Communities Long Ago

Long ago it was hard to get news from place to place. Traveling took a lot of time. Most people had to walk. Some rode horses or buggies; others traveled in boats. People called town criers walked through town yelling the news. Few towns had newspapers.

In 1807, Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. It was a boat that moved up and down the river using steam. It was the first boat to move without paddles.

In 1844, the telegraph machine was invented by Samuel Morse. This new tool brought people together. It could send messages over electric wires. The machine used a special code to send messages. Cities and towns far apart could share the news in minutes.

In 1860, the Pony Express took mail across the United States. Riders were paid to carry mail in leather bags. New riders took the bags every 80 to 100 miles. They got fresh horses every 10 to 15 miles so the could keep the horses from getting too tired.

In 1908, the first plane was invented. Wilber and Orville Wright flew the first plane.