A Flip of the Coin
The year is 1845. There is a new city in Oregon. It is by the Willamette River.
People come from far away. They want to live there. They move to Oregon in wagons.
“What is the new city’s name?” the people ask.
Francis Pettygrove comes from Portland, Maine. He wants to name the new city Portland.
Asa Lovejoy comes from Boston, Massachusetts. He wants to name the new city Boston.
The men can’t decide. So they find a penny. They flip the coin three times.
First, it is heads. “Portland!” says Francis.
Second, it is tails. “Boston!” says Asa.
Third, it is heads again. “Portland!” says Francis. “Portland” says Asa.
The name of the new city is Portland, Oregon.
The city looks very different today …
… but the penny is the same. You can see the penny at a museum in downtown Portland. It is at the Oregon Historical Society.
- Work with a partner. Flip a coin 10 times. Count heads. Count tails.
- Now flip 10 more times. Is it the same? Or is it different? Why?