What When

Events with tag - Technological Innovation

First Industrial Revolution in America

December 1, 1793

First Industrial Revolution in America

The First Industrial Revolution transformed America from manual production to mechanized manufacturing, beginning with Samuel Slater's water-powered textile mill in 1793. This period marked the nation's shift towards industrial power, establishing new manufacturing processes and economic systems.

First Steamboat Navigation on Mississippi River

October 20, 1811

First Steamboat Navigation on Mississippi River

The New Orleans, built by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston, completed the first successful steamboat journey on the Mississippi River, traveling 2,000 miles from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. This historic voyage revolutionized American river commerce and transportation.

McCormick Reaper Invention

January 1, 1831

McCormick Reaper Invention

Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper in 1831, revolutionizing agriculture by significantly reducing manual labor in grain harvesting. This groundbreaking invention increased farming efficiency by 400% and laid the foundation for modern agricultural machinery.

First American Telegraph Line

May 24, 1844

First American Telegraph Line

Samuel Morse and his team completed the first telegraph line in America, connecting Washington D.C. to Baltimore across 40 miles. The historic first message 'What hath God wrought?' marked the beginning of instant electrical communication in the United States.

American Steel Industry Boom

January 1, 1870

American Steel Industry Boom

The dramatic expansion of the American steel industry from 1870 transformed the nation's economy through technological innovations, particularly the Bessemer process, leading to unprecedented industrial growth and the emergence of industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie.

First Commercial Use of Electricity in US Factories

January 1, 1879

First Commercial Use of Electricity in US Factories

In 1879, the Brush Electric Company made history by installing the first commercial electric arc lights in a Philadelphia brush factory, initiating the industrial electrification revolution in America. This groundbreaking installation set the stage for widespread adoption of electrical power in manufacturing.