On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left England. The Pilgrims braved rough seas and a harsh winter in search of a place to build a community based on their religious beliefs. They reached America and founded the settlement of Plymouth.
Ordered by a Congressional Act in 1794, the first American ship to be christened the Constellation was launched on September 7, 1797. It was the first ship commissioned into the United States Navy; the first put to sea; and the first to fight, defeat, and capture an enemy vessel.
At the behest of his critics, Robert Fulton launched his steamboat from New York harbor on August 17, 1807. While many had their doubts, Fulton proved the commercial viability of steamboats, which would rule American waterways for the next half-century.
On August 8, 1829, the Stourbridge Lion became the first steam locomotive to be operated in the United States.
On August 2, 1873, Clay Street Hill Railroad inaugurated San Francisco’s now-famous cable car system.
On June 20, 1819, the SS Savannah arrived in Liverpool, England, becoming the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
On June 6, 1933, the first drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. The number of drive-ins in the US would eventually grow to over 4,000, becoming a beloved pastime for millions.
Jacqueline Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman on May 11, 1906, in Pensacola, Florida. The first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound, she held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other pilot, male or female, in the world.
On May 10, 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed with the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah. Completing the Transcontinental Railroad is widely considered one of the greatest accomplishments of the 19th century!