Finding ways to go faster, easier and more efficiently has always been a concern. Since the early days of the caveman, people have tried to devise ways to improve transportation methods. While important events have occurred prior to the 1700’s, here is a timeline of just a few of the important events in the history of transportation since the 1700’s:
1700’s
1776 – The first self propelled submarine is launched. The screw propelled Turtle, created by David Bushnell attempts to attack and sink the HMS Eagle, but fails.
1783 – The first hot air balloon is launched by Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier
1800’s
1801 –A steam powered road locomotive is driven by Richard Trevithick
1804 – Trevithick builds a prototype for a railway locomotive also powered by steam
1807 – The North River Steamboat, operated by Robert Fulton makes its first voyage
1819 – The SS Savannah becomes the first vessel to cross the Atlantic Ocean using steam power
1853 – The first glider is built and demonstrated by Sir George Cayley
1862 – The gasoline powered automobile engine is created by Etienne Lenoir
1896 – Gottlieb Daimler produces the first motorized truck
1900’s
1900 – The first airship is built by Ferdinand von Zeppelin
1900 – The first Mack truck was created by the Mack Brothers
1903 – The Wright Brothers fly the first motor driven airplane
1908 – Henry Ford begins the assembly line to speed up automobile manufacturing
1926 – The first liquid fueled rocket is launched by Robert Goddard
1935 – The first flight of the DC-3 is held which improves the use of aircraft in transportation
1947 – The first supersonic flight is completed
1957 – The Boeing 707 has its first flight as a jet airliner
1969 – The wide body Boeing 747 makes its first flight
1976 – The first commercial supersonic flight is completed on the Concorde
Transportation has changed dramatically in the past couple of centuries and it is expected to continue to change in the future. To understand the history of transportation, here are some informative resources for your information:
- America Transportation History
- Transportation History
- Railroad Transportation History
- History and Development of Automobiles
- History of Transportation Technologies
- Evolution of Transportation
- Brief History of the U.S. Airline Industry
- Historic Transportation Photographs
- Showroom of Automotive History
- National Railroad Museum
- Trucking Resources
- Virginia Museum of Transportation
- New York Museum of Transportation
- History of Transportation Wiki
