Despite being based in rural Pennsylvania, Milton Hershey discovered his now-famous milk chocolate recipe in Chicago at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893?

While on a work-related trip to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, Hershey stumbled upon a German chocolate maker’s exhibit. At the time, Hershey was only producing caramel confections. Deciding that chocolate was the way of the future, Hershey purchased the entire exhibit on the spot and had it shipped back to his factory in Lancaster, PA. The rest is history.

Learn more:
The history of the Hershey Bar
A brief history of chocolate
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition

Gorey, born on February 22, 1925, is known for his many books that feature strange characters, mythical creatures and double-crossing villains. Gorey’s most famous work is his alphabet book, titled “The Gashlycrumb Tinies,” which starts out with, “A is for Amy, who fell down the stairs.”

Gorey was influenced by his family and claimed to have inherited his talents from his great-grandmother, who was a popular 19th-century greeting card writer and artist. Gorey worked hard to become successful. He attended Harvard University, where he studied French and roomed with poet Frank O'Hara. After graduating, Gorey founded the Poets' Theatre in Cambridge with O’Hara and other Harvard alumni in the early 1950s.

He blended Goth and comedy in his works. Many of his illustrations were shown in publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times. His animations were also showcased on the “PBS Mystery” series.

Later in his career, he shifted his focus to adult works and ended up with a Tony Award for his amazing costume design for the 1977 Broadway production of “Dracula.”

In his later years, Gorey moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts and purchased an old sea captain’s home, which is now a place you can visit called The Edward Gorey House.  By the time he had passed away in 2002, Edward Gorey had published more than 100 independent works and illustrated many others.

Learn more:
Edward Gorey’s biography
Read the famously gruesome children’s alphabet book, “The Gashlycrumb Tinies”
View samplings of his unique works

Tempestt Bledsoe was born Aug. 1, 1973 in Chicago.

Her acting career started when she as just 4 years old. She was in various commercials for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. When she was 9 years old, she auditioned for The Cosby Show and got the part of the fourth child, Vanessa Huxtable.

The premier of The Cosby show was on September 20, 1984, when Bledsoe was 11 years old. The show was a huge success to viewers all over the US. It not only was full of comedy, but also redefined America’s perception of African-American families. The Cosby Show had its final season in 1992.

After The Cosby Show, Bledsoe took time off from acting to complete her degree at NYU. She then moved to Los Angeles and ended up hosting her own talk show called The Tempestt Bledsoe Show in 1995. Bledsoe continues to appear on television. In 2006 she was on Celebrity Fit Club and in 2009, she and her boyfriend appeared on Househusbands of Hollywood.

The success of the Cosby Show was a good starting job for Bledsoe, and to some she will always be Vanessa Huxtable.

Learn more:
Tempestt Bledsoe's IMDB Profile

Ever wonder who invented that handy little fly swatter you arm yourself with on a hot summer day?

You may not know that the first fly swatter was invented almost 120 years ago. According to patent history, Robert R. Montgomery filed a patent for the “fly killer” in October of 1899 in Decatur, Illinois. As the patent explained, the first design consisted of an oblong piece of wire netting fixed onto a long rectangular wooden handle using screws. While many different versions of fly swatters existed before the “fly killer,” this model was the first to receive a legal patent in the United States. So the next time you swat one of those pesky insects in your house with your fly swatter, don’t forget to thank Robert R. Montgomery.

Learn more:
View the original patented design

Wearing pants today? How about a coat? Carrying a backpack? Chances are you used a zipper.

The zipper made its international debut at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. At the time, its inventor, Whitcomb Judson, called it the “clasp-locker.” Sadly, Judson died long before his invention picked up its zippy name and took the world’s apparel by storm.

But his legacy lives on. You can thank Judson every time you zip instead of button or tie.

Learn more:
Want to know more about the history of the zipper?
Curious how the zipper really works? Take a trip to HowStuffWorks.com to read an informative article or watch a short video.
Wonder why so many zippers say YKK? It’s the brand name of the world’s biggest zipper maker! Check out the YKK website.