175 Things You'll Never Guess: What Happened 175 Years Ago and a Mystery Product Announcement

Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Lomographers, the time is ripe for us to present you with a new mystery product. But we’re not giving anything much away this time, just a few hints and clues to keep you on your toes.

175 years ago, it was the year 1840. This was a time for new ideas, technologies, theories, and discoveries in the sciences and beyond. Apart from our magical mystery product yet to be unveiled, here are some terrific things that took place 175 years ago! But we’re not really listing 175 things that you’ll never guess. In fact, we’re actually just working on one special something to tease you with!

The First Ever Bowling Match

What was the world like without bowling? Absolute mayhem, of course! The first bowling match ever recorded took place on a snowy winter’s day on January 1, 1840, in Knickerbocker Alleys in New York City.

Antarctica Becomes a Continent

Though the south pole had already been discovered, it was unknown until January 25, 1840, that Antarctica did not just consist of ice and a patch of land, but that it qualified as the seventh earthly continent. This discovery was made by the explorer Charles Wilkes, who also traveled extensively in the Pacific, Polynesia, and along the West Coast of the United States.

The White Wedding Dress is Invented

By none other than Queen Victoria herself. For her wedding to Prince Albert on February 10, 1840, Queen Victoria wore a long white gown. Though this is absolutely standard today, this was considered completely outrageous at the time. As royalty, Queen Victoria was expected to wear something far more opulent. What’s more, white was considered the color of mourning. She was the first to set a trend which only really took off in the mid 20th century, and received a host of criticism for this brash fashion statement from her contemporaries.

The World’s Longest Railroad is Built

Of course it was only the longest railroad at the time. Stretching over 260 kilometers (161.5 miles), the Wilmington-Raleigh line spanned over a great part of North Carolina, starting in the coastal city of Wilmington and ending at the inland town of Weldon. It opened it’s doors on March 9, 1840.

The Moon is Photographed

Of course we had to put this in here! On March 23, 1840, Dr. J.W. Draper of New York succeeded in taking the first daguerreotype photograph of the moon. This was a huge leap not just for photography, but for science as well.

A Meteorite Hits Earth

This little rocky monster hit earth on June 12, 1840. It landed in a field in Uden, the Netherlands, and narrowly missed a group of laborers. It weighed a whopping 760 grams!

Songs & Slogans Enter the American Presidential Campaign

This was the first of its kind and since then, this practice has been taken even further. William Henry Harrison of Virginia was the winner of the Presidency due to the musical nature of his campaign. Slogans like “Tippecanoe and Tyler too” or “Log Cabin and Hard Cyder” drove the electorate into his arms.

Claude Monet is Born

The legendary impressionist painter was born on November 14, 1840. Decades later, the painting style he developed was considered ground-breaking in France, where the artistic scene was dominated by the academic elite. He was beloved among the upper classes, yet was still considered a major figure of the French avant-garde.

Napoleon Bonaparte Finally Gets a Funeral

This occurred 19 years after his actual death. Napoleon’s remains were first brought to France from the island of his exile, then laid to rest at Les Invalides in Paris’ 7th arrondissement.

Are you onto us yet? Why not leave a comment below with your guess? Let’s see if we can make it to 175 amazing ideas before the unveiling!

written by pripri2000 on 2015-05-26 #gear #news #teaser #mystery-product #175thingsyoullneverguess