Meet the American who served as the model for Huck Finn, 'kindly young heathen' Tom Blankenship

Fictional icon Huckleberry Finn was inspired by Mark Twain's real-life boyhood pal in Hannibal, Missouri, Tom Blankenship — who was described as a "kindly young heathen."

Meet the American who created the chairlift, James Curran, railroad engineer lifted skiing to new heights

James Curran was an engineer for Union Pacific Railroad tasked with finding a new way to get skiers to the summit of Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. He sparked the global ski craze.

Meet the American who turned ice into gold, Frederic Tudor, saw global commodity in winter ponds

"Ice King" Frederic Tudor, of Boston, Massachusetts created a new industry by cutting ice from New England ponds then shipping it around the world, changing global commerce and tastes.

Meet the American who helped save millions of newborn babies, Dr. Virginia Apgar, physician and musician

Dr. Virginia Apgar of New Jersey created the Apgar score, widely used worldwide to diagnose newborn babies. She's credited with helping to save the lives of millions of babies.

Meet the American who created time zones, Charles F. Dowd, schoolmaster set clock for mankind

Charles F. Dowd conceived the idea of time zones in 1869 as the transcontinental railroad united the Atlantic and Pacific coasts; bringing order to the concept of time around the world.

Meet the American who rowed Washington across the Delaware on Christmas, sailor-soldier John Glover

General John Glover was a fishing captain-turned-Revolutionary War hero. He led the Marblehead militia, which ferried General Washington across the Delaware on Christmas 1776.

Meet the American who wrote 'Jingle Bells,' James Lord Pierpont, dashing dreamer and scandalous rebel

James Lord Pierpont, a Boston native, penned the renowned holiday classic song "Jingle Bells" in the 1850s. The original song was more revealing than it appears today.

Meet the American who scripted 'A Christmas Story,' Jean Shepherd, big-city shock jock and cultural contrarian

Beloved family-friendly movie "A Christmas Story" sprung from tales that New York City shock jock Jean Shepherd first shared on late-night radio and in Playboy magazine.

Meet the American who launched Cabbage Patch Kids, Xavier Roberts, dolls ignited Christmas shopping craze

Xavier Roberts, an artist from rural Georgia, created Cabbage Patch Kids in the 1970s, which then caused a consumer frenzy during the Christmas shopping season in 1983.

Meet the American who made cranberries a Turkey Day tradition, Marcus Urann, farmer with can-do spirit

Marcus L. Urann turned the hyper-local cranberry into a staple of the Thanksgiving dinner table when he pioneered a way to can the sauce and sell it around the nation.