three words you'll instantly attribute to the amazing board game offer by the Parker Brothers and invented by Charles Darrow. But what if we told you that neither of them are the original creators? Intrigued? Read on...

Darrow was an unemployed heating salesman who traditionally gets credit for America's favorite homage to extortionist landlords. But the board game actually had its start nearly three decades earlier when Elizabeth Magie secured to the patent to "The Landlord's Game".

Her game became very popular with friends, so she sought her first patent on it which was granted on January 5, 1904. The game quickly spread to other countries, and more patents soon followed...but eventually expired.

Her role as the board game Monopoly's inventor was uncovered during research for a trial by Ralph Anspach. He was an economics professor who began a long legal battle against Parker Brothers in 1973 over his Anti-Monopoly game. And while researching the case, he uncovered her patents.

For her efforts in creating the country's most popular board game she received just $500 from Parker Brothers. As a result, both her legacy and her iconic game was albiet erased from history, until now.

Welcome to the land of preservation Elizabeth. Welcome...to AmericasFootprints.com.