1

The Mayflower

Image: William Halsall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1620, about 100 passengers set sail on the Mayflower , a merchant ship that usually carried goods, to start a life in the New World. They left England in September and in November landed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, putting the first stone in the foundation of the future American Nation.

The trip lasted two long months full of storms and perils. Finally, the ship, which was intended to land in Virginia, spotted the coastline up North in New England. The Mayflower pilgrims decided to stay in the area previously named Plymouth by famous explorer John Smith. During the first winter, the Mayflower served as a source of shelter . Although only half of the Pilgrims survived, they eventually founded the Plymouth Colony, celebrated the first American Thanksgiving with the Pokanoket people, and were able to establish a self-sufficient economy based on hunting, farming, and trading.

2

The Stagecoach

Image: Edward Joseph Holslag, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Before the invention of trains and automobiles, animal power was the main form of transportation. People, goods, and even mail would travel by horse, donkey, oxen, and pulled coaches and wagons, connecting cities with rural parts of the country. In the United States, the carriage era started in the late 17th century and lasted until the early 1900s when the automobile replaced horse-drawn vehicles.

The stagecoach, in particular, was the main public vehicle responsible for the conquest of the American West. It traveled along predetermined routes and had stops every 12 or 50 miles where people could rest and grab a bite to eat and horses could be changed. Moving goods and people throughout the territory meant the growth of cities, the settling of rural areas, and the creation of wealth . In this sense, carriages played a key role in the transportation revolution that transformed American life forever.

3

The Clermont

Image: Samuel Ward Stanton (d1912), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Although steamboats began to be developed in the late 1700s by the Scottish engineer James Watt, and that John Fitch was technically the first to build a steamboat in the United States in 1787, the North River Steamboat would be the one to make it into the history books .

This boat, also known as The Clermont , was designed by American inventor Robert Fulton. On August 17, 1807, this 142-foot-long vessel left New York City for Albany, constituting the first commercial steamboat service in the world . With a group of special guests aboard, the trip up the Hudson River took a total of 32 hours, at about 5 miles per hour. After this inaugural expedition, Fulton continued to build more boats, improving engine and propulsion design and making the steamboat a practical means of transportation. The success of The Clermont certainly changed river traffic and trade on major American rivers for years to come.

4

The American Railway System

Image: Popular Graphic Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

There’s no doubt that trains had a significant role in shaping the landscape of the country. The origins of trains can be found in the ancient world, back when causeways and wooden rails were used to guide wagons. However, it would not be until the invention of the steam locomotive in the early 1800s that the history of transportation would be forever changed , spurring an industrial revolution around the world. And The United States was no exception.

The construction of new factories drove the need for materials to be transported over large distances, and railway travel provided the perfect solution. The concept of constructing a railroad in the U.S. was first conceived in 1812 by Colonel John Stevens. Yet, the first American railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was built in 1827 . For the next 50 years, the government would issue grants to build railroads across the country, which became a very lucrative investment for companies, leading to economic growth and the development of new towns and cities.

5

The San Francisco Cable Car

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that the cable car was invented in San Francisco in the late 1800s? It was developed by Andrew Smith Hallidie based on mining systems and is a symbol of the city still today. Clay Street Hill Railroad began public service on September 1, 1873, and it was an instant success. Other companies followed suit and launched their versions of Hallidie's patented system in the following years, totaling 53 miles of track across the city.

Later, although the electric street car, a lot cheaper to build and maintain, became the vehicle of choice for city transit, cable cars continued to be better equipped for steep hills. In 1947 the city Mayor urged to "get rid of all cable lines" leading a committee to launch a public campaign to save this iconic vehicle. Even celebrities rallied for the cause and ultimately the cable car system survived the attempt, specifically because of its great cultural value, especially among the thousands of tourists who visit San Francisco every year.

6

The Columbia Bicycle

Image: Boston Public Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1878, Civil War veteran Colonel Albert A. Pope, inspired by a British bike he saw at the Philadelphia World’s Fair, hired a sewing machine company to make the first American bicycle . The brand went on to be called Columbia , and by 1888 was manufacturing about 5,000 high-quality bikes a year. However, for a couple of years, it would not be seen as a means of transportation but as pure entertainment.

Later, with the development of the British Rover safety bike, bicycles were no longer limited to athletes and the brave. Pope started selling these easier-to-ride vehicles and the American bicycle industry finally took off in 1890. By the beginning of the 20th century, 1 million bikes were produced in the U.S. yearly and people were even riding them to work every day.

7

The First American Car

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Few people know that the first successfully American manufactured car was actually developed by bicycle makers. In the Autumn of 1893, brothers Charles and Frank Duryea road-tested the first gasoline-powered automobile in Chicopee, Massachusetts . It was, in fact, an old horse-drawn buggy into which the brothers installed a 4 HP, single-cylinder gasoline engine.

By 1899 there were around thirty companies manufacturing cars in the U.S. One of the most representative staples of the history of automotive manufacturing in the country is, no doubt about it, the Ford Model T . This "affordable" car was intended for the American middle class and it was first produced in 1908 in Detroit. Within days of its release, over 15,000 Ford cars were sold and the popularity of this iconic American company is still relevant today.

8

The Tremont Street Line

Image: Boston Transit Commission, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The first subway in America was built during the second phase of the Industrial Revolution in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897. This cutting-edge mode of transport was possible thanks to the invention of the electric motor by Frank Sprague in 1866 . But, why Boston? In the late 19th century, bustling Boston had a street congestion problem due to overcrowding and frequent blizzards and needed an out-of-the-box solution.

City officials agreed the best thing to do in a city with narrow colonial streets was to build an underground subway. Finally, on September 1, 1897, a four-track subway line between Boylston Street and Park Street was opened to the public . Additional lines and stations have been added throughout the following centuries, ushering in a new era in American public transportation.

9

The 1903 Wright Flyer

Image: John T. Daniels, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On December 17, 1903, a powered airplane invented by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first sustained flight over the skies of North Carolina . The Wright Flyer —also known as the _Kitty Hawk_— was a single-place biplane that managed to fly 852 ft on its fourth attempt before it was blown over on landing. The aircraft was later repaired but never flew again —although you can now visit it at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

After this exceptional achievement by the Wright brothers, the progress of American aviation never ceased to amaze. For example, in 1910 the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line started to operate and although it lasted only three months, it is now considered the United States’ first airline. By 1918 the U.S. Post Office was using airplanes to transport mail across the country . Finally, in 1958 Pan American ushered in the Jet Age with the iconic Boeing 707.

10

The Apollo 11

Image: Project Apollo Archive, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From the 1950s onwards, the Soviet Union and the United States embarked on a space race that made possible an unprecedented program of scientific exploration. On April 12, 1961

the Soviets managed to send the first person into space. In response, just 23 days after Yuri Gagarin, the first American man entered space aboard the Freedom 7 Mercury capsule . Alan Shepard’s trip lasted only 15 minutes and 28 seconds but it was more than enough to mark the beginning of an unprecedented revolution. Who would have thought that only 8 years later we would be transporting humans to the moon?

The story of Apollo 11 is well known, yet it deserves a special place in the history of American transportation , which is by no means limited to the Earth. Without the development of space shuttles, it would be impossible to imagine the future of transportation, a future that will surely be defined by the conquest of the unknown.

1

1959: (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I

Image: Victrola Record Players

To better understand the music of the 1960s in the United States, one must first go back to the previous decade and revisit the major influences. The music of this era, especially rock and roll, stood out for its rebellious energy, strident guitar chords, and lyrics with messages of freedom.

And perhaps the greatest representative of this cultural change was the great Elvis Presley. In 1959 Elvis released "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I". The song, composed by Bill Trader, had already been recorded years before by other artists, but the King of Rock 'n' Roll's version became a platinum record. Thanks to Elvis and other iconic musicians such as Bill Haley and His Comets, Chuck Berry, and Fats Domino, at the beginning of the 1960s the music world stood on the verge of a true revolution.

2

1960: Will You Love Me Tomorrow

Image: chienba

One of the groups that defined the sound of the 60s was The Shirelles, and one of the songs that helped them reach the top was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", released in November 1960.

This song composed by Carole King and Gerry Goffin was not only The Shirelles' first number 1, but also became the first song by an African-American girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

3

1961: Stand by Me

Image: Bru-nO

"Stand by Me" is probably one of the most beloved songs of all time. Not only was this song a massive hit when singer-songwriter Ben E. King released it in 1961, it was later listed as "the fourth most performed song of the 20th century". No wonder! It was recorded over 400 times by many notable artists such as Otis Redding, John Lennon, Tracy Chapman, and Florence and the Machine, among others.

4

1962: The Twist

Image: Sprinter_Lucio

Originally this song was released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters and later covered by Chubby Checker in 1960. However, two years later something incredible happened that would not be repeated until 59 years later. Checker's version of "The Twist" resurfaced in January 1962 setting a record as the only song to reach number 1 in two different runs. Do you remember this amazing hit inspired by the twist dance craze?

5

1963: Be My Baby

Image: BRUNO CERVERA

Released in August 1963, "Be My Baby" was The Ronettes' biggest hit. Composed by legendary record producer and songwriter Phil Spector, this song is regarded as the quintessential example of his Wall of Sound recording technique.

"Be My Baby" reached number 2 in the U.S., has been played on radio and TV over 3 million times, and has influenced dozens of artists of the golden era of rock and pop music.

6

1964: Oh, Pretty Woman

Image: Jack de Nijs for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Long before the famous film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, "Oh, Pretty Woman" was an instant success. Released in August 1964, this song was the biggest hit of Roy Orbison, a major player in American popular music of the 1960s.

Orbison was inspired by his wife Claudette, which seems to have brought him luck: the song quickly reached number 1 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

7

1965: Like a Rolling Stone

Image: Brett Jordan

Right in the middle of the decade, the leading exponents of the music scene of the time seem to have reached the pinnacle of creativity. Many songs that are still iconic today were released in 1965: "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" by Otis Redding, "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" by The Byrds, "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, and "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas & the Papas.

But perhaps the one who broke the mold and changed the history of music forever was Bob Dylan with his mythical song "Like a Rolling Stone". The worldwide hit not only remained at number 2 on the US Billboard charts for three months (the first song of its length to do so) but also marked Dylan's transformation from folk singer to rock star.

8

1966: God Only Knows

Image: Photographer: Sam Psoras, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Another turning point in the history of American music is the release of Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. The album, released in May 1966, is made up of one hit after another: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "You Still Believe in Me", just to name a few.

But probably one of the record’s greatest songs is the sophisticated and innovative "God Only Knows". Despite being an unusual sound for the group, some consider it the most beautiful melody ever composed. Even great musicians like Paul McCartney have picked it as their favorite song of all time. Undoubtedly, it is a work of art born from the brilliant mind of Brian Wilson.

9

1967: Sunday Morning

Image: Anastasia Saldatava

The debut studio album by the American rock band The Velvet Underground will forever be remembered for the famous banana on the cover designed by Andy Warhol and for being one of the most influential albums of the 60s.

Although the album was too controversial when it was released in March 1967 and initially was a commercial flop, over time the songs became legendary. For example, "Sunday Morning", with Nico's haunting vocals, a dreamy melody, and cheeky lyrics was recorded with the intention of making a hit. And in our humble opinion, it more than delivers!

10

1968: I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Image: Travis Yewell

Although it had been recorded before by other Motown Records artists, Marvin Gaye’s version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" released in October 1968 is the one that went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart and stayed for seven weeks. Since then, the song has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is considered an acclaimed soul classic.

11

1969: I Want You Back

Image: Pexels

Another of Motown Records' iconic artists of the 1960s were the Jackson 5. "I Want You Back" is the first national single by the band in which a very young Michael Jackson took his first steps.

Released in October 1969 the song was performed on the band's first television appearances and became an instant hit. "I Want You Back" was number 1 on the Billboard charts and has sold over 6 million copies worldwide.

12

Bonus: Bridge Over Troubled Water

Image: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the innovation experienced in rock and pop in the previous decade, the most successful song of 1970 was the work of a folk group, proving that the genre had not been forgotten and would forever be a staple of American music.

Recorded with a technique similar to Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" and inspired by gospel music, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was Simon & Garfunkel's most successful single. The song won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. Since then, more than 50 artists —including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, and Elvis Presley— have released their own version of the beloved hit.

1

Mark Zuckerberg

Image: Kenny Eliason

Mark, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, was named TIME’s Person of the Year in 2010. He earned this honor for his remarkable influence on the social networking landscape and the way people connect online.

At just 26 years of age, Zuckerberg forever changed communication , with Facebook amassing over 500 million users worldwide!

TIME recognized him not only for his technological innovation but also for his role in reshaping social interaction and the digital economy. His vision and impact extended beyond technology, influencing politics, business, and society at large. He quite deserved the recognition, didn’t he?

2

Barack Obama

Image: History in HD

The 44th president of the United States was named Person of the Year not once, but twice! His first recognition came as he made history by becoming the first African American president , symbolizing a profound change and a hopeful future for many Americans. Obama’s message of "hope and change" resonated globally.

The second time, in 2012, he won the recognition as we secured a second term in office . His presidency was marked by significant accomplishments, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Both titles reflect his impact and influence on the American people.

3

Jeff Bezos

Image: Christian Wiediger

The founder and CEO of Amazon was named TIME’s Person of the Year in 1999 . He was recognized for his groundbreaking work in e-commerce, transforming Amazon from an online bookstore into a global retail powerhouse. Under his leadership, Amazon revolutionized the way people shop , setting new standards for convenience and customer service.

TIME acknowledged Bezos for his visionary approach and relentless drive, which significantly impacted the retail industry and consumer behavior. His innovative strategies and focus on long-term growth positioned Amazon as the leader in the digital economy it is today.

4

Wallis Simpson

Image: Annie Spratt

TIME’s recognition was not always about diplomacy, politics, or innovation: Love and drama were also acknowledged. Wallis Simpson was an American socialite and she was named TIME’s Person of the Year in 1936 for her role in one of the most dramatic love stories of the 20th century, which led to the abdication of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. Edward’s decision to relinquish the throne to marry Wallis, a twice-divorced American, rocked the British monarchy and captivated the world.

TIME honored Simpson not just for her personal story, but for the profound political and social impact her relationship with Edward had on the era . Even if the British monarchy didn’t think alike!

5

The Good Samaritans

Image: Katt Yukawa

2005 was one of those years when the title "Person of the Year" wasn’t enough. Back then, three people collectively known as The Good Samaritans were named "Persons of the Year," and two of them were American.

We are talking about Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Bono who was also part of the group. Bill and Melinda Gates, through their foundation, had been tackling major global health issues, such as eradicating diseases and improving education worldwide . Bono, the U2 frontman, was recognized for his activism in fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa, using his fame to advocate for social justice.

Their significant contributions led to improving lives and addressing critical global challenges and exemplified the power of using wealth and influence for the greater good.

6

Ted Turner

Image: Rubaitul Azad

Ted Turner is a visionary media entrepreneur, and he was named Man of the Year in 1991. He earned this distinction for his transformative impact on the media landscape, most notably through the creation of CNN, the world’s first 24-hour news network .

Turner's innovative concept forever changed how people access news, ensuring that information is available at any hour. His approach redefined television journalism and set new standards for news delivery globally.

Beyond his media ventures, Turner's dedication to philanthropy and environmental causes further demonstrated his commitment to positive change. TIME recognized Turner not just for his media achievements, but also for his broader societal contributions .

7

American Women

Image: Jen Theodore

That’s right, there was one time when the influential group was so big, that they had to honor a whole gender. In 1975, American Women collectively were named TIME’s Person of the Year. This landmark recognition celebrated the influence women had in several aspects, including politics, business, and social movements. The honor was a tribute to the growing momentum of the women's liberation movement, which was challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for equal rights.

TIME’s goal was to highlight the diverse achievements of women across the nation, from l eaders in government to activists fighting for justice and gender equality. This selection acknowledged the key role women played in shaping the country’s cultural and political landscape during a transformative period.

8

John F. Kennedy

Image: History in HD

Most Presidents of the United States were honored with the title of Person of the Year and Kennedy was not the exception. As the 35th president, he was awarded the title in 1961 due to his inspiring leadership and vision during a crucial time in American history.

His charisma, youthful energy, and policies resonated with a nation that was ready for a change .

The recognition came not only for his political achievements but also for his ability to energize the American spirit. Kennedy’s legacy continues to influence American politics and culture today so the recognition was just one more testament to his powerful impact.

9

David Ho

Image: Marcelo Leal

In 1996, Dr. David Ho, an influential Taiwanese-American AIDS researcher, was granted this recognition due to his groundbreaking work on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which helped the medical community understand and treat AIDS. His extensive investigation led to the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

His findings meant giving patients the possibility of living a quality life through treatment for a chronic condition instead of a fatal disease.

Dr. Ho’s dedication and scientific advancements have had a profound impact on public health and this recognition acknowledged the importance of scientific innovations in addressing global health crises.

10

Taylor Swift

Image: Rosa Rafael

This article ends with TIME’s most recent "Person of the Year." Taylor Swift is a 34 American singer-songwriter who was given the title in December 2023.

During that year, Swift broke quite literally all the records: The most streamed album, the highest-grossing world tour, the biggest-selling record of the year, and more. Taylor Swift was granted the title because it became a whole phenomenon. It was the first person in the arts to be recognized with this title.

Whatever country she visited with The Eras Tour the local economy went crazy, not to mention the fans. Her music has inspired millions of people around the world, deeply influencing cultures, economies, and more on her way.