Compared to Britain, the challenges of getting around or across a country the size of America were huge. In the Victorian era, these challenges were addressed in a host of ways - by horse-drawn stage, by rail, by water, and even (a bit) by air. This section looks at modes of transportation in America; see our Transportation section for a broader view of Victorian advances in transportation.

Cars and Stages in America (Leisure Hour 1860)

A British traveler looks at modes of transporation in the US, including omnibuses, tramway "cars," railways, sleighs or sledges, and riverboats. There is also an interesting observation on "insulting" treatment of blacks on all forms of public conveyance in America.

Locomotion, Past and Present (Harper's Monthly, 1873A)

Transatlantic Trifles, by Sir Julian Goldsmid (English Illustrated Magazine, 1890A)

An Englishman's impressions of travel in America.

Ideal Transit (Atlantic Monthly, 1893)

Speculations on the perfect mode of transportation, from elevated roads to electric rails and suspended carriages.

Travel by Horsepower

The Old Stage-Coach (Harper's Monthly, 1876)

A look at the stage coach, past and present, in England and America.

Road-Coaching Up to Date, by T. Suffern Tailer (Century Magazine, 1893A)

Apparently road coaching, which had been confined to a small circle of enthusiasts, was making a come-back in the US. This article describes the requirements for coaching, with illustrations from France.

Travel by Water

American River Steamers (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

A look at America's "floating palaces."

The Evolution of the American Yacht, by S.G.W. Benjamin (Century Magazine, 1882B)

New Steam-Boat and Engines (Century Magazine, 1882A)

Ocean Steamships, by S.G.W. Benjamin (Century Magazine, 1882B)

Steam-Yachting in America, by S.G.W. Benjamin (Century Magazine, 1882B)

Through Waterspout and Typhoon, by James J. Wait (Century Magazine, 1883B)

Sea Wings, by Robert C. Leslie (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

An overview of various types of sails and sailing ships, with excellent drawings of each type.

Snubbin' Through Jersey, by F. Hopkinson Smith and J.B. Millet (Century Magazine, 1887B)

Navigating New Jersey waters in a canal boat.

The Advance in Steamboat Decoration, by M.G. van Rensselaer (Century Magazine, 1889B)

Inland Navigation of the United States, by Charles Barnard (Century Magazine, 1889B)

A look at America's luxurious river steamers.

The Hudson River Night-Boat (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Night travel on a "floating palace" on the Hudson.

To 'Frisco, by Sir Julian Goldsmid (English Illustrated Magazine, 1890A)

Traveling by steamer from Britain to New York, and by rail from New York to San Francisco.

The Steering of Yachts (Century Magazine, 1892B)

From London to Chicago, by James Mortimer (The Strand, 1893B)

"From the greatest capital of the Old World to the young giant city of the Western Hemisphere is now, comparatively speaking, only a step." It's a step of some six or seven days by sea and another 24 hours from New York by train, but still, a step... This article describes the journey, and the luxuries of both liner and train, in marvelous detail.

Travel by Rail

Something Like a Railway Journey (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1875)

A British writer takes a 3287-mile railway journey across America.

To 'Frisco, by Sir Julian Goldsmid (English Illustrated Magazine, 1890A)

Traveling by steamer from Britain to New York, and by rail from New York to San Francisco.

From London to Chicago, by James Mortimer (The Strand, 1893B)

"From the greatest capital of the Old World to the young giant city of the Western Hemisphere is now, comparatively speaking, only a step." It's a step of some six or seven days by sea and another 24 hours from New York by train, but still, a step... This article describes the journey, and the luxuries of both liner and train, in marvelous detail.

Roads and Bridges

Country Roads, by R.A. Learned (Century Magazine, 1889B)

Country Roads (Century Magazine, 1891A)

Our Common Roads, by Isaac B. Potter (Century Magazine, 1892A)

How roads are made and maintained.

Road-Building at Chicago (Century Magazine, 1893A)

Street-Paving in America, by William Fortune (Century Magazine, 1893B)

A look at how American streets are paved, with statistics on the numbers of streets to be paved in the country and the anticipated cost (over 24,838 miles of streets and more than $1 billion). At time of writing, in cities of over 10,000 people, less than 1/3 of the streets were paved "in any manner."

The Romance of Niagara Bridges, by Orrin E. Dunlap (The Strand, 1899B)

The Automobile

The Automobile: Its Present and Future, by Charles Barnard (St. Nicholas, 1900A)

A delightful look at the "modern" automobile (with lots of pictures), how it is changing the roads, and what it will mean for the horse.

Motoring: The Evolution of the Automobile, by Charles Welsh (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

Motoring, by Sigmund Krausz (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

Tips on driving and the care of the automobile.

Travel by Air

Aerial Navigation (Scribners, 1879A)

The "Aerobat" of "the near future," which looks a bit like a cross between a Zeppelin and a flying saucer.

Some Balloon Experiences, by John Lewees (St. Nicholas, 1882A)

Amateur Ballooning, by Alfred E. Moore (Century Magazine, 1886B)

Balloon Experiences of a Timid Photographer, by John G. Doughty (Century Magazine, 1886B)

Includes some excellent aerial photographs.

A Balloon Voyage (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

The Story of the Parachute (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Up in a Balloon (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Aerial Navigation: The Power Required, by Hiram S. Maxim (Century Magazine, 1891B)

Some theories on what might make flight possible.

The Possibility of Mechanical Flight, by S.P. Langley (Century Magazine, 1891B)

Langley, who also authored a series of articles on "the new astronomy" (link), was the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

My First and Last Balloon Ascension, by Robert V.V. Sewell (Century Magazine, 1894A)

A New Flying Machine, by Hiram S. Maxim (Century Magazine, 1895A)

The author's experiments in aerial navigation.

Ballooning, by Roy Knabenshue (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

The author is a designer and constructor of balloons, airships and flying machines.

Ballooning as a Sport, by A.W. Rolker (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

Ballooning for Ladies (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

See also:

• Victorian Modes of Transportation