learning about US history and expansion through a puzzle

We received this puzzle as a gift from Santa. The boys were excited to start on it right away. However it was slow going, that is, until their grandparents came. They love doing puzzles. So over a course of a week they were able to finish the puzzle. This is a very cool puzzle. 3 layers. 950 pieces. 2000+ educational facts.

There were many discussions at night about territories, states and then the monuments and buildings that were chosen. I know the boys will remember many of these facts far more better than they would have if we had studied them from a textbook. One of the many positives of homeschooling!! The adults also learned a thing or two.