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The First Oil Well is drilled in Pennsylvania
The First Commercial Oil well is drilled sixty-nine feet deep by George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad is a 1,912 mile railroad built between 1863 and 1869. It connected the East side of the United States to the West Side of the United States. -
Bell patents the telephone
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell receives the patent for the telephone. Bell was inspired by Samuel F.B. Morse to create the telephone and he had help from his partner, Thomas A. Watson. -
First telephone is installed on the White House
On May 10, 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the telegraph room. President Hayes was memorized by the invention, however he did not receive many calls from the telephone as it was a new, expensive item to obtain. -
Edison perfects the incandescent light bulb
On October 21, 1879, Thomas Edison perfected the light bulb. Edison was able to create a light bulb that would last thirteen and a half hours and he later was able to create a light bulb that would last forty hours. Edison used a sample of carbonized cotton thread to create the light bulb. -
Rockefeller finds Standard Oil
John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller create the Standard Oil Trust, which controlled companies that refine and distribute different aspects of the oil industry -
Railroads set standard time zones
Operators of railroad lines that would have a uniform train schedule for departures and arrivals. As a result, four standard time zones were established in the United States. -
First Electric Trolley in Richmond, Virginia
This electric trolley in Richmond, Virginia was called the Richmond Union Passenger Railway. This trolley was the first practical tram system and set an example for trolleys around the world. It was considered a milestone in engineering at the time. -
The Sherman Anti Trust Act is Passed
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act banned monopolistic business procedures. It also prohibited trusts from being made between corporations. This act was passed in 1890. -
Carnegie Steel Company is founded
Carnegie Steel Company was founded in 1892 by Andrew Carnegie and his close associates. They settled in Pittsburgh, PA and built the industry there. It was one of the largest industries in the 20th century. -
J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel
J.P. Morgan is sold this steel company for $480 million. “With the aid of J.P. Morgan, they bought Carnegie’s interests for more than $492 million and put together U.S. Steel, adding National Steel, National Tube, American Steel and Wire, American Steel Hoop, American Sheet Steel, and American Tinplate to the nucleus of the Carnegie and Federal Companies” (Encyclopedia Britannica).
