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- Cartoon, "New Fulton Ferry - Broadway Branch," circa 1845 -
- circa 1845
- Collections - Artifact
Cartoon, "New Fulton Ferry - Broadway Branch," circa 1845
- Wood Engraving, American Coach, circa 1827 - Before railroads, long-distance travelers often rode in public coaches. They would jostle along rough country roads with mail, freight, and other passengers "in stages," stopping every few hours to change horses. This image depicting a loaded stagecoach in transit was drawn and engraved by Philadelphia artist Alexander Robb.
- 1825-1830
- Collections - Artifact
Wood Engraving, American Coach, circa 1827
Before railroads, long-distance travelers often rode in public coaches. They would jostle along rough country roads with mail, freight, and other passengers "in stages," stopping every few hours to change horses. This image depicting a loaded stagecoach in transit was drawn and engraved by Philadelphia artist Alexander Robb.
- Wood Engraving, "March," 1854 - A mid-19th-century American farm was full of activity all year. This 1854 engraving depicts a farmer preparing the land for spring planting. Farmers used plows to break up the soil before sowing seeds. Horses -- a key power source on many farms at this time -- pulled the equipment that cleared the land and plowed the fields.
- April 01, 1854
- Collections - Artifact
Wood Engraving, "March," 1854
A mid-19th-century American farm was full of activity all year. This 1854 engraving depicts a farmer preparing the land for spring planting. Farmers used plows to break up the soil before sowing seeds. Horses -- a key power source on many farms at this time -- pulled the equipment that cleared the land and plowed the fields.
- Wood Engraving, "December," 1854 - This hand-colored wood engraving depicts farm life in the mid-19th century. Farmers headed to a local mill after harvesting corn, wheat or other grain crops. Here the grain was ground into flour. Farmers kept some of the flour for the family's use, the rest was sold for extra cash and to pay the miller.
- December 02, 1854
- Collections - Artifact
Wood Engraving, "December," 1854
This hand-colored wood engraving depicts farm life in the mid-19th century. Farmers headed to a local mill after harvesting corn, wheat or other grain crops. Here the grain was ground into flour. Farmers kept some of the flour for the family's use, the rest was sold for extra cash and to pay the miller.
- "The Boston and Cambridge New Horse Railroad," 1856 - This wood engraving depicts the early horse-drawn railroads in 1856 that ran from Boston through Cambridge to Mount Auburn in Massachusetts. The print was originally engraved by printmaker John Andrew for the publication "Ballou's Pictorial."
- 1856
- Collections - Artifact
"The Boston and Cambridge New Horse Railroad," 1856
This wood engraving depicts the early horse-drawn railroads in 1856 that ran from Boston through Cambridge to Mount Auburn in Massachusetts. The print was originally engraved by printmaker John Andrew for the publication "Ballou's Pictorial."
- Train with Steam Locomotive, Passenger and Freight Cars, circa 1856 - Locomotive boilers had to stay hot to produce steam. Lagging -- insulation around the boiler -- was crucial. This American-type locomotive of the 1850s had narrow wooden strips mounted around its boiler for insulation. But the wood deteriorated quickly when exposed to weather and sparks. Improved designs placed a protective sheet metal jacket over the wood.
- circa 1856
- Collections - Artifact
Train with Steam Locomotive, Passenger and Freight Cars, circa 1856
Locomotive boilers had to stay hot to produce steam. Lagging -- insulation around the boiler -- was crucial. This American-type locomotive of the 1850s had narrow wooden strips mounted around its boiler for insulation. But the wood deteriorated quickly when exposed to weather and sparks. Improved designs placed a protective sheet metal jacket over the wood.
- 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.
- "Departure of the Legislative Excursion Train" from Albany, New York, 1853 - In 1853 ten distinct rail lines merged to form the New York Central Railroad. The unification produced a single railway spanning the Empire State from Albany to Buffalo, by way of Syracuse and Rochester. NYC grew into one of the Northeast's largest railroads, with later extensions to Chicago and St. Louis. The company merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968.
- June 04, 1853
- Collections - Artifact
"Departure of the Legislative Excursion Train" from Albany, New York, 1853
In 1853 ten distinct rail lines merged to form the New York Central Railroad. The unification produced a single railway spanning the Empire State from Albany to Buffalo, by way of Syracuse and Rochester. NYC grew into one of the Northeast's largest railroads, with later extensions to Chicago and St. Louis. The company merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1968.
- "Locomotive Race on the Lowell Railroad," circa 1858 - The Boston and Lowell Railroad opened in northeastern Massachusetts in 1835. The Wilmington station, pictured here, sat roughly halfway between the railroad's namesake cities. When the B&L tested the speed and tractive effort of various steam locomotives in 1851, the trial drew a large crowd of curious spectators. The B&L was leased by the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1887.
- circa 1858
- Collections - Artifact
"Locomotive Race on the Lowell Railroad," circa 1858
The Boston and Lowell Railroad opened in northeastern Massachusetts in 1835. The Wilmington station, pictured here, sat roughly halfway between the railroad's namesake cities. When the B&L tested the speed and tractive effort of various steam locomotives in 1851, the trial drew a large crowd of curious spectators. The B&L was leased by the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1887.
- The Late Collision - Providence & Worcester R.R., August 12, 1853 - Accidents were frightfully common on American railroads in the mid-19th century. Cheap construction, crude equipment, poor signaling, and uncoordinated timekeeping all contributed to the problem. This illustration shows a wreck on the Providence & Worcester Railroad in 1853. Two passenger trains failed to meet at a passing siding as scheduled. They collided head-on, killing 13 and seriously injuring 30 more.
- August 12, 1853
- Collections - Artifact
The Late Collision - Providence & Worcester R.R., August 12, 1853
Accidents were frightfully common on American railroads in the mid-19th century. Cheap construction, crude equipment, poor signaling, and uncoordinated timekeeping all contributed to the problem. This illustration shows a wreck on the Providence & Worcester Railroad in 1853. Two passenger trains failed to meet at a passing siding as scheduled. They collided head-on, killing 13 and seriously injuring 30 more.