The Machines That Built America

In the 1870s, harvesting crops is grueling work. But a group of dreamers-all of them rivals-has a vision that will change farming forever.

In 1910, airplanes are a novelty. But that doesn't stop two young dreamers with a passion for this newfangled machine from imagining a very different future.

In the 1920s, most people find entertainment in books, magazines, or theater. But two daring pioneers see a different future, where people sit in front of screens.

At the end of the 19th century, private travel means walking or riding a horse. But scrappy upstarts William Harley and Arthur Davidson have a bold vision for a new form of transportation.

In the 1870s, when Western Union offers a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its network, two daring inventors go head-to-head in a fight that will forever change the way humans connect.

With a growing need for speed and efficiency, a few visionary companies-Black and Decker, Milwaukee, DeWalt-create the power tools that revolutionize how America is built.

In 1893, sending information across America is a time-consuming process. But two rival inventors-Nikola Tesla and Guglielmo Marconi-have the same idea for improving things: wireless communication.

Housework in the late 1800s is back-breaking labor. But with America plugging into electric power, a flood of innovation is not only changing industry, it's revolutionizing the home.