and crunchy.

The cheeseburger cost $2.79, excluding tax and fees, at a Burger King in Brooklyn, New York. It was the least expensive burger I tried.

This burger appeared to be just a touch bigger than the McDonald's burger. The cheese was also more melted.

I thought the addition of diced onion and mustard on the McDonald's burger did little to amp up the flavor, and I found this burger much tastier.

The bun had a distinct sesame flavor, and the beef patty had a slight smokiness that tasted fresh off the grill.

The cheese was thick and perfectly melted onto the burger patty, something I didn't experience with the burger from McDonald's. For its low price, I thought this burger was a good value.

While Wendy's offers a variety of different burgers, big and small, the Dave's Single is the chain's most classic cheeseburger. Named after Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, it is available in multiple sizes, from a single to a triple-stacked burger.

It features one of Wendy's signature square-shaped patties and is the chain's version of a classic cheeseburger.

It cost $8.74, excluding tax and fees, at my local Wendy's in Brooklyn, New York. It was the most expensive burger I tried.

The Dave's Single cheeseburger comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.

When I lifted the top bun of the burger, it was practically dripping sauces, which I didn't necessarily mind. There was also a generous serving of pickles and a large slice of tomato.

Next time, I might remove the mayonnaise or ask for a half-serving to reduce how moist the burger was.

I thought the toppings tasted fresh, and it was a good size. However, I wasn't sure if it was worth the high price tag.

The Cheese Champ, which is Checker's most basic cheeseburger, cost $6.49, excluding tax and fees, at the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York.

The burger had one patty and was topped with American cheese, tomato, red onion, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. It was served on a toasted "bakery-style" bun.

Checkers served one of the largest burgers I tried, and I thought it was also relatively affordable at just under $7. The burger toppings were fresh, especially the thickly cut sliced tomato and iceberg lettuce.

I thought the cheese and beef patty were both flavorful, and the burger had the perfect amount of condiments to add moisture and flavor without making it too soggy.

My only complaint was with the bun, which I thought was a little too thick and stodgy compared to Sonic's fluffier bun.

Overall, I was impressed.

The Sonic cheeseburger cost $8.04, excluding tax and fees, at my local Sonic Drive-In in Brooklyn, New York.

There was a generous serving of each topping, and they were evenly layered across the burger patty to ensure that every bite had an equal amount of all the ingredients.

While it wasn't the cheapest burger, I thought it was a great value considering its size and the amount of flavor packed into it.

The beef was juicy but well-seasoned, the cheese added the perfect amount of tang, the pickles and tomato were fresh and added a tart crunch to every bite, and the soft bun held everything together.

Although Sonic's burger was quite similar to Checkers', I preferred the more expensive option solely for its flavor. It simply tasted fresher and better overall.

The next time I'm reaching for a classic fast-food cheeseburger, I'll stop by Sonic Drive-In.

Famous for its ribs, Dreamland Bar-B-Que has been satisfying folks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 1958.

Celebrities even come to the restaurant to enjoy the food, including comedians Sean and Penn Teller, actor and singer Reba McEntire, and former president George W. Bush, who ordered some of the restaurant's famous ribs to-go to eat aboard Air Force One, The Tuscaloosa News reported. 

Located in Anchorage, Alaska, Snow City Cafe is known around town as a popular brunch restaurant specializing in egg sandwiches and pancakes.

The establishment made a name for itself in 2015 when President Barack Obama came in to buy all of the cinnamon rolls for his staffers and even reporters following the president, NBC reported at the time.

Durant's Steakhouse is a fine-dining restaurant in Phoenix. The establishment is well-known for its steaks, red booths, and martinis.

The food has attracted notable diners through the years, including John Wayne, Joe DiMaggio, and Clark Gable, Visit Arizona reported. The steakhouse is also a popular eatery among Arizona's politicians. 

Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Petit and Keet is an award-winning restaurant and bar. Locals have rated it the top restaurant in the state several times in Arkansas Times' readers choice issue. 

Craig's opened in 2011 in Los Angeles, and it specializes in Italian and American fare, including dishes like pizza, pasta, honey truffle chicken, and steak.

However, the restaurant is mostly known for its celebrity clientele. Kim Kardashian and "Vanderpump Rules" star Lala Kent have both been photographed at the restaurant, and Eater reported that Lizzo, Olivia Jade, and Nicky Hilton all dined there in 2022.

Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs started as a hot dog truck, but now it's one of the most famous restaurants in Denver. The eatery offers hot dogs made of beef, elk, ostrich, wild boar, and even a combination of rabbit and rattlesnake. Cream cheese and caramelized onions are also popular toppings at this restaurant.

Biker Jim's unique offerings caught Anthony Bourdain's attention and were featured on his show "No Reservations."

Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs also appeared on the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" and the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."

Mystic Pizza opened in 1973 in Mystic, Connecticut, but it wasn't until the late '80s that the pizzeria became famous worldwide after screenwriter Amy Jones visited the eatery and decided to set her movie in Mystic Pizza.

The movie, which starred Julia Roberts and was shot on location at the pizzeria, was released in 1988. "Mystic Pizza" became a national phenomenon, causing many tourists to flock to the pizza eatery to try "A Slice of Heaven."

Stoney's Pub in Wilmington, Delaware, is best known for its British pub fare like "Mum's poached or boiled fish," shrimp and chips, and roast beef dinner.

However, the eatery was put on the map when it appeared on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."

During the show, host Guy Fieri said, "You're going to have to pry this out of my hands," when he took a bite of the restaurant's gravy-covered roast beef, the Food Network reported.

Seaspice sits on the Miami River offering customers sweeping views of the city.

The restaurant specializes in "gastro-classic dining" serving dishes like wagyu steak tartare, crab tempura, and sushi.

Seaspice often has over a two-hour wait and is a favorite among celebrities like Marc Anthony, the Miami Herald reported after he arrived by yacht to dine at the restaurant in 2016. 

In addition to a hearty lineup of steaks, STK specializes in seafood dishes like oysters, shrimp cocktail, and salmon, as well as other dishes like roasted rack of lamb and short ribs.

The restaurant has drawn celebrities over the years, including Selena Gomez and Denzel Washington.

Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans were also spotted eating at STK while "Captain America 3" was being shot in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The Manago Hotel and Restaurant dates back to 1917, years before Hawaii officially became a state, and is popularly known as the oldest restaurant in Hawaii. 

Among the restaurant's most famous offerings are its family-style pork chops, which attract tourists from across the country. 

White Horse Saloon, which opened in 1908 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, is located in Spirit Lake, Idaho.

The restaurant is known as the oldest operating saloon in the state. While the restaurant is temporarily closed, the bar remains open.

Named by Time Out as "the most prominent Jewish deli in Chicago," Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen has been owned by four generations of the same family for 80 years, according to the restaurant's website. 

The restaurant serves classic deli fare like Reuben sandwiches and corned beef hash as well as unique dishes like tongue and mushrooms.

St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis is well known for its shrimp cocktails, steak, chicken, and seafood.

However, the eatery became known by many more people when it appeared on a 2013 episode of NBC's "Parks and Recreation," which is set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. 

Indianapolis Monthly reported that in the episode, Rob Lowe, Aziz Ansari, Adam Scott, and Nick Offerman go out for steaks at the establishment. 

Northwestern Steakhouse in Mason City, Iowa, opened over 100 years ago in 1920.

Today, the restaurant is still operating, serving steaks covered in olive oil, butter, and Greek seasoning. In 2017, Thrillist named Northwestern Steakhouse the "most iconic restaurant" in Iowa. 

Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que may be a former gas station, but it's now famous nationwide for its burnt-ends sandwich and ribs.

Founded by Jeff and Joy Stehney in 1990 after the couple attended a local barbecue contest, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que now has three restaurants across the state, a private tasting room, and an event space. 

Located in North Corbin, Kentucky, the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum is a popular tourist attraction for KFC enthusiasts and history lovers alike.

Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, operated the restaurant from 1940 to 1956. During this time, he developed his signature recipe for fried chicken, which is still used by the fast-food chain.

Visitors to the museum can examine historic memorabilia and exhibits related to KFC's history and snack on fried chicken. 

Situated inside a bright blue-and-white Victorian-style building in New Orleans' Garden District, Commander's Palace opened in 1893 and has been serving locals ever since.

Explore Louisiana reported that celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse worked as the iconic restaurant's head chef after a stint of restaurant jobs in France, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

He worked at Commander's Palace for eight years, during which time he perfected his signature Creole-influenced cooking style.

Open since the 1920s, The Lobster Shack at Two Lights is located on the shores of Cape Elizabeth. It serves lobster rolls and fried seafood by the basket all summer long.

The restaurant became even more well known when, Food Network reported, celebrity chef and TV personality Bobby Flay visited the eatery on his show "FoodNation," bringing the Lobster Shack into the national spotlight. 

Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore is known for its American cuisine and farm-to-table philosophy.

In 2016, Michelle and Malia Obama were spotted dining in the restaurant. It is said to have many celebrity guests but the establishment has a policy that bars employees from disclosing any information, though the owners did reflect on serving Michelle Obama on the restaurant's 10th anniversary in 2017.

"She gives the best hugs," former server Amy Sherald, who also was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint a portrait of Michelle Obama, told Baltimore Magazine. "She walked in and I was thinking she would shake my hand, but she hugged me and the kids."

Many know Cheers in Boston as the setting for the hit '80s NBC sitcom of the same name. However, the restaurant was popular long before the show premiered.

According to the restaurant's website, Cheers was originally named the Bull and Finch Pub and opened in 1969 as a neighborhood spot for classic American grub and beers.

Today, it's a landmark in Boston, attracting tourists from all over to grab a pint in the place where everybody knows your name. 

Hack-Ma-Tack Inn was founded in 1894 as a private hunting and fishing lodge and was named the most iconic restaurant in Michigan by local news outlet MLive in 2019.

Matt's Bar in Minneapolis opened in 1954 and made a name for itself after creating the famous Jucy Lucy, the most famous local sandwich in the state. 

Staying true to its name, the Jucy Lucy is a burger filled with oozing, melted cheese.

The burger is so famous that it was even featured on the Travel Channel, appearing on shows like "Man Vs Food" and "Food Wars."

The Mayflower Cafe is a staple in Jackson, Mississippi, and has been open since 1935. The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network, as well as in the films "Ghosts of Mississippi" and "The Help."

After opening as a humble hamburger stand, the Mayflower Café has occupied the same street corner for over 80 years, the Clarion Ledger reported.

Gates BBQ in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1946 and specializes in pork ribs, barbecue sandwiches, and sides.

The joint's tomato-based secret sauce also helped make the restaurant an institution in Kansas City.

Lucca's in Helena, Montana, is a fine-dining restaurant that focuses on Italian cuisine.

The eatery serves Italian mainstays like baked ziti, spaghetti, risotto, and chicken. TripAdvisor has ranked it among the best eateries in the state, and Business Insider previously named Lucca's the best restaurant in Montana. 

"Lucca's cozy dining room — which holds a mere 15 tables — creates an intimate environment for guests to enjoy Chef Hyyppa's carefully crafted dishes," wrote Business Insider reporter Mary Hanbury. 

Big Mama's Kitchen in Omaha, Nebraska, specializes in comfort food, serving fried chicken and catfish.

Food Network considers the restaurant one of its "Top Places to Eat," and on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," host Guy Fieri said his favorite was the pig-ear sandwich.

Mr Chow is a luxury restaurant inside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and it's popular among celebrities.

Britney Spears had dinner there on New Year's Eve to ring in 2016, Eater reported, and Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez even held a party at the establishment before their split, Access reported.

The restaurant itself serves Asian cuisine and offers a performance with a champagne trolley.

Moxy in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is known for its tapas menu, which offers guests pork belly bites, short rib crostini, and mussels.

Chef and owner Matt Louis helped put the eatery on the map after he became a semi-finalist for the James Beard Award, a top honor in the culinary world, for four years straight in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

He has also been named as a nominee for Food and Wine's best new chef three times. 

Tops Diner in East Newark, New Jersey, opened in 1942 and has been serving its famous burgers, meatloaf, and lobster mac and cheese for decades.

In 2017, Time Out named Tops the best diner in the country, and back in 2015, Thrillist called the diner the "most iconic" restaurant in New Jersey.

El Pinto in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves up huevos rancheros, enchiladas, and burritos.

USA Today named El Pinto one of the best restaurants and called it "a local favorite." It's also among Food Network's top places to eat.

Katz's Delicatessen in New York City is known for two things.

First, the pastrami sandwich is considered one of the best in the country. Second, it was also the setting for an iconic scene in the 1989 movie "When Harry Met Sally," starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Today, the restaurant is a popular tourist attraction where people come to reenact the famous scene and chow down on some of the deli's classic offerings, from Reubens to matzah ball soup. 

Skylight Inn in Ayden, North Carolina, specializes in southern barbecue.

Food Network named the eatery one of its "Top 5" barbecue restaurants in the US, and says one of the best menu items is the chopped pork sandwich.

Red Pepper has been open for more than 50 years, with students at the University of North Dakota among its many clientele.

The most popular dish served is the everything grinder, which has salami, turkey, ham, and cheese on a roll. The taco burger is also popular at Red Pepper.

The Daily Meal has described the establishment as a "local landmark" and a "local legend," and Esquire named Red Pepper as one of the best late-night food spots in the country in 2012.

Red Steakhouse in Cleveland is well-known for its steak, pasta, and seafood.

The eatery even has the Kardashian stamp of approval. In an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," Kim and Kourtney dined at Red Steakhouse, Refinery 29 reported.

Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, sits on the famous Route 66 and has been serving up sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and chili since 1939. "Betsy," the restaurant's grill, has been used continuously for over 75 years.

The grill has "seared more than 5 million burgers, chicken fried steaks, and much more" over the years, according to the restaurant's website. 

Food Network reported that Guy Fieri said he loved Rock Cafe's buffalo and alligator burgers while visiting the establishment on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives."

However, Rock Cafe has another major claim to fame. The restaurant claims that researchers from Pixar Animation Studios visited it in 2001 and then used it as inspiration for the movie "Cars." Today, there are homages to the movie throughout the restaurant. 

Recently opened in October 2022, Lilia Comedor in Portland was featured in the New York Times' list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States in 2023 and one of Oregon Live's best new restaurants in 2022.

Headed by chef Juan Gomez, Lilia Comedor's menu changes every day but features dishes like pork collar confit, diver scallops, and braised short-rib enmolada.

Established in 1918, Victor Cafe in Philadelphia specializes in Italian food, offering customers ravioli, risotto, and steak.

However, the restaurant isn't known just for its food. Victor Cafe's claim to fame is its appearances in the "Rocky" franchise, when the restaurant appeared in "Rocky Balboa" in 2006, according to the restaurant's website, and in its spinoff, "Creed." In the movies, the restaurant is called Adrian's.

Located in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Crazy Burger is famous for its hamburgers. Some notable burgers include the Mahi Mahi Taco Burger, the Poco Loco Vegan Burger, and the Luna-Sea Fish Burger.

Crazy Burger got national attention when Food Network's Guy Fieri visited the restaurant on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," eating something called the "Whassupy Burger," which comes with sesame, wasabi, and fennel rub on a beef burger, topped with Brie cheese and onion rings on an ancient grain bun.

Henry's On The Market is the oldest restaurant in the state. According to its website, Henry's On The Market was one of the most popular restaurants to eat at from 1932 to 1960.

The restaurant has undergone various transformations over the years, but it remains a popular spot for live music and features a rooftop bar and dance lounge.

In South Dakota, you can famously see signs along the road for Wall Drug Store more than 1,000 miles before you're even near it. The road signs are a genius marketing strategy thought up by Dorothy Hustead in the 1930s to entice drivers along Route 16 to come to her drugstore, according to the store's website.

Today, the road signs still stand and Wall Drug Store includes a restaurant where tourists come from all over to try the donuts, ice cream, and famous beef sandwiches. 

Bluebird Cafe in Nashville is a restaurant and famous music venue. It opened in 1982 and serves minimal comfort foods, including chicken fingers and turkey club sandwiches.

However, the real draw is the music performances and the famous guests, which have included Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Jon Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge, and Garth Brooks. The ABC show "Nashville" was also filmed there in 2012. 

Established in 2009, Franklin Barbecue has been a staple in the Texas and Austin barbecue scenes for years and has even gained a reputation worldwide for its mouthwatering brisket and barbecue sides. 

Eater reported that Anthony Bourdain visited the spot for an episode of "No Reservations" in 2012, where he waited in line for over an hour. The barbecue was apparently well worth the wait since he called the brisket "earth-shatteringly good."

In 2011, Bon Appetit called Franklin the "best barbecue in the country," and Texas Monthly ranked the restaurant first on its list of "The Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas."

Franklin Barbecue owner Aaron Franklin is also one of the top names in barbecue. In 2015, he became the first chef specializing in barbecue to be awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for best chef in the Southwest.

Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City allows guests to dine in railroad cars that were operating during the early 1900s. The restaurant focuses on brunch foods, serving cinnamon roll French toast, huevos rancheros, and deep-fried mac and cheese.

When "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" host Guy Fieri visited the restaurant, he said he couldn't get enough of the fluffy biscuits. 

Located in Waterbury, Vermont, Prohibition Pig specializes in smoked meats and beer, but the Food Network says the real star on the menu is the mac and cheese.

Located in Virginia Beach, Beach Pub serves up seafood classics like crab cakes, shrimp, and fish-n-chips.

Their popular seafood dishes attracted Food Network host Guy Fieri in 2011. While there, he ate the oyster Rockefeller, baked rockfish, and fish hash, giving the pub national attention and fame. 

Before Canlis opened in the 1950s, founder Peter Canlis wanted to build the restaurant in downtown Seattle, but he couldn't afford it. Instead, he built his eatery outside the city and on the edge of a cliff.

The second-choice location seemed to pay off, because Canlis has been nominated for 21 James Beard Awards in its history.

The Greenbrier Resort's main dining room has been serving customers for over 100 years and has become a landmark in the state.

The fine-dining restaurant serves dishes like tuna crudo, beef tenderloin tartare, and curried carrot spaghetti.

Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mader's Restaurant has been open for over 100 years. It serves mostly German foods like wiener schnitzel, German potato salad, and Hungarian-style beef goulash.

However, throughout its long history, Mader's has served nearly 100 famous guests, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra, according to the restaurant's website.

Since its opening in 1862, Miners and Stockmen's has been a local favorite and is regarded as the oldest restaurant in the state.

The rustic appeal and history of this restaurant aren't the only draw, however. It also serves up classic favorites like steaks, salads, and decadent desserts.

The restaurant's famous red-and-white design was designed by architect Stanley Meston.

However, after the McDonald brothers saw the design for the first time, they said that the roof looked too flat. It was then that Meston added the now-iconic golden arches to the building's roof. 

The oldest still-operating restaurant featuring the original red-and-white design is located in Downey, California.

Called the "McDonald's No. 1 museum," the site in Des Plaines was created to replicate what it would have been like to visit the McDonald's franchise when it opened.

The museum was demolished in 2018 after repeated flooding and declining tourism, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Still, photos from the museum show how visiting the first restaurant was a very different experience from what it's like to go to McDonald's today.

Instead of the drive-thru model that's popular today, this method of ordering was called "drive-up."

Every McDonald's worker had a specific job, and most of the food was preassembled before customers even ordered, according to History.com.

This allowed McDonald's locations to serve their food much faster than their competitors. 

The original McDonald's menu offered hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milk, root beer, orangeade, Coca-Cola, coffee, and three kinds of milkshakes: chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla.

In 1949, potato chips were swapped with french fries and McDonald's began selling milkshakes.

At the first McDonald's location, every item cost less than 25 cents, and hamburgers were only 15 cents. Burgers could also be purchased by the dozen for large parties. 

All burgers were pre-made with ketchup, mustard, onions, and two pickles. If you wanted to order your hamburger a different way, you would have to wait just a little bit longer.

The chain marketed its signature shoestring fries as "salty goodness," Fox News reported.

McDonald's might have looked very different had it not been for the invention of the Multimixer.

Multimixer salesman and McDonald's Corporation founder Ray Kroc first met the McDonald brothers in 1954 while attempting to sell them more Multimixers for their restaurants.

It was then that Kroc introduced the idea of franchising their business and set plans into motion to open his first location.

Customers took their burgers on the road or chose to sit in the parking lot, gazing up at the McDonald's sign advertising its 15-cent burgers. The experience started what would eventually lead to the expansion of the No. 1 fast-food chain in the world.

Just over a decade later, there were 1,000 McDonald's locations in the US.

Today there are more than 38,000 McDonald's restaurants in more than 100 countries.

The grilled asparagus comes served on a bed of lemon ricotta with toasted almonds.

The carrots are slow-roasted and glazed in maple brown butter.

The snap peas are seared with fresh herbs and dressed in a chile-lime vinaigrette.

The salad comes with crispy cucumbers, sesame, soy, garlic, and mild red chiles.

The ceviche is made from sushi-grade ahi tuna and poached shrimp, per the chain. It's tossed with green onion, cilantro, and lime juice, and served with guacamole and corn tortillas.

The fritters are lightly battered and fried with fire-roasted chiles, cheddar cheese, and green onion.

The chicken shawarma is served in a halved pita with grilled chicken, tomato, homemade pickles, onion, garlic, and cilantro.

It comes with french fries or a green salad on the side.

The Mortadella Panino is made with Mortadella, melted fontina cheese, lemon ricotta, arugula, and onion garlic aioli on toasted ciabatta bread.

It comes with french fries or a green salad on the side.

The new burger comes with two patties, two slices of cheese, grilled onions, and special sauce on a toasted Brioche roll.

It comes with french fries or a green salad on the side.

It's made with Asian rice noodles, snow peas, shiitake mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onion, egg, cilantro, and chopped peanuts.

The dish is also available with shrimp.

While one tuna salad is exiting the menu, this new salad has sushi-grade ahi tuna seared to a rare temperature, avocado, tomato, sesame, soy, and cilantro with mixed greens tossed in a shallot vinaigrette.

The new entrée is a charbroiled branzino fish fillet with lemon and fresh herbs, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

The SkinnyLicious version of the branzino is grilled with tomato, basil, shallots, and garlic. It comes with mashed potatoes and green beans.

The new steak frites come with a charbroiled rib-eye steak in a red wine sauce, grilled onions, and garlic-herb butter and is served with Parmesan french fries.

The Asian-inspired dish comes with pieces of filet mignon sautéed with shiitake mushrooms, snap peas, peppers, and onion, with a spicy sesame-ginger sauce. It's served with a side of white rice.

One of the chain's new brunch dishes is the grilled steak and eggs, which includes a grilled ribeye steak, two eggs, potatoes or tomatoes, and toast.

The nonalcoholic drink is made with yuzu and fresh lemon.

There's also a martini version of the drink that's made with Grey Goose vodka and elderflower liqueur and shaken with yuzu juice and kaffir lime.

The margarita is made with Código blanco tequila, chile, lime, and pineapple.

The cocktail is made with Toki Japanese whiskey with yuzu and honey.

The kid-sized dessert comes with a piece of shortcake, vanilla ice cream, and strawberries.

Villepreux-Power, a naturalist and marine biologist, invented the first glass aquarium to aid in her study of aquatic organisms, Britannica reported.

The invention allowed her to determine that Argonauta argo, a species of octopus, produces its own shells rather than obtaining them from other animals, as hermit crabs do. 

Villepreux-Power's invention of a glass aquarium has proven invaluable to scientists for over a century.

Johnson's ice cream maker consisted of an outer wooden pail, an inner tin cylinder, and a paddle connected to a crank.

To make ice cream, you had to fill the outer pail with crushed ice, fill the inner cylinder with ice cream mix, and manually crank a handle to churn the mixture while the ice cooled and set the ice cream.

Her patent was approved on September 9, 1843, almost 100 years before freezers, as we know them today, were invented.

Before Boone's invention, women's garments were traditionally ironed across a wooden plank set upon two chairs. Boone wanted to create a board that could be slipped underneath sleeves to get an even iron, without the impressions that wooden boards often left behind.

With the invention of the ironing board, which Boone described as an effort to "produce a cheap, simple, convenient and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies' garments," she became one of the first African American women to be awarded a patent, Biography reported.

Connelly's invention in 1887 allowed people escaping fires to move from one building to another and climb down buildings on a steel staircase.

The invention was also valuable to firefighters, who could use platforms to hoist their equipment up the sides of buildings to fight fires without entering.

Beasley patented her first invention of collapsible life rafts in 1880, according to the University of Edinburgh, though by that time she was a well-known entrepreneur and inventor.

Her rafts took up less space than traditional wooden lifeboats, which were used on the Titanic's fateful voyage. Each raft could hold up to 47 people and introduced the idea of guard rails, which are commonplace in modern life-raft designs, per St Mary's College.

Some have claimed that Beasley's life rafts were, in fact, used to evacuate passengers on the Titanic, but author David H. Cropley negated this in his book, "Femina Problematis Solvendis ― Problem-Solving Woman: A History of the Creativity of Women."

"In fact, if the four collapsible lifeboats carried on the Titanic were versions of Beasley's design, then something went badly wrong," Cropley wrote. "Only two were launched shortly before the vessels sank."

Biography reported that Child moved to Washington, DC, after being fired from her job in the advertising department of home-furnishings company W. & J. Sloane and before starting her journey as a chef.

Once she arrived, she began volunteering as a research assistant for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a newly formed government intelligence agency that would eventually become the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

During her time at the OSS, Child developed a shark repellent and facilitated the communication of important, top-secret documents between US government officials and their intelligence officers, per History.com.

Cochrane was a wealthy woman who wanted a machine that could wash dishes "faster than her servants" could, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

After she was granted a patent for her dishwasher, she marketed the machine to restaurants and hotels. Later, Cochrane founded a company for her dishwashers that eventually became KitchenAid.

Anderson's great-great-niece, Reverend Sara-Scott Wingo, told NPR that Anderson was riding a streetcar that day in New York City. After noticing that the snow caused traffic jams, since there was no efficient way to clean windshields at the time, she began brainstorming ideas for a wiper.

Anderson received a patent for her "window cleaning device" in 1903.

The New York Times reported that when Kwolek started working at the DuPont Company in 1964, her team was focused on finding a strong yet lightweight fiber for tires.

One year later, she made an unexpected breakthrough in her research when she created a new fiber that was five times stronger than steel. DuPont patented the fiber that same year under the name Kevlar, which is now used in everything from bulletproof vests to military helmets to racing sails. 

In 1995, Kwolek became the fourth woman to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Magie created "The Landlord's Game" in order to teach people about monopolies, unchecked capitalism, and the "evils of accruing vast sums of wealth at the expense of others," Smithsonian Magazine reported. She was granted a patent for the game in 1904. 

In 1935, an unemployed heating salesman named Charles Darrow became incredibly wealthy after selling a copy of Magie's game to the Parker Brothers. Magie, on the other hand, sold her patent to the Parker Brothers for just $500 that same year.

With a PhD in theoretical elementary particle physics, Jackson was one of the first African-American women to receive a doctorate from MIT in any field, the university said.

From 1976 to 1991, Jackson conducted research at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where she helped contribute to the development of caller ID and call waiting.

In 2016, then-President Barack Obama awarded Jackson the highest honor for scientific achievement in the US, the National Medal of Science.

The American Chemical Society reported that Elion and Hitchings developed a method known as "rational drug design" that helped revolutionize drug making.

Their research allowed them to successfully interfere with cell growth, which led to the development of the first effective drugs for treating leukemia and several other illnesses.

Elion also discovered azathioprine, an immunosuppressant that made it possible for people with weak immune systems to receive organ transplants.

Knight's knack for innovation started at a young age. When she was just 12 years old, she invented a safety device for cotton mills, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers reported.

During her time at the Columbia Paper Bag Company in 1867, Knight began working on a machine that created flat-bottomed bags. When fellow machinist Charles Annan tried to steal her idea, Knight sued him and won the patent for her machine after a long legal battle. 

Gilbreth invented the shelves inside refrigerator doors, filed a patent for an improved can opener, helped General Electric design the proper height for kitchen fixtures, and created other inventions, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Together with her husband, Frank, Lillian also pioneered several industrial management techniques designed to increase efficiency and productivity.

The couple had 12 children, two of whom wrote a famous book about their family's life called "Cheaper by the Dozen."

Considered one of the first three modern programmers, Hopper made trailblazing breakthroughs in the development of computer languages. 

A rear admiral in the US Navy, she is probably best known for inventing COBOL, or "common business-oriented language" in 1959, Yale News reported. By the 1970s, COBOL was the "most extensively used computer language" in the world. It was also the first user-friendly computer software for businesses.

In 2016, Hopper was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, for her contributions to the field of computer science.

In 1993, Wood began working with medical scientist Marie Stoner on a method to grow skin tissue directly on patients instead of in a culture flask, the Australian Academy of Science reported.

The duo launched ReCell, "a spray-on solution of skin cells" two years later. In 2002, ReCell gained international attention after Wood used it to treat severely burned victims of the 2002 terrorist attack in Bali, Indonesia, Vice reported.

The first woman to receive a doctorate in physics from Cambridge University, Blodgett created non-reflective coatings for eyeglasses and improved cinematography lenses, according to the University of Cambridge. 

During WWII, she also made improvements to the smokescreen that helped protect soldiers from toxic smoke exposure.

MIT reported that in 1946, Donovan designed a waterproof diaper cover using nylon parachute cloth and plastic snaps. The diaper cover, which Donovan called the "Boater," debuted at NYC's Saks Fifth Avenue in 1949. It was an instant hit.

Sadly, Donovan's disposable paper diaper, which she invented in the 1950s, never took off. It wasn't until a decade later that Victor Mills, the creator of Pampers, eventually capitalized on her idea.

Van Brittan Brown, who worked as a nurse, came up with the idea of a home security system after seeing the rising crime rates and slow police responses in her neighborhood in Queens, New York City, BBC reported.

MIT reported that she and her husband, Albert Brown, an electronics technician, filed a patent for their security device in 1966, and it was approved three years later in 1969.

In 1930, Wakefield and her husband bought a tourist lodge in Whitman, Massachusetts, called the Toll House Inn. One day, while baking cookies, she realized she was out of baker's chocolate and used a semi-sweet Nestlé chocolate bar instead, thinking that it would melt into the mix, All Recipes reported.

However, the chopped-up pieces of chocolate stayed intact, and the chocolate-chip cookie was thus born.

Wakefield went on to call the cookies Chocolate Crunch Cookies and the recipe ended up in a local Boston newspaper, Yankee Magazine reported. The recipe became so popular that Nestlé began printing it on the wrapper of its chocolate bars.

Lucy Yang contributed to an earlier version of this post.

At the Brooklyn, New York, location I visited, the bacon ranch chicken sandwich typically costs $16.99, excluding tax.

You can also order the sandwich as part of a lunchtime deal during the week. It costs $12.99 and includes a drink.

The bun was left plain, though a generous serving of ranch dressing was placed on top of the crispy chicken breast.

The chicken's breading didn't have the crispiness I usually expect in a chicken sandwich, but the pickles and ranch dressing helped add moisture and flavor.

The chicken breast was thick and juicy, though it was the smallest of the sandwiches I tried. The bacon strips were also a bit overcooked for my taste. While some prefer extra-crispy bacon, I personally enjoy a slight chewiness.

The classic chicken sandwich cost $12.49, excluding tax, at the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was an excellent value.

The chicken breast was well-fried and bigger than the bun — a promising sign for a chicken sandwich.

The fried chicken's breading was peppery and the pickles added a nice touch of brine to the flavor profile.

The bun held everything together, though I found that as I was eating, the breading started to become a touch soggy due to the moisture of the chicken breast.

However, for the price, I thought this was a great deal. I'd definitely order it again.

The crispy chicken sandwich typically costs $14.49 at my local Chili's in Brooklyn, New York.

However, you can also order the chicken sandwich as part of the chain's 3-For-Me value meal. The meal deal starts at $10.99 and includes the choice of a beverage, a starter, and a variety of entrées.

The chicken breast was fried to crunchy perfection, with crispy bits spilling out of the sandwich. I could hardly wait to take a bite.

As I took a bite, a burst of salty, briny flavor hit my taste buds thanks to the pickles and flavor of the chicken breast.

The chicken sandwich had the perfect balance of crunch and crispiness while remaining moist, thanks to the juicy chicken breast that wasn't too thick, and the generous spread of mayonnaise on both buns, which added even more flavor.

Jobs commonly held by women included postal clerks, who sorted letters and packages. While it wasn't uncommon for women to work in post offices, very few women actually delivered mail.

The US Postal Service reported that in 1920, only 5% of the nation's 943 village carriers were women. 

As local postal delivery was gradually phased out in favor of larger city delivery, most of the remaining women village carriers either resigned or were transferred to clerk positions.

The US Department of Labor reported that in 1920, women made up about 20% of the labor force, an increase from previous generations.

Many of them were involved in the production and manufacturing of clothing, food products, and tobacco products.

Women of color, on the other hand, were largely employed in agriculture and domestic service work for much of the early 20th century.

Many women took typing courses to secure higher-paying jobs as secretaries or typists in clerical offices rather than working in factories.

The Encyclopedia of Chicago reported that working conditions, wages, and hours in clerical work were seen as the best at the time.

Clerical work attracted young, literate, mostly white women who would work as typists until they were married, only to be replaced by other young unmarried women when they left their jobs to raise their families.

As the popularity of silent films began to rise, women found work behind the scenes on movie sets.

The Women Film Pioneers Project wrote that a 1923 edition of "Business Woman" published a list of 29 different jobs that women held in the film industry, apart from actresses.

Job positions included that of a typist, secretary to the stars and executive secretary, costume designer, seamstress, telephone operator, hairdresser, script girl, film retoucher, title writer, publicity writer, musician, film editor, director, and producer, among others.

However, most occupations were seen solely as a precursor to marriage.

Among married white women of both native and immigrant backgrounds, only around 10% were in the workforce, History reported.

It was more common for married women of color to hold jobs outside the home, however.

Inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which only allowed men to join in exchange for free room and board, Eleanor Roosevelt started "SheSheShe" camps to help women gain employment in environmental conservation, The Corps Network reported.

Many women during the Great Depression found work as secretaries, teachers, telephone operators, and nurses.

Women also earned incomes by sewing clothes in Works Progress Administration (WPA) sewing rooms. The rooms manufactured products such as men's trousers, boys' coveralls, baby clothes, women's dresses, and diapers. 

During World War II, women assisted in manufacturing wartime necessities like gas masks.

Forbes reported that between 1940 and 1945, women's participation in the US workforce increased from 27% to nearly 37%. 

Before the war, women were largely in traditionally "female" fields such as nursing and teaching.

After Pearl Harbor, many women entered the armed forces at astonishing rates. In 1943, more than 310,000 women worked in the US aircraft industry, making up 65% of the industry's total workforce, History reported.

Before the war began, women made up just 1% of the industry.

A 1935 law titled the National Recovery Act actually required women who held jobs within the government to receive 25% less pay than men in the same jobs.

In 1942, during wartime, the War Labor Board ruled that women would be paid the same as male workers who were now away at war.

However, the war ended before they could receive equal pay.

With no laws to protect female workers from pay inequality, female workers in the 1940s earned around 60% of what their male counterparts made, MarketWatch reported.

Even though there were technically more women in the workforce in 1952 than during the war, women were often paid less and given jobs with less upward mobility than their male counterparts.

Many women were forced to give up the jobs they had worked in during wartime, giving them to male soldiers returning home.

The most popular jobs for women during the 1950s were secretaries, bank tellers or clerical workers, sales clerks, private household workers, and teachers, The Week reported.

Female secretaries in the 1950s gained a reputation for being young and attractive.

In fact, a 1959 quiz from a secretarial training program in Waco, Texas, reposted by The Atlantic, asked women if they have what it takes to be a secretary, including "smiling readily and naturally" and being "usually cheerful" among its requirements. 

Flight attendants during the 1950s became symbols of the golden age of flying — when traveling by air was seen as the height of sophistication and glamour. However, with this "glamorous" career also came a host of sexist protocols.

Condé Nast Traveler reported that women were not allowed to work as flight attendants after they reached the ages of 32 to 35, while male flight attendants could work well into their 60s.

In 1957, Trans World Airlines dropped its no-marriage rule for female flight attendants. However, many airlines continued to only hire non-married female flight attendants.

After women returned home from their secretarial or office jobs, they had another job to do: caring for the children, doing the housekeeping, and, of course, putting a hot dinner in front of their husbands. 

This became known as the "second shift." If women didn't hold office or other jobs during the day, they were relegated to being "housewives."

Many suburban women began selling Tupperware out of their own homes in what became known as "Tupperware parties." 

"Tupperware ... took those moms out of the kitchen where they were 'supposed to be' and let them enter the workforce, and let them have something outside the home," Lorna Boyd, whose mother Sylvia was an at-home Tupperware seller in the 1960s, told the Smithsonian Institution.

In the 1960s, Barbara Walters was a broadcast journalist working in New York City. In 1976, she would become the first woman to anchor a nightly newscast, Variety reported.

Many other women were also joining the journalism field as coverage of the Vietnam War became increasingly widespread.

Smithsonian Magazine reported that "computer girls" became a term for "savvy young women" pursuing careers in computer programming.

Computer programming was seen as "easy" work similar to typing or filing, so many women ended up building the field that would come to be known as software development. 

However, the work was seen as "unskilled."

"Women were seen as an easy, tractable labor force for jobs that were critical and yet simultaneously devalued," technology historian Marie Hicks said in her book "Programmed Inequality," The Guardian reported. 

Title VII was added to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protecting workers from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

In 1963, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed in order to protect men and women who perform "substantially equal work in the same establishment" from sex-based wage discrimination.

These measures were especially beneficial to women of color. Up until the 1970s, women of color could be openly discriminated against in the hiring process and were often assigned to providing
"domestic service work" to white families, The Economic Policy Institute reported. 

It meant women were no longer welcome in many computer programming offices. 

"They weren't going to put women workers – seen as low-level drones – in charge of computers," Hicks told The Guardian.

Female computer workers, or "computer girls," were gradually phased out and replaced with men, who received higher salaries and more prestigious job titles.

The Atlantic reported that from 1972 to 1985, the number of women working "professional" jobs increased from 44% to 49%. The number of women working "management" jobs nearly doubled, rising from 20% to 36%. 

However, in 1970, women still did not earn equal wages to men holding the same positions.

After measures were passed that prevented universities and institutions from discriminating against students on the basis of sex, more women were admitted into medical school than in past generations, according to a study published by the British Medical Bulletin.

Other strides were made for women in the late 1970s.

In 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act was passed as an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which meant that women could start building families without fearing how it would affect their careers.

The Atlantic reported that, in 1985, half of all college graduates were women. However, only 41% of women between the ages of 25 and 44 held full-time year-round jobs.

Even in the mid-1980s, women themselves saw their own careers as inferior to their husbands'.

The Atlantic also cited a 1985 Roper survey that showed only 10% of women said that a husband should turn down a "very good job" in another city "so the wife can continue her job."

In 1984, at the Democratic National Convention held in San Francisco's Moscone Center, Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman nominated as vice president by a major political party.

Women were encouraged to "do it all" — meaning, hold a successful job as well as maintain a happy and healthy marriage and raise children.

Computers became increasingly prevalent, reducing the need for secretaries, bank tellers, and retail workers.

For most earlier decades, women would be married between the ages of 20 and 22, Time reported.

The average age for women to get married rose to 24 in 1990, and by 1997, it was 25.

In 1995, nearly half of all women surveyed for a report by the National Center for Education Statistics said they earned half or more of their total family income. 

Fortune reported that at the start of 2020, 109,000 more women were working than men, and women in the US made up 50.4% of the labor force.

Sectors that traditionally hire women, like healthcare and education, were growing, and other industries previously dominated by men were also hiring more women than ever before.

Forbes reported that 13.8% of mining and logging jobs were held by women, and more women were employed in manufacturing and transportation than in years past.

CNBC reported that more than 2.3 million women in the US left the labor force between February 2020 and January 2021, compared to about 1.8 million men who registered as unemployed.

This placed the women's labor force participation rate at 57%, the lowest rate since 1988, according to the National Women's Law Center.

However, the actual number of women who were unemployed may have been much higher due to those who may have left the labor force but were not actively looking for work.

In January 2021, 275,000 women left the labor force, accounting for 80% of all unemployed workers over the age of 20 that month.

The situation was even worse for women of color.

According to the NWLC, 8.5% of Black women aged 20 and over were unemployed in January 2021, compared to 8.4% in December 2020 and 4.9% in February 2020.

Adversely, the unemployment rate for white men aged 20 and over was 5.5% in January 2021, compared to 5.8% in December 2020 and 2.7% in February 2020. 

A 2024 report by the Independent Women's Forum said that in 16% of all US households, women are the primary or sole "breadwinners." The report also revealed that 29% of households reported that both male and female spouses earned the same amount of money.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that in 2025, the unemployment rate for women was slightly lower than the rate for men. Women also have a 57.5% participation rate in the labor force, compared to 67.6% for men.

Many women are also starting their own businesses and choosing entrepreneurship over traditional careers.

For this recipe you'll need:

• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 pint plum tomatoes
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Zest of 1 lemon
• A box of spaghetti
• 3 ½ cups of water
• Swiss chard
• Kale
• ¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• Red pepper flakes

Meghan doesn't list any exact measurements in the scene, other than how much water she uses, so I estimated how much to use of each ingredient.

I spent $28.10, excluding tax, on ingredients at my local grocery store in Brooklyn, New York.

Meghan said this doesn't need to be precise and that you can use whatever tomatoes you have on hand, from a mix of red or yellow plum tomatoes or more exotic varieties like heirlooms.

At this point, you keep the stovetop off — when Meghan is making it, she does these steps while the pan is on the countertop.

After adding the olive oil and tomatoes to the pan, I sprinkled the entire skillet with salt. I then added the chopped garlic and mixed it with a wooden spoon.

Part of what makes this pasta dish especially easy to make is that you don't need to boil the pasta in a separate pot. Instead, the pasta water comes together with the other ingredients to cook the pasta and make the sauce.

I zested a whole lemon over the pasta noodles and then started boiling my water in a tea kettle.

In the show, Meghan said to cover the spaghetti with water, which she said takes about 3 ½ cups. However, the amount you use will depend on the size of your skillet.

Even though the water was fully boiled when I added it, I noticed that it wasn't hot enough to cook the pasta fully since the entire dish had to be brought to a boil.

I turned the heat on my stove to medium-high and let the pasta boil for about five minutes.

Meghan doesn't say exactly how much she uses, but I ended up using about three stems. She recommends chopping the red part of the stem for added color and flavor, as well as the leaves.

I tried to separate the spaghetti noodles using a wooden spoon but found that they initially stuck together. However, as the pasta continued cooking, they eventually separated.

I also added the chopped Swiss chard and a couple of handfuls of massaged kale, which I tore apart with my hands and added directly to the pot.

Meghan said the starch from the pasta would create a "creamy" sauce without the need for cream. Even after letting it all cook down for a few minutes, I thought it still appeared pretty watery.

The blistered tomatoes and cheese made the sauce slightly thicker and a light-orange color. The pasta noodles were also perfectly al-dente.

I topped the dish with a pinch of fresh salt and red pepper flakes, per Meghan's suggestion.

I love having a one-pot recipe on hand, especially during a busy workweek. This pasta dish made for a quick, healthy dinner.

The lemon and slightly blistered plum tomatoes added flavor, while the red pepper flakes added a kick — I was surprised Meghan and Harry's kids would be into it. It tasted light and fresh, and I thought the Swiss chard and kale added texture.

However, it was far from the most flavorful or decadent pasta dish I've ever had.

Still, it was also unbelievably quick and easy to make, and even easier to clean up.

I could see myself adding this recipe into my weekly rotation for a quick dinner, though I'm not sure I would make it for a dinner party or when I'm really wanting to impress someone with my culinary prowess.

Greetings like "Any craic?" and "How's the craic?" most likely confuse tourists because craic is pronounced like "crack."

The most straightforward definition of "craic" is fun or enjoyment, but the phrase "What's the craic?" can be a substitute for "How are you?" A typical response is "divil a bit," which means "not much."

The Irish saying "away with the fairies" is used when someone isn't facing reality or is living in la-la land.

This phrase got its origin thanks to the folk tales about fairies picking people up and taking them away, The Phrase Finder reported.

In the Emerald Isle, if your friends are getting rowdy or making a fool of themselves, you'd say they are "acting the maggot."

This phrase could also be used to talk about anything that isn't acting properly, like if your phone is on the fritz or the trains are running way behind schedule.

"On me tod" translates to "on my own." People will say this when they're going out alone or just alone in a general sense.

The phrase is said to come from Tod Sloane, an American jockey whose parents were absent, leaving him a lone wolf during his childhood.

He was a successful horse racer in the West, but when he moved across the pond, he was made fun of for his riding style and, therefore, "alone" once more. 

"Look at the state o' you!" implies that a person's attire, personal hygiene, intoxication level, or general demeanor is worrisome.

It's a popular exclamation used in inner Dublin. If his drinking companion gets "wrecked" at the pub, one might also describe him as being in a "bleedin' state."

People often say they or their friends are "as happy as Larry" when they have no worries or concerns.

While this saying may have originated in New Zealand, LBC reported, it has grown popular halfway across the globe in Ireland and the UK.

"What's the story, horse?" — abbreviated as "story horse?" — is how you ask a buddy what's up.

It's a less breezy greeting than its American counterpart and invites the other person to really dive into what's been going on in life.

"What eejits" is basically another way of saying "what fools" or "what idiots."

This is a playful phrase used when calling out your friends for being silly, drunk, or foolish, The Cambridge Dictionary reported.

"Sure you know yourself" essentially means "you understand" or "it's up to you."

This slang saying is quite popular and often used as a reply to questions like, "What were you thinking?" or "How are you?"

It can be used when you want to avoid decision-making or a lengthy explanation.

Ireland is a big country for football. When talking about the sport, this idiom means that players should take any shot they might get, preferably the easiest one. 

A mischievous child or person might be described as "suffering from a double dose of original sin."

The Bible proposes that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he cast a state of sin on all mankind. Today, if a child is particularly mischievous, he's said to have been twice cursed by Adam's slip-up.

An attractive person might be referred to as a "fine thing." In an Irish accent, it might sound more like "fine ting."

Eventually, you might also make a "fine thing" your "mot."

The word derives from "maith," the Irish word for "good," "well," or "like" and is used to refer to someone's girlfriend.

This one is a tad unfair to stepmothers everywhere.

It basically means there's no need to be embarrassed or feel bad about committing a small offense, especially if the deed is so insignificant that only a jealous, belittling stepmother could find fault with you.

When you've fallen into good fortune thanks to your own hard work — not the good ol' luck of the Irish — you'd say that you are "sucking diesel now," The Cambridge Dictionary reported.

This phrase is a way to pat yourself on the back about things going well in your life.

You may recognize this popular blessing (in Irish Gaelic: Go n-éirí an bóthar leat) from Catholic weddings or on cross-stitched pillows in your nan's house.

One of the main characteristics of Celtic Christianity is the use of images of nature to show how God interacts with people. "May the road rise up to meet you/ May the wind be always at your back/ May the sun shine warm upon your face ..." uses everyday images to mean may God remove obstacles in your journey through life.

"Your son is your son today, but your daughter is your daughter forever" is one of the more misogynistic sayings.

It means a man is only a son until he takes a wife, but as a daughter gets older, she will stay near the family, draining it of money and time for years to come. 

You order a pint of "black stuff" at the bar, referring to a pint of Guinness, which is actually a deep ruby-red color, not black.

A "chancer" is a slightly insulting way to describe someone who's unafraid to take risks.

This could refer to a major risk, or simply something you call your friend who's chatting up someone who's out of his league.

"Delira and excira" means "delighted and excited."

The phrase was popularized by Irish radio host Gay Byrne on his morning radio show, Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable reported.

Any true Irish person will tell you that it's St. Paddy's, not St. Patty's.

Many are pretty passionate about putting an end to misspellings and mispronunciations, so on St. Patrick's Day, don't be surprised if you hear people at the local pub having a heated discussion about it.