1807: Steamships
The first commercial voyage traveled from New York City to Albany averaging 5 miles per hour. It was designed by Robert Fulton. It was a huge success and eventually became a normal route. Along with passengers, the boats were used to transport cargo such as cotton and sugar. In the East, the steamships contributed to the economy by bringing agricultural and industrial supplies. |
1825: The Erie Canal
The Erie Canal was finally completed on October 26, 1825. The canal was begun on July 4, 1817 after it was proposed in the New York State Legislature in 1808. It was a roadway on the water. Ships travelled through the canal to transport cargo. The purpose of the canal was to open up the country to the west of the Appalachian Mountains. It connected Lake Erie and the west to the Hudson River and the east. This allowed settlers to have a different and a cheaper way to transport supplies. |
1829: Steam Locomotives
Steam locomotives were first developed in America in 1829. The first lococmotive to travel in America was known as "Tom Thumb" of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads. At first it was intended to be an example of how good a steam powered locomotive was but it ended up earning some money instead. |
1869: Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869. It was one of the most significant achievements in America. It connected the east and the west and shortened the traveling time of going across the country reducing it to six days from six months. The railroad spanned over 2000 miles. The railway transported cargo and people thousands of miles across the country. |
1873: Cable Car
The first cable car was tested in America in 1873. Cable cars were very common in San Francisco because of the steep hills. Cable cars used electricity to power themselves from one location to another. The use of cable cars reduced the need of horses to move people over the steep roadways.
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1903: First Engine Airplane
The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur, invented the first engine powered airplane. On December 17, 1903 they successfully complete their first flight which lasted 12 seconds. This was the first time that humans could fly. They started aviation which is a huge industry today. |
1908: Assembly Line
Henry Ford transformed the assembly line by making car production more efficient. This caused the price of cars to become more affordable. He was able to produce millions of cars. Having cars that were affordable by the average American had a huge impact on the economic and social climate in America. People were now easily mobile. |
1944: Modern Helicopter
The inventor of the modern helicopter was Stanley Hiller, Jr. It had all metal rotor blades. The stiff blades allowed the helicopter to fly at faster speeds. Five years later, in 1949, Stanley Hiller, Jr piloted the first helicopter flown across America. |
1969: First Man Mission to the Moon
America sent the first man to the moon on Apollo 11 with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, and Michael Collins. This was NASA's biggest achievement and America beat the Soviet Union in the space race. This was a nationally celebrated event. |
1981: First Space Shuttle Launched
America launched the first space shuttle into space. It was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and returned back to earth after around 50 hours. The name of the space shuttle was Columbia. Shuttles return to Earth and are reusable. This space mission was the first of many to come. |