Can You Guess the State Based on Its Weirdest World Record?

Every year since 1955, Guinness World Records has come out with a lengthy book detailing wacky and wild achievements from around the world. And while some of these records—like largest living cat—are standard superiority claims, it's hard to believe that someone in their right mind would set out to accomplish others. Exhibit A: Breaking the most concrete blocks consecutively while holding a raw egg. (Oh yes, it's a real world record.)

Keep reading to learn about some of the weirdest world records Americans have set and see if you can figure out which record belongs to which of the 50 states.

Hint: Despite the "largest" aspect of this record, this state is the least populous in the country.

The University of Wyoming's Cowboy Country Swing Club in Laramie, Wyoming, took home the world record for largest swing dance in April 2015. With 1,184 participants ranging in age from 8 to 84, the student organization's swing dance managed to beat out the previous record of 756.

Hint: This state's flag features a beehive in its center.

In 2016, Brigham Young University's mascot Cosmo the Cougar walked home with the world record for most double high fives given by a mascot in one minute with 116. Evidently the courageous cougar sought to break the record in order to "encourage friendly competition between mascots."

Hint: This one shouldn't be too hard to figure out, seeing as everything's bigger in this state.

Could this be any more Texas? The current world record for the largest human image of a cowboy hat was achieved by the Texas Travel Industry Association at the their 2018 summit in Galveston, Texas. The event's organizers sought to host a memorable team exercise and ended up sourcing people from nearby hotels, convention centers, and restaurants in order to get 363 bodies for their record-breaking human hat.

Hint: This state is nicknamed "The Granite State."

The city of Keene, New Hampshire, originally broke the world record for most lit jack-o'-lanterns displayed at once in 1992 with 1,628, and then again in 2003 with 28,952. But when their record was eclipsed by Boston in 2006 with 30,128, the city had to come up with a plan to reclaim their title. Those efforts finally paid off in 2013 when the city of Keene once again took the world record with 30,581 jack-o'-lanterns lit at once.

Hint: The largest city in this state is actually named after another state.

David Babcock was running in the Kansas City Marathon in Kansas City, Missouri, when he earned this world record in 2013. With little time for extracurriculars, Babcock randomly realized one day that he could kill two birds with one stone by knitting while hitting the pavement—and this is precisely how he came to knit a 3.7-meter-long scarf—more than 12 feet!—during the six-hour race.

Hint: The motto for this state is "Mountaineers Are Always Free."

The oddly specific world record for the most clothes pegs clipped on to one hand in one minute was achieved by a West Virginia man by the name of Zachery George. On March 20, 2011, the West Virginian achieved this world record with 51 clothes pegs. Ouch!

Hint: This state is also home to the infamous "Carhenge" sculpture.

In 2008, Nebraskan Eric Hahn achieved the world record for tallest full mohawk with a spiked head of hair that measured 27 inches. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Hahn's impressive hairstyle was the result of two cans of hairspray, two and a half hours of prep, and seven years without a haircut.

Hint: In addition to holding weird world records, this state has also had some strange laws; for instance, tattooing was illegal there until 2004.

The largest iced tea measures 9,554 liters and was created by the town of Summerville, South Carolina, in 2016. After they used 210 pounds of loose leaf and 1,700 pounds of sugar to brew their tea, the town had to add more than 300 pounds of ice to chill it to the required 45 degrees in order to take home the world record.

Hint: This state is also home to chocolate company Hershey.

Albert Einstein may very well be the smartest fish to have ever lived, seeing as he secured a world record for being the fish with the largest repertoire of tricks in 2005. The goldfish was trained by his owner at the "Fish School" in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, and his record-breaking six tricks include doing the limbo, playing soccer, and swimming through hoops. Albert even showcased some of his talents in an Axe commercial!

Hint: Critically acclaimed television show The Wire takes place in this state.

Rachel Braun, a teacher from Silver Spring, Maryland, achieved the world record for the largest collection of graph paper not once, but twice. A self-proclaimed "mathy person who has always appreciated a good piece of graph paper," Braun most recently set the record in 2018 when she was acknowledged for having a total of 1,298 sheets of graph paper.

Hint: We imagine those burgers came with some pretty good cheese, seeing as that's what this state is known for.

Think you love McDonald's? Not compared to Donald Gorske! In 2016, he took home the world record for the most Big Mac burgers eaten in a lifetime when he ate his 28,788th Big Mac in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Gorske reportedly eats 14 Big Macs every week; he purchases them in bulk and microwaves them later at home.

Hint: The geographic center of North America lies in this state.

Everyone loves a good snow angel—so much so, in fact, that there's even a world record for the most snow angels made simultaneously. It's held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, which organized an event in 2007 that brought 8,962 people to the state capitol grounds in Bismarck, North Dakota, to make many a snow angel.

Hint: This is the only state split into two separate peninsulas.

The largest gathering of people dressed as Rosie the Riveter took place at the EMU Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The 2017 event was hosted by the Yankee Air Museum and had 3,734 participants—some of whom were "original" Rosies who actually worked in factories during World War II.

Hint: This state is known for its beads and booze during a particular time of year.

What's the highest number of family members to ever graduate from the same university? Forty. The Wayne family of Marion, Louisiana, achieved this world record, all graduating from Grambling State University between 1956 and 2010.

Hint: One of the nation's largest fast food chains originated in this state (and shares a name with it).

In 2010, 20 people crammed into a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle at the Lexington Rescue Mission in Lexington, Kentucky, and secured the world record for most people in an old VW Beetle. The record-breaking event was hosted by the Asbury University Emancipation Project in order to draw attention to human trafficking.

Hint: This state ties with Missouri as the "most neighborly" state by bordering eight other states.

The catch at Destination ImagiNation's casual 2014 get-together? If you wanted to take part in the event in Knoxville, Tennessee, you had to be clad only in duct tape. They attracted 752 duct tape-wearing individuals and currently hold the world record for the largest gathering of people wearing duct tape.

Hint: This state is sometimes called the "Diner Capital of the World" and they're known for their disco fries.

This world record was achieved by Anthony Brooks at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 2014. While most people struggle to complete even one Rubik's Cube, Brooks solved five of them underwater in a single turn.

Hint: This state's official nickname is the "Hawkeye State."

Eric Jaskolka, a resident of West Des Moines, Iowa, might be the biggest X-Men fan of all time. He first started collecting X-Men paraphernalia in 1989, and his collection of memorabilia is now at 15,400 items—a wow-worthy number that earned him the world record in 2012.

Hint: This state is home to the largest drive-in restaurant in the world.

The world record for largest toothpaste tube collection is appropriately owned by a dentist—Georgia's Val Kolpakov, to be exact. With 2,037 tubes from all over the world, Kolpakov became the record holder in 2012; at the time, he told the World Record Academy that collecting toothpaste "allows [him] to learn more about [his] profession."

Hint: This was the first state in the nation to elect a woman to Congress.

At the age of 95, Floyd Creekmore was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest performing clown. Creekmore had been dressing up as Creeky the clown since the 1980s, and he performed for his last audience in February 2012.

Hint: It's not surprising that this state's world record has to do with candy, seeing as it's a sweet home.

Chad Fell walked away with the world record for largest bubblegum bubble blown in 2004 when he blew a bubble with a diameter of 20 inches at Double Springs High School in Winston County, Alabama. So how did he do it? According to Fell, the trick is blowing with exactly three pieces of Dubble Bubble gum.

Hint: It's not Presley's home state or the state he died in!

No, it wasn't in Mississippi, Tennessee, or in Las Vegas. The largest gathering of Elvis impersonators was actually held at the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina, on July 12, 2014. An impressive 895 Elvis impersonators attended the record-breaking event.

Hint: Think "lovers," because that's what this state is for.

The National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, hosted the largest simultaneous yo-yo event in 2010. Organized by the Yomega Corporation in conjunction with Boys' Life Magazine, the event had 2,036 participants.

Hint: This state's motto is "North to the Future."

There was no luck involved here—Edward Martin Sr. from Cooper Landing, Alaska, earned this world record title fair and square in May 2007. Martin had been collecting four-leaf clovers since 1999, and after eight years, he had amassed 111,060—enough to achieve the record.

Hint: This state is also known as the "Golden State."

Jumpy the dog set the world record for fastest 100 meters on a skateboard by a dog in 2013 by going the distance in just 19.65 seconds. The record-breaking stunt was attempted during Guinness World Record's television show Officially Amazing in Los Angeles, California.

Hint: Speaking of breaking wind, this state is home to a famous windy city.

Illinois's Matt Bray held the world record for most whoopee cushions sat on in 30 seconds before losing his title in 2013. So, in order to once again reign supreme as the whoopee cushion king, Bray sat on a total of 54 whoopee cushions in 30 seconds in April 2015 and reclaimed his rightful place on top.

Hint: This state also hosts the largest international air balloon festival every year.

Are you a lover of all things horror? If so, head to New Mexico! Dragon's House of Horror in Albuquerque, New Mexico, currently holds the record for longest walk-through indoor horror house at nearly 7,200 feet. According to its creators, the record-breaking establishment took two years of planning to accomplish! And for more things that will scare you silly, check out the 40 Best Horror Movies for Totally Freaking Yourself Out.

Hint: This state is also known as "The Constitution State."

The residents of Benchmark Senior Living in Ridgefield, Connecticut, came together in 2016 to break the world record for longest friendship bracelet in order to raise awareness for the Alzheimer's Association. Their bracelet, which they say symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers, measured just shy of 2,167 feet.

Hint: This state is home to the Mount Rushmore monument.

How long is the longest dog tongue in the world? 7.31 inches and it belongs to Mochi, a St. Bernard owned by a couple from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. "We love her unconditionally despite that crazy, long tongue that causes people to stare and laugh," Carla told Guinness World Records in 2016.

Hint: This state is home to a pretty famous canyon.

In order to show that "good workers on the inside are good workers on the outside," Intel Corporation gathered together 614 individuals in 2015 at Phoenix's Chase Field to secure the world record for most people turning their shirts inside out.

Hint: This state was also the location of the first Pizza Hut.

Centerplate at the University of Kansas served up the largest plate of nachos in 2012. Weighing a whopping 4,689 pounds, the serving contained 765 pounds of chips, 405 pounds of salsa, 323 pounds of tomato, 918 pounds of meat and beans, and more than 2,200 pounds of cheese.

Hint: Famous horror author Stephen King calls this state home.

The first and only holder of the world record for most corn husked in one minute is Michael Diggins from Scarborough, Maine. Diggins earned the title in November 2015 by husking 13 ears of corn in 60 seconds.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Hint: Before he died, Elvis held his last concert in this state.

Can you imagine 2,950 people playing rock, paper, scissors in one tournament? Well, that's exactly what happened in 2014 at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana—and it's also why the host of the event, Oomba, Inc., currently holds the world record for largest tournament of the game.

Hint: You can "discover the excellence" in this state.

If you think playing Monopoly with three people is hard, try playing with 733, which is the world record for the largest gathering of Monopoly players. In 2017, Rustic Cuff and Addicted 2 Cuffs hosted the event in Tulsa, Oklahoma and made history.

Hint: This is the only state named after a United States president.

The next time you need to cook omelettes in bulk for brunch, head to Kingston, Washington, for a helping hand. There, you can find Ross McCurdy, the man who broke the world record for most eggs cracked in one minute with one hand (and with no shell in the bowl!). In 2011, he earned the title by cracking 32 eggs. Unsurprisingly, he also owns a breakfast restaurant.

Hint: This state is also the birthplace of country music legend Johnny Cash.

In 2004, the title of largest set of wind chimes was given to a handmade set in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The set, which measures 35 feet and 10 inches tall, was made by Nathan Ranaga Farbiarz and currently hangs on a tree in the small town.

Hint: In 1976, this state became the only state to turn down an opportunity to host the Olympics.

At a 2009 event organized by Petmate, 76 dogs participated in a simultaneous bark—the loudest ever simultaneous bark, in fact, at 124 decibels. The event, held in Washington Park, Colorado, was hosted not to cause a commotion, but to help gather food donations for local dog rescue centers.

Hint: The life expectancy in this sunny state is the highest in the country.

Hawaii resident Betty Webster started collecting novelty sunglasses in 1999—and by the time she broke the world record for largest collection of sunglasses in 2015, she had an impressive 1,506 pairs.

Hint: This state is also known as the "lightning capital" of America because it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country.

The most concrete blocks broken while holding a raw egg was a feat achieved by Kevin Bergquist at the Dojo Academy in Brandenton, Florida, in 2015. A member of the martial arts community since he was just five, Bergquist broke the world record with 28 broken blocks.

Hint: If you can make it in this state, you can make it anywhere.

The New York Times created the heaviest ever newspaper in 1987 with their Sunday edition on September 13. The massive issue weighed more than 12 pounds and contained 1,612 pages of news.

Hint: This state was the first to ratify the United States Constitution.

Soap company Irish Spring hosted the largest shower gathering in 2018 at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware. With 396 people, the company broke the world record for most people showering simultaneously in a single venue.

Hint: This state is actually better known for its potatoes.

During a 2018 competition in Boise, Idaho, David Rush ate 275 baked beans with cocktail sticks in five minutes, earning him a place in Guinness World Records.

Hint: This revolutionary state is the birthplace of the Dunkin' Donuts franchise.

By 2014, Allan Ganz had been working as an ice cream man in Peabody, Massachusetts, for 67 years—the longest career for any ice cream man. He started his job in 1947 at just 10 years old when he'd sell ice cream with his dad. In 1977, he bought his own ice cream truck and continued to provide sweet treats to the people of Massachusetts.

Hint: This state has the only non-rectangular flag in the country.

Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio, hosted the longest kickball marathon in 2011 as a way to raise money for "Kick-It," an organization dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer victims. With 474 innings, the marathon lasted for 51 hours and resulted in a final score of 431 to 306.

Hint: This state's name means "green mountain" in French.

When Brent Fraser caught a grape in his mouth from 101 feet high in 2016, he achieved the world record for highest drop to catch a grape in the mouth. Fraser, a resident of Post Mills, Vermont, had a friend get in a hot air balloon in order to drop the grapes for him.

Hint: This state is home to the famous Twin Cities.

MyPillow, Inc. hosted the largest pillow fight in 2018, which saw 7,681 participants gather in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the PULSE Movement event to achieve the world record.

Hint: This state has the most mountain ranges in the nation.

In 2013, Jeffrey Ondash achieved the world record for most hugs given in 24 hours with 9,277 hugs. Standing on the strip in front of Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ondash sought to break the previous world record in order to raise awareness for the American Heart Association and heart disease.

"Hopefully this new hugging world record can get some attention, get the word out and save some lives," Ondash told the World Record Academy. "Incidentally, hugging is also great for the heart. It lowers blood pressure, elevates moods, and takes away depression. Hugging also releases oxytocin, which prompts loving and caring feelings. My favorite part of breaking the hugging world record is that when I hug someone, they always feel happier and walk away with a big smile."

Hint: The King of Rock and Roll was born in this state.

The Mississippi State University Student Association took home the world record for most people ringing cowbells simultaneously in 2015 after they got 5,748 people to ring bells during a football pep rally.

Hint: This state may have won this big record, but it's still the smallest in the nation.

In 2018, a skateboard ollie world record was set in Providence, Rhode Island, by Nicholas Drachman. The skater completed 302 consecutive ollies!

Hint: This state's flag is the only one in the country with different designs on each side.

Wolferman's Bakery in Medford, Oregon, baked the world's largest cinnamon roll in 2018 in honor of the release of their five-pound cinnamon rolls. The record-setting pastry's weight? A whopping 1,149.7 pounds! And for more state quizzes, check out Can You Guess the State Based On Its Most Famous Celebrity?

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