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First oil well is drilled
George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake made the first successful use of a drilling rig on a well drilled especially to produce oil, at a site on Oil Creek. -
Transcontinental railroad is completed
The presidents of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial last spike into a rail line that connects their railroads. This made transcontinental railroad travel possible for the first time in U.S. history. -
Bell patents telephone
On March 7th 29 year old Alexander Graham Bell is given a patent for his telephone -
First telephone on White House
President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House’s first telephone installed in the mansion s telegraph room. -
Edison perfects incandescent light bulb
Thomas Edison perfects the first commercially practical incandescent light bulb. Using a filament of carbonized cotton thread, his first attempt at this design results in a bulb that lasts about 13.5 hours before burning out. He later extends the life of the bulb to 40 hours. -
Railroads set up standard time zones
Operators of the new railroad lines needed a new time plan that would offer a uniform train schedule for departures and arrivals. Four standard time zones for the continental United States were introduced -
First electric trolley line
was the first practical electric trolley system, and set the pattern for most subsequent electric trolley systems around the world. -
Rockefeller founds Standard Oil
Rockefeller formed the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, along with his younger brother William, Henry Flagler and a group of other men. John Rockefeller was its president and largest shareholder. -
Sherman Antitrust Act is passed
the first measure passed by the U.S. Congress to prohibit trusts. -
Carnegie Steel Company is formed
a steel producing company primarily created by Andrew Carnegie and several close associates, in order to manage businesses at steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century. -
J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel, is an American integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe.
