Albert A. Michelson
In an episode of the television series "Bonanza" ("Look to the Stars", broadcast March 18, 1962), Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) helps the 16-year-old Michelson (portrayed by 25-year-old Douglas Lambert (1936–1986)) obtain an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, despite the opposition of the bigoted town schoolteacher (played by William Schallert). "Bonanza" was set in and around Virginia City, Nevada, where Michelson lived with his parents prior to leaving for the Naval Academy. In a voice-over at the end of the episode, Greene mentions Michelson's 1907 Nobel Prize.
Bonanza, Colorado
In 1880, Tom Cooke of Salida, Colorado stumbled upon ore deposits while searching for horses. Prospectors flocked to this location and the town of Bonanza was founded. In the first two years of its existence, its population ballooned to between 1,000 and 1,500. At the time, population of mining towns was determined by the number of saloons and dance halls instead of a census taker and at this time, Bonanza had 36 saloons and 7 dance halls.