The documents included in this publication tell the stories of entrepreneurs, promoters, and scientists. They also reflect the stories of success and failure in human existence. These are universal ideas, unrestricted by region or locality. Because the documents deal with these major themes on an intimate, personal level, they are more powerful and have greater influence with students than the textbook rehashing of familiar events. Technology in History brings history home, a place where both teachers and students can learn important lessons about the interaction between humans and technology and how those decisions affect our outlook and our decision-making. The local stories included here are threads of the greater story of the pursuit of excellence that forms the fabric of United States history.