Which came first? · Tricky

Which came first: Für Elise or The Star-Spangled Banner?

The Star-Spangled Banner came first, in 1814 (written). Für Elise followed 53 years later, in 1867 (first published).

Older Than You ThinkOlder Than You ThinkWhich came first? Sixteen pairs, from obvious to "wait, really?"Quiz11 seconds a pairMobile & desktop
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  1. Second1867

    Für Elise

    music · first published

    Für Elise was only published in 1867, forty years after Beethoven died.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

  2. First1814

    The Star-Spangled Banner

    song · written

    The Star-Spangled Banner was written in 1814 but only became the US anthem in 1931.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games

Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.