Learn About The 50 States
![](pix/famous-hdr.gif)
![](pix/sm-ccoolidge.gif)
![](pix/sm-ajackson.gif)
![](pix/sm-apollo11-neil.gif)
![](pix/sm-mcauliffe.jpg)
![](pix/sm-angelou.jpg)
![](pix/sm-lindbergh.jpg)
![](pix/sm-gwashington.gif)
![](pix/famous-type.gif)
Jonas Salk (1914)close
Jonas Salk, born in New York City, New York, is best known for developing a vaccine against polio, a disease that crippled or killed many adults and children prior to Salk's invention of the vaccine.
Click on any of the names below to find out more...
Looking for a famous American?
This page presents short biographies of more than 200 famous Americans drawn from our unit, "The 50 States." These personalities are arranged by theme.
Just click a theme at the top of the page to view a selection list for that theme.
African Americans:
Artists:
Business Leaders:
National "Characters":
Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum | Clyde Barrow | John Wilkes Booth |
Butch Cassidy | William "Buffalo Bill" Cody | Davy Crockett |
Jesse James | Evel Knievel | Harland David "Colonel" Sanders |
Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith |
Cultural Figures:
Inventors:
Pioneers and "Firsts":
Politicians & Activists:
Scientists:
Sports Figures:
Accomplished Women:
Writers & Poets: