US History You Should KnowAre you already an expert in everything America? Great! No need to read about these fascinating facts and important events that have shaped the U.S. as we know it today.
The Origins of Age Restrictions
Top Secret Intel: Declassified
How Washington Became the U.S. Capital
The Ubiquitous American Flag
US History as Told in Maps
Why We Don't Use the Metric System
Beloved Things Invented by Immigrants
Historical Lies & Misconceptions
Things America Did First
Events That Sound Made Up
Religious Panics That Shook America
Mistakes That Created America As You Know It
The Marketing Ploy of Flag Allegiance
What It Was Like to Enter Through Ellis Island
A History of Immigration Acts
Bloodiest Battles on American Soil
Why We Have the Electoral College
The Writing of the Constitution
Heinous Policies Toward Children and Families
Uncivilized Moments on the Congress Floor
Proposed States and Territories That Almost Were
Times Another US Civil Conflict Almost Began
A History of Foreign Meddling in US Elections
1812: The Biggest Mess in the Country's History
Important Leaders in US History
Times the Economy Nearly Collapsed
When Was America Great Again?
Serial Slayer Infestation
Famous American Double Agents
Traveling Cross-Country Over the Years
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Culture
How Long It Would Take You To Travel From New York To California Throughout American History
Road trips: they're exciting, and teens love to go on them in movies. But traveling across the United States hasn't always been so thrilling. For instance, going from New York to California in the early 1800s would have taken months, and many didn't survive the trip. Learning about life on the Oregon Trail makes one grateful for modern transportation - previous eras haven't had the same luxuries or options.
Today, there are a number of ways to voyage across the country, and we can do so faster than ever before. Whether you're looking for a short flight or want to spend a week in the car seeing the sights, there are a wide range of transportation options and travel times for a journey between America's Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
In the early 19th century, settlers could travel from 15 to 20 miles per day by covered wagon. Given the distance between New York and California is around 2,445 miles, the journey would take approximately 122 to 162 days, or from 4 to 5.5 months.
Even today, there exist "long riders," or equine enthusiasts who travel across the country via horse. Known as riding "ocean to ocean," travelers have to allow for rest every 500 miles. There may also be delays for tasks like changing horseshoes or for bad weather.
This type of trip takes approximately four to six months.
By the mid-1800s, traveling to California from New York was possible by boat via the Isthmus of Panama or by sailing around the tip of South America. Taking the Isthmus of Panama route reportedly took approximately 43 days while sailing around South America took about 198 days.
Unfortunately, cholera outbreaks claimed a number of travelers and slowed travel.
Technology for rail travel advanced considerably by the mid-1800s. By the late 1850s, it was possible to travel from New York to California in four weeks - the only states you couldn't reach in one month from New York were in the Pacific Northwest.
