The 3M company did not start making the simple yet life-changing Post-It Notes until 1977. The product was created by accident by 3M employees Art Fry and Dr. Spencer Silver. The two, who were trying to create an aircraft-building adhesive, realized they may have had a new product on their hands.
The handy notes that now demonstrate American creativity and ingenuity have been made in Cynthiana, Kentucky, since 1985. Never in a million years did they think that a small piece of paper, in all colors of the rainbow, would become such a great success and even be copied by other companies.
Made in the USA: Zippo Lighters
Zippo lighters were first manufactured in 1933 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and have even become collector’s items today. They first became popular during World War II, representing the steely grit of the US Military. The good news is that Zippo is still made in the USA.
Another interesting fact is that the company also provides jobs to inmates (who assemble the lighters) while they are serving their time. It is known as "the windproof" lighter, meaning the flame will keep on going even under the worst weather conditions. One fault through, it's almost impossible to simply blow out the flame. For every benefit, there is a price to pay.
Made in the USA: Crayola Crayons
If there is one brand that is synonymous with childhood fun, it's Crayola Crayons. The bright-colored crayons first appeared to the public in 1903 and are still a childhood staple today. Parents may be happy to hear that Crayola Crayons are entirely made in the USA. In fact, the factory in Easton, Pennsylvania, makes over 3 billion crayons per year and around 650 crayons per minute.
The brand has over 200 hundred shades of color that have been produced in wide assortments, and it became a huge hit when it came u with an innovative and cheap way to combine safe color pigment with paraffin wax.
Made in the USA: KitchenAid Mixers
KitchenAid is known for creating durable, multi-purpose kitchen tools, like their famous stand mixers that come in a rainbow of colors. KitchenAid has been made in Greenville, Ohio, since 1941. Along with the stand mixer, they also make other small appliances. Though the brand outsources a few of its parts from China, its primary manufacturing plants are in South Carolina, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
A mixer, in many ways, is the centerpiece of the kitchen. For many years it has been more than just a device that mixes cake ingredients, and the investment in design has been noticeable. Fun fact; did you know that a KitchenAid Mixer can shred chicken, grind meat and spiralize vegetables?
Made in the USA: Igloo Coolers
Coolers have become an essential item for any situation where a refrigerator is needed but not available. The famous Igloo cooler brand began creating coolers in 1947, and they are still made in Katy, Texas, today. According to the Igloo website, the coolers are made in a 1.8 million-square-foot, three-building facility.
Truly capturing the individualistic spirit of America, the brand has branched out from the simple cooler to now feature special sizes, prints, and designs so you can make your cooler all your own. To this day, people still have the Igloo Coolers they purchased more than 20 years ago, proving how good quality this product is.