Summer is the time for family road trips to explore the U.S. and expose family to real American history — along with sunburn, bug bites and blisters.
But what if there were more than 51 states to visit? Michael J. Trinklein has written stories about many "failed" or non-existent states, provided them with histories, and served them up in a fascinating book called "Lost States — True stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States That Never Made It."
Restless Americans were never satisfied with where they were. If they didn't like their current government, they might decide to create their own state. Long Island, I'm looking at you.
Longer than Rhode Island, and home to Brooklyn, Queens and the rich enclave of the Hamptons, Long Island, N.Y., discussed becoming a state in 1898. The New York Times interviewed the super-rich magnate Aldoph Mollenhauer, who wanted to leave, saying '"We're tired of bosses and bossism."' The idea went nowhere. A century later it returned but never happened. Long Island, and its tax revenue, remain part of New York State.
One Congressional representative after World War II considered a proposal to bring Iceland in as a state. It looked like a good place to have a military base to watch the Soviet Union. The proposal melted away and Iceland remains its own country, complete with erupting volcanoes and clouds of ash.
On the West Coast, just before World War II, a proposed new state of Jefferson would take part of northern California and lower Oregon. Why? Well, the locals felt neglected by their elected officials. At least they wanted their rural roads paved. On Dec 4, 1941, Jefferson declared independence and elected a governor, though statehood would wait the decision of the U.S. Congress. On Dec. 7th, 1941, Japan attacked Hawaii, and the idea of Jefferson faded away.
Trinklein doesn't gloss over some of the darker aspects of the history. Some foreign candidates, the Philippines and the Yucatan, wanted to join the United States but racism apparently played a part in their Congressional rejections. The Philippines now is its own country and the Yucatan is part of Mexico.
Complete with maps, "Lost States" is an interesting travel guide to the world of "what-if history." It might even keep the family intrigued on those long road trips around the 50 states.
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"Lost States: True stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States That Never Made It" by Michael J. Trinklein; Quirk Books (160 pages, $24.95)
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