Bound For Glory
The Railroad Was A Nation Builder
There is no doubt that the railroad defined
an American culture and personality that
is distinct from its European roots. At its
heart, the railroad was a nation builder - the
personification of the brash, entrepreneurial
spirit that the rest of the world saw in the
United States. As early as 1827, William
Aiken and Horatio Allen recognized the
potential of the railroad to open new markets
and to make travel faster and safer. Trains
changed American perceptions of time,
space, and distance forever and set the
stage for later transportation developments
like interstate highways and airplanes.
The railroads spurred technological growth
and innovation. They affected how people
and information were distributed across
the country. Railways helped settle the
middle and western regions of the United
States, and were a source of employment
for thousands of new immigrants. They
were a catalyst for the development of
labor unions.
The power of the railroad as an icon and
symbol of American life is revealed time
and again through the works of American
authors, poets, playwrights, movie-makers,
painters, and songwriters. These artists
immortalized trains as glamorous, tragic,
romantic, sinister, and patriotic settings
for the stories of America. Although
trains are no longer a part of the everyday
life of most Americans, they still continue
to capture our imagination.
"We reached Sans Souci in quick and
double quick time...
before any of us had time to determine
whether or not it was prudent to be scared."
*Charleston Courier, 1830*
Marker is on John Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
