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Transcontinental Railroad
The transcontinental railroad was established in 1869. It aided travelers by cutting travel time from months to days. This was a major change in transportation. The railroad stretched from California to Omaha, Nebraska with an intersection point in Promontory, Utah. The Pacific Railway Act (1862) aided in the completion of the railroad. It stated, the railroad company had "the right of way through the public lands". This impactful invention also led to advancements in business and commerce. -
Electric Trolley Invented
This invention replaced the horse-drawn transit system that was previously used which led to more efficient transportation. Frank Sprague invented this new travel system in Richmond, Virginia, and it allowed people to get where they needed to go faster. You will begin to see a theme of transportation inventions positively effecting other areas of life. Inventions in electrics had to be made before this invention could occur. This shows how all areas of business affected one another. -
First Successful Airplane
In 1903, the Wright Brothers traveled to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina and completed the first successful airplane flight. It lasted approximately 57 seconds. A telegram from Orevelle Wright states more details on the success that occurred on December 17, 1903. It includes facts that they completed four flights against 21 mph wind, and the average speed through the air was 31 mph. Although airplanes were not yet used for transportation, it was crucial for the future of the transportation industry. -
First Affordable Car
Henry Ford used the assembly line method to invent the first affordable Model T car in 1908. The factory was located in Detroit, Michigan where hired workers made the assembly line more efficient. Although Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, his work in making the cars more affordable allowed the middle class to begin buying cars. Up until this point, only the very wealthy could afford cars. Opening up the car industry to the middle class allowed for many areas of life to be improved. -
First Transatlantic Flight
In 1919, the United States Navy successfully completed the first transatlantic flight. This flight went from Newfoundland to London with stops. This was important to the transportation industry because they finally figured out how to complete a safe, long flight. Presently, air travel is one of the most popular methods to travel nationally and internationally. Geographically, this shows that previous national advancements were now gaining ground internationally. -
First Atlantic Solo Flight
Charles Lindbergh flew the first solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927. This flight went from New York City, New York to Paris France. It is interesting to think where we would be today without this advancement. This event, which occurred towards the end of the 1865 to 1929 time period, shows how much the transportation aspect of life changed during those years. The people of America went from riding trains to driving cars, and then planes began to be invented and improve.
