"Succeeds admirably as an introductory survey of the early American travel experience"—from the National Book Award-nominated author (Journal of Transport History).
What was travel like in the 1880s? Was it easy to get from place to place? Were the rides comfortable? How long did journeys take?
Wet Britches and Muddy Boots describes all forms of public transport from canal boats to oceangoing vessels, passenger trains to the overland stage. Trips over long distances often involved several modes of transportation and many days, even weeks. Baggage and sometimes even children were lost en route. Travelers might start out with a walk down to the river to meet a boat for the journey to a town where they caught a stagecoach for the rail junction to catch the train for a ride to the city. John H. White Jr. discusses not only the means of travel but also the people who made the system run—riverboat pilots, locomotive engineers, stewards, stagecoach drivers, seamen. He provides a fascinating glimpse into a time when travel within the United States was a true adventure.
"Throughout this massive work, the author repeatedly captures the romance, flavor, and color associated with travel."—
Choice
"Every chapter, in any order, will constitute a well-spent and informative read. Journey with this book soon!"—
National Railway Historical Society Bulletin
"[A] popular history, informative and engaging . . . White has given us a book that's as unusual as it is useful. Read it cover-to-cover or just pick out a random chapter in a stolen hour, and the book will be equally enjoyable either way."—
Railroad History
- 544 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- 1 - Transportation for Hire: From Human Burden to Taxis
- 2 - Down That Long & Dusty Road: Stagecoach Travel in America
- 3 - The Omnibus: Travel for All Citizens
- 4 - Streetcars: That Most Democratic Conveyance
- 5 - Ferryboats: Crossing the Rivers and Bays
- 6 - Canals: The Low & Slow Way to Go
- 7 - River Steamers: White Swans on the Inland Rivers
- 8 - Lake Steamers: On the Inland Sea
- 9 - Coastal & Sound Steamers: Close to Shore
- 10 - Ocean Sail: At the Mercy of the Wind
- 11 - Ocean Steam: The Triumph of Technology
- 12 - Emigrant Travel: A Nation of Nations
- 13 - Passenger Trains: Coach Class
- 14 - Passenger Trains: First Class
- Appendix: Travel Words & Tales
- Index
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Yes, you can access Wet Britches and Muddy Boots by John H. White in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & North American History. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.