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- Advertising Postcard for Pan American Airlines, circa 1970, "The Plane with All the Room in the World" - For much of the 20th century, Pan American World Airways exemplified innovation in air travel. The carrier pioneered the use of wide-body jumbo jets, like the Boeing 747 featured on this postcard, in the 1970s. But rising fuel costs and difficulty establishing domestic U.S. routes strained the company in the 1980s. Pan Am ended operations in 1991.
- circa 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Advertising Postcard for Pan American Airlines, circa 1970, "The Plane with All the Room in the World"
For much of the 20th century, Pan American World Airways exemplified innovation in air travel. The carrier pioneered the use of wide-body jumbo jets, like the Boeing 747 featured on this postcard, in the 1970s. But rising fuel costs and difficulty establishing domestic U.S. routes strained the company in the 1980s. Pan Am ended operations in 1991.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- June 23, 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- Letter from E.P. Goodrich to Ann Goodrich, 1851 - This 1851 letter describes a trip on the Michigan Central Railroad from Detroit to Chicago. Author E.P. Goodrich colorfully relates the trials of mid-19th-century rail travel. Equipment breakdowns, smoke, and cinders were common, and average speeds were low. Because the Michigan Central wasn't completed into Chicago until 1852, Goodrich finished his journey by steamboat from New Buffalo across Lake Michigan.
- June 26, 1851
- Collections - Artifact
Letter from E.P. Goodrich to Ann Goodrich, 1851
This 1851 letter describes a trip on the Michigan Central Railroad from Detroit to Chicago. Author E.P. Goodrich colorfully relates the trials of mid-19th-century rail travel. Equipment breakdowns, smoke, and cinders were common, and average speeds were low. Because the Michigan Central wasn't completed into Chicago until 1852, Goodrich finished his journey by steamboat from New Buffalo across Lake Michigan.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," November 12, 1942 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- November 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," November 12, 1942
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- November 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- 1927 Boeing Model 40-B2 Biplane - Subsidies from the federal government for air mail encouraged the development of improved long-distance aircraft like the Boeing 40. The key to the Boeing's success was the use of a lightweight air-cooled radial engine which allowed it to carry the mail and two paying passengers. This plane flew between Chicago and San Francisco, making 12 fuel stops along the way.
- 1927
- Collections - Artifact
1927 Boeing Model 40-B2 Biplane
Subsidies from the federal government for air mail encouraged the development of improved long-distance aircraft like the Boeing 40. The key to the Boeing's success was the use of a lightweight air-cooled radial engine which allowed it to carry the mail and two paying passengers. This plane flew between Chicago and San Francisco, making 12 fuel stops along the way.
- 1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane - The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- 1939
- Collections - Artifact
1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane
The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- Passengers on the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad, South Dakota, circa 1895 - Passengers gathered for a photograph when the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley train stopped in a South Dakota mountain pass. The photograph, taken about 1907, shows the happy group on the back platform while the engineer and others peer out from the side.
- circa 1895
- Collections - Artifact
Passengers on the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad, South Dakota, circa 1895
Passengers gathered for a photograph when the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley train stopped in a South Dakota mountain pass. The photograph, taken about 1907, shows the happy group on the back platform while the engineer and others peer out from the side.
- Wood Engraving, "Quite a Common Scene, it is Said, on the Railways in the West," 1858 - While close clearances -- tight spaces between railroad cars and trackside structures -- did exist, this 1858 illustration from <em>Harper's Weekly</em> exaggerated the dangers faced by passengers who stuck their heads through windows. More likely threats from an open window included sparks, cinders and smoke from the steam locomotive pulling the train -- all of which could irritate eyes and damage clothing.
- 1858
- Collections - Artifact
Wood Engraving, "Quite a Common Scene, it is Said, on the Railways in the West," 1858
While close clearances -- tight spaces between railroad cars and trackside structures -- did exist, this 1858 illustration from Harper's Weekly exaggerated the dangers faced by passengers who stuck their heads through windows. More likely threats from an open window included sparks, cinders and smoke from the steam locomotive pulling the train -- all of which could irritate eyes and damage clothing.
- Passenger List for SS African Endeavor, Farrell Lines, Cape Town to New York, 1954 - Launched in 1939, SS <em>Delbrasil</em> ran between New Orleans and South America. During World War II, the ship became a U.S. Navy troop transport under the name USS <em>George F. Elliott</em>. Following the war, American South African Lines -- later, Farrell Lines -- acquired the ship, rechristened it SS <em>African Endeavor</em>, and operated it between New York City and Cape Town, South Africa.
- 1954
- Collections - Artifact
Passenger List for SS African Endeavor, Farrell Lines, Cape Town to New York, 1954
Launched in 1939, SS Delbrasil ran between New Orleans and South America. During World War II, the ship became a U.S. Navy troop transport under the name USS George F. Elliott. Following the war, American South African Lines -- later, Farrell Lines -- acquired the ship, rechristened it SS African Endeavor, and operated it between New York City and Cape Town, South Africa.