University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Era of Expansion and Reform
Information about the period in United States history between the Civil War and World War I. The United States was transformed from a rural republic to an urban state.
Other
Clemson University: British Industrial Revolution
Lecture notes for a class on the Industrial Revolution provide an overview of the transition of the British economy from a predominantly agricultural one to an industrial society.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Moving the Mail
This online exhibit takes students through various means of delivering mail via land, sea, and air. Historic, primary materials are used throughout the exhibit.
Library of Congress
Loc: History of Railroads and Maps: Railroad Maps 1828 1900
This history of the American railroad from the Library of Congress also provides an understanding of how maps and mapmaking were so closely related to the growth of our railway system.
Read Works
Read Works: Building a Railroad to Cross the Country
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the building of the transcontinental railroad. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Transcontinental Railroads: Compressing Time and Space
[Free Registration/Login Required] Abridged from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this passage provides information about the development of the transcontinental railroad. Paired texts, a text...
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: The Case Files: History of Transportation Technologies
A history of transportation technologies, and the individuals who led the way in developing and advancing new modes of transportation.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Industrial Revolution
For this lesson, 6th graders will come to understand how the Industrial Revolution impacted individuals.
Other
Railroad Extra: The First Railroad in America
Here are some facts about the first railroad in America, which was constructed in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Other
Railroad History: The Milwaukee Road
This site examines the history of the Milwaukee Road (Railroad). This site discusses cost, number of trains, routes, expansion through the Midwest.
Other
Psmre: The Northern Pacific Railway
This site from the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers provides information about the history of the Northern Pacific Railway. The route follows the path Lewis and Clark took in 1804. Mentions cost, manpower, and other railroad companies.
Daily Teaching Tools
Daily Teaching Tools: 10 Free Reading Tests
This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides ten free reading comprehension tests with a corresponding answer key and list of reading skills covered. All passages are high interest for middle school students.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hazardous Business: Line and Lands of the Texas & Pacific Railway, 1873
Here's a map showing the Texas & Pacific Railway. Click on link to get larger version which shows the route across Texas as well as an inset which shows how the railway connected to other railroads in the U.S.
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: 19th Century Railways: Export of Revolution
This website from the Fordham University provides information about the expansion of the rail system in European countries between 1840 and 1900. Presents graphs to present the information.
Curated OER
Last Spike
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Railroad Commissioners
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Steam Engine
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Pacific Railroad Surveys, C. 1853
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Chinese Railroad Worker
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Railroad Story Book: A Thousand Miles by Rail.
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Sierra Summit Contour Map (Railroad in Red)
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Stamps
An extraordinarily rich collection of photos, stereographs, engravings, maps, and documents. Many 19th century accounts of building and traveling on the railroad, plus travel guides and government documents.
Curated OER
Panamarrd.jpg (29993 Bytes)
This page is entitled "The Panama Railroad, Chapter XIV" of the book "History of the Panama Canal", by Ira E. Bennett, 1915. It recounts important events of this period (1827-1855) of Panamanian history.
Curated OER
Central Pacific Railroad: Eastward to Promontory
This site from the Central Pacific Railroad provides an extensive and comprehensive article about surveying the route for the railroad, the problems with construction, and the men behind the idea of the railroad. Hyperlinks to additional...