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First oil well was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania
On 27 August 1859, Edwin Laurentine Drake (1819-1880) drilled that well near Titusville, Pennsylvania, beginning the Pennsylvania oil rush of the second half of the 19th century. -
The transcontinental railroad was completed.
On May 10, 1869, a golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, signaling the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. The transcontinental railroad allows an efficient way of transportation. -
Rockefeller founds Standard Oil.
The Standard Oil Trust was formed in 1863 by John D. Rockefeller. He built up the company through 1868 to become the largest oil refinery firm in the world. 1870 in Cleveland, Ohio the company was renamed Standard Oil Company, after which Rockefeller decided to buy up all the other competition and form them into one large company. -
Bell patents telephone.
On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone. The invention of the telephone revolutionized the way people communicate with one another. The device allowed people to instantly and effectively talk to each other over long distances -
First telephone on White House
On July 9, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the mansion s telegraph room. President Hayes embraced the new technology, though he rarely received phone calls. -
Edison perfects incandescent light bulb.
On January 27, 1880 U.S. patent number 223,898 was granted to Edison for what would become the first perfected commercially viable incandescent lamp. Using a filament of carbonized cotton thread, his first attempt at this design results in a bulb that lasts about 13.5 hours before burning out. He later extends the life of the bulb to 40 hours. -
Railroads set up standard time zones
On November 18, 1883, America's railroads began using a standard time system involving four time zones, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. Within each zone, all clocks were synchronized. -
First electric trolley line, Richmond, VA.
The Richmond Union Passenger Railway, in Richmond, Virginia, was the first practical electric trolley (tram) system, and set the pattern for most subsequent electric trolley systems around the world. It is a milestone in engineering. The Richmond system was not the first attempt to operate an electric trolley. -
Sherman Antitrust Act is passed.
Approved July 2, 1890, The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was the first Federal act that outlawed monopolistic business practices. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to prohibit trusts. -
Carnegie Steel Company is formed.
Carnegie began the construction of his first steel mill, the Edgar Thomson Steel Works in 1872 at Braddock, Pennsylvania. The Thomson Steel Works began producing rails in 1874. This consolidation occurred on July 1, 1892 with the formation of the Carnegie Steel Company in Pennsylvania -
J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel.
J. P. Morgan and attorney Elbert H. Gary founded U.S. Steel on March 2, 1901 (incorporated on February 25) by combining Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Steel Company with Gary's Federal Steel Company and William Henry "Judge" Moore's National Steel Company for $492 million ($14.82 billion today).
