In 1862, President Lincoln signed legislation establishing the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He called it "the people's department" since 90 percent of Americans at the time were farmers.
John Stevens was appointed chief engineer of the Panama Canal Projectin 1905 based on his accomplishments — some might call them feats — at James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway.
It wasn't until the late 19th century that manufacturers learned how to mass produce metals inexpensively, and to forge a material as useful as stainless steel.
Though the now-legendary Burlington Zephyr was in production, it was Averell Harrimann and the Union Pacific that gave America its first taste of streamline design.
