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FLATBOATS OF THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY 1941 EDUCATIONAL FILM  31290 HD

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Industrial Revolution: Transportation for Kids

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Kids learn about advances in transportation during the Industrial Revolution including steamboats, canals, railroads, the locomotive, road construction and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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Industrial Revolution: Transportation for Kids

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Kids learn about advances in transportation during the Industrial Revolution including steamboats, canals, railroads, the locomotive, road construction and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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The Great Steamboat Race narrated by Loretta Young

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The stagecoach traveled on the road between Westerville and Columbus carrying mail and passengers. A stagecoach is a four-wheeled vehicle pulled by a team of horses. It was used to transport paying passengers from one location to another. It could travel about five miles an hour. At either end of the trip were places called stagecoach "stops" where passengers could rest and get food. While it was most desirable to ride inside the enclosed vehicle some passengers did ride outside if there was not room in the interior.

A drawing of a stagecoach

The best known stagecoach driver in Westerville was George Stoner, who owned the stagecoach stop on the plank road (still standing two doors north of the CVS on State Street). It has been reported that George Stoner could make the 13-mile journey from Columbus to Westerville in two hours or an hour and a half if challenged. His stagecoach stop was used to harbor runaway slaves that he brought hidden in the luggage compartment of his vehicle.

Black and white photograph of building named the Stoner House at 133 S. State St. Building was used as a stagecoach stop by George Stoner and also as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Ohio Bicenntennial marker was placed on the north side of the building, photo dated 1948

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The stagecoach traveled on the road between Westerville and Columbus carrying mail and passengers. A stagecoach is a four-wheeled vehicle pulled by a team of horses. It was used to transport paying passengers from one location to another. It could travel about five miles an hour.

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When Ohio first became a state in 1803, the primary methods of transportation to and through the state were by horse and wagon or by river. Within two decades, state officials had realized the economic benefit that canal access to Lake Erie and the Ohio River would bring by providing an inexpensive way for farmers and business owners to transport their goods to market. The Ohio and Erie Canal on the eastern side of the state was completed in 1833, and the Miami and Erie Canal on the western side was completed twelve years later. The cost to ship goods to and from the East Coast dropped from $125/ton by horse and wagon to $25/ton by canal, which spurred economic growth. However, canal boats had an average speed of just three miles per hour, and would soon give way to newer, faster railroads.

As early as the 1820s, Ohio residents without access to canals began advocating for railroads. Because most canals ran north/south, railroads were also seen as way to improve east/west travel. In 1836, the Erie & Kalamazoo Rail Road became the first railroad completed west of the Allegheny Mountains, connecting Toledo with Adrian, Michigan. At first, horses pulled the rail cars, but after the introduction of the steam engine in 1837, the 33-mile journey between the two cities took just three hours. Despite the continued availability of canals and a nationwide financial crisis (the Panic of 1837), railroad construction began to grow significantly during the 1840s.

The Little Miami Railroad was one of the most important early railroads in Ohio. Built between 1837 and 1848, its connections to other railroads created a network that linked most of the state. The Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad began construction in 1851; unlike many earlier railroads built to move freight, its primary purpose was transporting passengers. New communities were built along the rail line, and wealthy Cincinnati residents (who could afford to pay train fare) moved out of the city to these new neighborhoods.

Ohio's location made it a natural transit point between the port cities of the Northeast and the Midwestern cities of Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Although early railroads primarily facilitated travel within Ohio, railroad construction in the mid-1850s began to connect Ohio with the rest of the country. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad crossed the Appalachian Mountains, providing easier access to and from the East Coast. The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad connected Ohio with St. Louis, the "Gateway to the West." Eventually every major Eastern trunk line ran through Ohio, and by 1860, Ohio had more track laid than any other state-nearly 3,000 miles.

The years after the Civil War saw a tremendous boom in railroad construction as well as consolidation of operations. By 1900, most of Ohio's 8,900 miles of track were controlled by one of four companies: the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Erie Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the New York Central Railroad. Rail lines reached large and small communities throughout the state and the country.

Despite increasing federal regulation and the invention of automobiles and airplanes, rail travel remained the primary mode of transportation through World War II, when trains moved hundreds of tons of material and large numbers of troops nationally. In the 1950s, however, trucks and automobiles gained popularity for freight and passenger travel on the new interstate highway system, and the age of railroads came to an end.

Today more than 5,000 miles of track are still active in Ohio. Rail fans can see freight trains throughout the state and can explore Ohio's rich rail history on Ohio Memory, as well as through a variety of museums and attractions.
Thank you to Stephanie Michaels, Research and Catalog Services Librarian at the State Library of Ohio, for this week's post!

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When Ohio first became a state in 1803, the primary methods of transportation to and through the state were by horse and wagon or by river. Within two decades, state officials had realized the economic benefit that canal access to Lake Erie and the Ohio River would bring by providing an inexpensive way for farmers and business owners to transport their goods to market.

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Industrial Revolution: Transportation for Kids

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Kids learn about advances in transportation during the Industrial Revolution including steamboats, canals, railroads, the locomotive, road construction and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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Flatboat to Towboat: Ohio River Tradition

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The stagecoach was the major vehicle for overland group transport until railroads began to dominate in the 1850s. Rural inhabitants continued to rely on stagecoaches for local travel, and hotels sent them to meet trains or take guests sightseeing.

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Rare and Vintage Steamboat Film Footage (1929-35)

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This article was most recently revised and updated by

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), first steam-operated railway in the United States to be chartered as a common carrier of freight and passengers (1827). The B&O Railroad Company was established by Baltimore, Maryland, merchants to compete with New York merchants and their newly opened Erie Canal for trade to the west. A driving force in its early years was the Baltimore banker George Brown, who served as treasurer from 1827 until 1834 and had Ross Winans build the first real railroad car.

The first stone for the line was laid on July 4, 1828, by Charles Carroll, the American Revolutionary leader and last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. The first 13 miles (21 km) of line, from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills (now Ellicott City), Maryland, opened in 1830. Peter Cooper's steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb, ran over this line and demonstrated to doubters that steam traction was feasible on the steep, winding grades.

The railroad was extended to Wheeling, Virginia (now in West Virginia), a distance of 379 miles (610 km), in 1852. In the 1860s and '70s the railroad reached Chicago and St. Louis. In 1896 it went bankrupt. After it was reorganized in 1899, it grew further, reaching Cleveland and Lake Erie in 1901. In 1963 the B&O was acquired by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company and in 1980 became part of the newly formed CSX Corporation. In 1987 the B&O was dissolved when it merged into the Chesapeake and Ohio.

The B&O's long-distance passenger trains were discontinued in 1971 when the National Railroad Passenger Corporation ( Amtrak) took over intercity passenger service, although it continued limited commuter service at Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. About one-quarter of the B&O's freight revenues came from its traditional haulage of bituminous coal from mines in the Allegheny Mountains. Other important freight included motor vehicles and parts as well as chemicals.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Erik Gregersen.

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

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Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | History & Facts

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Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), first steam-operated railway in the United States to be chartered as a common carrier of freight and passengers (1827). The B&O was established by Baltimore, Maryland, merchants to compete with New York merchants and their newly opened Erie Canal for trade to the west.

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Kids learn about the Erie Canal including how long it is, when it was built, its importance to the Industrial Revolution, and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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Wagons, buggies, surreys & buckboards: Those are the pride and joy of the Higgins family of Meeker, Ohio. Theirs is a fascination with modes of transportation common in the days before Henry Ford put the automobile within the grasp of nearly every family in America. They find and restore vintage horse-drawn conveyances. Rarely will you find a finer collection of such pieces.

Roger Higgins Sr. has always been interested in agricultural items. However, he decided early on that he would not become a collector and restorer of antique farm tractors. Instead, he went further back in time. Long interested in horses and horse-drawn equipment, he focused on that, with one qualifier: He wanted to be able to use any piece of equipment he bought. And that led to restoring early farm wagons.

Creating a chuck wagon

One of his first acquisitions after starting a collection in 1971 was a World War I supply wagon. Put on an auction by the Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio, the wagon was purchased by Ohio farmer Delbert Rush, who stored it high and dry in his haymow. More than 30 years ago, Roger learned of the wagon and began a campaign to persuade Rush to sell. Eventually, he did.

The wagon was in "quite decent" condition, Roger recalls, but needed a lot of tender loving care. He put new running gear under the wagon box and made other modifications. Later, he converted it to a chuck wagon and used it on the Ohio Wagon Train Club's annual drive through northeast Ohio. He mounted a water barrel on one side and a pantry on the other. Then he and his wife, Darlene, and son, Roger Jr., loaded up their team of Belgians and their wagon joined the train.

Roger and his son are members of the Ohio Wagon Train Club of Holmes County. They also belong to the Black Swamp Driving Club and have traveled extensively through Ohio and to the Horse Park near Lexington, Ky. (See Don Voelker's article in Farm Collector, May 2008.) Father and son have joined the groups during displays at county fairs, festivals and other events, and regularly use their Arabians to pull vintage wagons and surreys.

Collection offers variety

The Higgins collection currently numbers about 30 pieces, including wagons, buggies, surreys and buckboards. Roger's latest endeavor is restoration of a Rockaway carriage. The occupant's compartment is completely enclosed, and features doors with beveled glass windows, a beveled glass windscreen and rear window. When the carriage was driven in inclement weather, snow, slush or other debris could land on the carriage's step. A clever feature counteracted that: When the door swings open, a cover makes contact with the step, sweeping it clear before passengers emerged. The driver, meanwhile, is perched in the open. A speaker tube allowed communication between passengers inside and the driver.

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ohio wagon train club of holmes county ohio

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Wagons, buggies, surreys & buckboards: Those are the pride and joy of the Higgins family of Meeker, Ohio. Theirs is a fascination with modes of transportation common in the days before Henry Ford put the automobile within the grasp of nearly every family in America. They find and restore vintage horse-drawn conveyances.

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Industrial Revolution: Transportation for Kids

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Kids learn about advances in transportation during the Industrial Revolution including steamboats, canals, railroads, the locomotive, road construction and interesting facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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A really old time video about traveling on Keelboats and Flatboats on canals and streams.

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FLATBOATS OF THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY 1941 EDUCATIONAL FILM  31290 HD

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Welcome to the Historic National Road in Ohio, part of the road that helped build America. We are glad you have made the National Road and its many treasures your destination. The Ohio National Road is part a six-state All-American Road that stretches over 700 miles, from Baltimore through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois to East St.

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Steam Engine
History >> Industrial Revolution

The steam engine was one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Steam engines were used in all sorts of applications including factories, mines, locomotives, and steamboats.

The Newcomen Steam Engine
by Newton Henry Black
and Harvey Nathaniel Davis (1913)

How does the steam engine work?

Steam engines use hot steam from boiling water to drive a piston (or pistons) back and forth. The movement of the piston was then used topower a machine or turn a wheel. To create the steam, most steam engines heated the water by burning coal.

Why was it important?

The steam engine helped to power the Industrial Revolution. Before steam power, most factories and mills were powered by water, wind, horse, or man. Water was a good source of power, but factories had to be located near a river. Both water and wind power could be unreliable as sometimes rivers could dry up during a drought or freeze during the winter and wind didn't always blow.

Steam power allowed for factories to be located anywhere. It also provided reliable power and could be used to power large machines.

Who invented the steam engine?

One of the first steam engines was invented by Thomas Savery in 1698. It wasn't very useful, but other inventors made improvements over time. The first useful steam engine was invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712. The Newcomen engine was used to pump water out of mines.

The Porter-Allen high-speed steam
engine was popular during the
late 1800s and early 1900s
Photo by Ducksters

Steam power really took off with improvements made by James Watt in 1778. The Watt steam engine improved the efficiency of steam engines considerably. His engines could be smaller and use less coal. By the early 1800s, Watt steam engines were used in factories throughout England.

Where was the steam engine used?

Throughout the 1800s, steam engines were improved. They became smaller and more efficient. Large steam engines were used in factories and mills to power machines of all types. Smaller steam engines were used in transportation including trains and steamboats.

Are steam engines still used today?

The steam engine as we think of it from the Industrial Revolution was largely replaced by electricity and the internal combustion engine (gas and diesel). Some old steam engines are still used in certain areas of the world and in antique locomotives.

However, steam power is still heavily used around the world in various applications. Many modern electrical plants use steam generated by burning coal to produce electricity. Also, nuclear power plants use steam generated by nuclear fission to produce electricity.

Locomotive steam engine
Source: State Library of Queensland

Interesting Facts about the Steam Engine and the Industrial Revolution

The unit of power (the Watt) was named after inventor James Watt.

James Watt used the term "horsepower" to describe how much power his engine could produce. He used it to compare his engine to the actual output of how much power horses could produce.

One horsepower is equal to 745.7 Watts.

The first successful commercial steamboat was the Clermont developed by Robert Fulton in 1807.

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History >> Industrial Revolution

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Kids learn about the steam engine and how it helped to power the Industrial Revolution including how it works, why it was important, who invented it, and fun facts. Educational article for students, schools, and teachers.

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Tickets must be purchased at the Visitor Center and the Canal Boat Landing.

Ticket pricing:

Adults ( ages 13-59): $8.00

Seniors (ages 60+): $7.00

Youth ( ages 5 - 12): $7.00

Veterans/Active Duty with ID: $7.00

School Charters: $200.00 (must reserve)

Group (Adult) Charters: $300.00 (must reserve)

Canal Boat Landing Address:

23253 State Route 83 North

Coshocton, OH 43812

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Tickets must be purchased at the Visitor Center and the Canal Boat Landing.

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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I've Been Working on the Rail road- Song

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I've Been Working on the Rail road- Song