How the Industrial Revolution Impacted our Environment

The Industrial Revolution paved way for new inventions and technologies. The innovations during this period greatly impacted the way people communicate, the way goods are manufactured and transported, and the way things are powered. Below are just some of the best-known contributions of the industrial revolution:

1.    Communications
The industrial revolution enabled people to communicate across long distances. This huge development began where Samuel Morse invented the electrical telegraph in 1844. It was much cheaper than the old methods and it allowed messages to be relayed much faster. However, it was in 1876, when Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, that the way people communicated took a dramatic turn

2.    Steam Power
Steam power had already existed for quite some time, but in 1781, James Watt had devised a new type of steam engine that could power factory machines. This enabled factories to be situated almost anywhere. The steam engines grew larger and more robust throughout the 1800s and they had been utilized not only to run factories, but also to transport trains and power steamboats.

3.    Transportation
Since more goods were being produced and more factories were being established throughout the country, the need for better transportations modes arose during the industrial revolution. It was Robert Fulton who developed one of the first successful steamboats in 1807. Goods and passengers were carried along rivers throughout the United States with the help of these steamboats. Another important mode of transportation during the Industrial Revolution was the train, and in 1869, the United States’ first transcontinental railroad was finished.

4.    New Power Technologies
Natural power sources such as water and wind were used in the early part of the Industrial Revolution. Eventually, new power technologies such as steam power and electricity were utilized, and they helped significantly in the growth of the revolution.

There are many other ways by which the industrial revolution impacted the United States. If you want to learn more about them, you can visit a museum in Michigan where you can look at an exhibit that showcases the different factors that allowed the US to transform into an urban nation.

Lincoln Limousine – A symbol of American Luxury and Comfort

If there is a car that symbolizes American luxury and comfort, it is probably the Lincoln Limousine. It’s easy to see why it has served as the official car for a number of American presidents. But despite its grandeur and sophistication, the Lincoln Limousine has quite an eventful and strange history. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower have travelled in 1950 Lincolns. The roofs of the limos were modified in order to provide extra headroom and accommodate the president’s top hat, which is the fashion for state leaders that time.

President John F. Kennedy also used a Lincoln Limousine. What’s interesting about this limo is that it started out as a 1961 Lincoln Continental 4-door convertible. Hess & Eisenhardt can be credited in turning it into a parade limousine. The customization involved cutting the car in half and adding a 3-and-a-half-foot section to the middle. “X-100” was how the Secret Service referred to the vehicle, and it was known as the most intricate presidential car that was ever built. The limo had a set of 3 removable roofs, which were made of cloth, transparent plastic, and another lightweight material. After JFK’s assassination in November 22, 1963, it quickly became obvious that the Lincoln Continental, despite being elegant, did not provide adequate protection from attacks.

Lessons have been learned, and after the assassination, the limo was rebuilt by Hess & Eisenhardt and polished by Ford. With its reinforced armor plate and special panes, the new presidential limo can already survive a hit from a 30-caliber rifle round. Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and succeeding presidents used the refurbished vehicle until it was retired in 1977.

Interested in knowing more about the Lincoln limousine? You can check out an exhibit in a museum in Michigan that displays Lincoln limos that have been used by other American presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt.

4 Reasons Why People Loved Gandhi Spinning Wheel

Not many public figures remain instantly distinguished by billions around the world. Only key historical people like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and Mohandas Gandhi, among a few have this evocative gift—a power of sorts that transports people to their era and corner in history when their words and deeds were most significant. Known as the Father of the Indian nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (or Mahatma as he is known throughout the world) fits this profile perfectly. It’s easy to see why his old possessions gather so much attention and increased importance as years go by. A significant symbol of his non-violent movement, Gandhi’s Spinning wheel has sold for about $180,000 just recently at an auction. But why does such an old artifact hold great value?

1. It belonged to Gandhi. Old possessions of the famed Indian Independence hero always exceed expectations of auctioneers who put his things up for bidding. The Gandhi spinning wheel, for instance, had a guide price of only $96,000 and ended up selling for almost twice its expected monetary value.

2. It’s a mechanical marvel. Gandhi’s spinning wheel is an industrial marvel in its own right. It folds into a portable bundle about the size of a regular typewriter. Unfolded, it is operated by simply turning a crank that runs the wheels and the spindle.

3. Gandhi used it as a meditative medium. The Indian icon spent time on the spinning wheel on a daily basis, as a meditative exercise.

4. Finally, it symbolizes a number of values Gandhi holds dear, including:

•    Simplicity – He urged Indians to boycott foreign clothes and British textile imports and encouraged policies that promoted hand weaving and spinning of cloth—policies that were the very heart of the country’s independence movement
•    Economic Freedom – It was a tool that helped Gandhi show the way toward a more prosperous India; and
•    Peace – His teachings refer to the chakra (spinning wheel) as a non-violent tool to prevent the impingement of India’s beloved handloom industry.

5 Moments that Sum Up Your memorable Experience in Michigan Museums

Museum hopping in Michigan’s science, art, and history galleries is a truly enlightening experience. A trip to any of the state’s iconic museums offers a glimpse into the work and life of some of the most prominent masters in history. Touring Michigan galleries and heritage sites will let you discover and learn stories you only read about and see first-hand, diverse collections of national treasures unique to the state. Here are keystone moments that will sum up an exciting Michigan museum experience:

•    A walk through the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park – serving 650,000 annual visitors, Meijer Gardens is a definite highlight to any museum-hopping tour in Michigan. This botanical garden cum sculpture park is among the world’s most visited according to many art publications. Its 158 acre grounds is home to the largest tropical conservatory in Michigan, sprinkled by outdoor gardens, and amazing bronze sculptures by none other than Rodin and Degas.

•    A family tour around Neil’s Dutch Village – if living museums are your thing, a day tour in Neil’s Dutch Village is the perfect way to enjoy an active time with the family. A window to all things Dutch, the village will take you 100 years back in time into the Netherlands of the last century.

•    More Dutch experiences at the Windmill Island Garden – you can never get too much Dutch culture when touring Michigan. This 30-acre park is sought after for its authentic Dutch windmills, manicured gardens, and antique carousel.

•    Historic tour of Henry Ford’s Home – the Ford Estate is a definite must when exploring Metro Detroit. A designated National Historic Landmark, you will find here an eclectic blend of national treasures, including a collection of important artifacts that tell incredible stories of some of the most exciting breakthrough moments in American History.

•    Kids’ day out at Great Lakes Children’s Museum – for a hands-on family adventure, awesome interactive exhibits await at Traverse City’s Great Lakes Museum—a haven for imaginative play with its live water exhibits and activities.