Massachusetts is famous for many things; The Boston Tea Party, terrible accents, and yes, the Boston Red Sox. Besides the obvious, the Commonwealth is famous for the invention and development of many items, most still in existence today.

Some of the items on the list are household staples created out of necessity or in some cases even by accident. Others were in development for years at some of the most prestigious and well-respected colleges and institutions.

As a lifelong Bay State resident, I was surprised to learn that some of these items were invented right here in my home state.

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Check out the list below and let us know if we missed any.

LOOK: Here are the best lake towns to live in

Many of the included towns jump out at the casual observer as popular summer-rental spots--the Ozarks' Branson, Missouri, or Arizona's Lake Havasu--it might surprise you to dive deeper into some quality-of-life offerings beyond the beach and vacation homes. You'll likely pick up some knowledge from a wide range of Americana: one of the last remaining 1950s-style drive-ins in the Midwest; a Florida town that started as a Civil War veteran retirement area; an island boasting some of the country's top public schools and wealth-earners right in the middle of a lake between Seattle and Bellevue; and even a California town containing much more than Johnny Cash's prison blues.

See How School Cafeteria Meals Have Changed Over the Past 100 Years

Using government and news reports, Stacker has traced the history of cafeteria meals from their inception to the present day, with data from news and government reports. Read on to see how various legal acts, food trends, and budget cuts have changed what kids are getting on their trays.

 

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