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First Oil Well is drilled
George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake were the first people to be successful use of a drilling rig on a well drilled especially to produce oil. -
Transcontinental railroad is completed
The reason for the Railroad being completed is a golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah. The Railroad had long been a dream for people living in the American West. -
Bell Patents Telephone
Invented by Alexander Graham Bell tested his telephone invention in 1876, calling his assistant to say "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." That same year Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone. -
First telephone on White House
President Rutherford B. Hayes has the White House's first telephone installed in the mansion s telegraph room. President Hayes embraced the new technology, though he rarely received phone calls. -
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 late extends the life of the light 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 departing and arrivals. There are four time zones introduced and they are Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific. -
First electric trolley line, Richmond, VA
Was the first practical electrical trolley system, and set the pattern for most subsequent electric trolley systems around the world. -
Sherman Antitrust Act is passed
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was the first Federal act that outlawed monopolistic business practices. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was 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 to manage businesses at steel mills in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century. -
J.P. Morgan forms U.S. Steel
He built a steel company named Carnegie Steel, which he sold to J.P. Morgan. It became the U.S. Steel Corporation. -
Rockefeller founds Standard Oil
The Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling that it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act which was a law passed by Congress under the presidency of Benjamin Harrison, which regulates competition among enterprises. The Ohio business man John D. Rockefeller entered the oil industry in the 860s and in 1870, he founded Standard Oil with other business people.
