In 1903, Orville Wright, aided by his brother Wilbur, flew the first sustained powered flight -- lasting 120 feet. Since then we've witnessed supersonic flight, moon landings, online booking and camera-phone technology. Click through the gallery here and see the article below for more seminal moments in travel history.
1903: First powered flight —
In 1903, Orville Wright, aided by his brother Wilbur, flew the first sustained powered flight -- lasting 120 feet. Since then we've witnessed supersonic flight, moon landings, online booking and camera-phone technology. Click through the gallery here and see the article below for more seminal moments in travel history.
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Edward N. Hines from Michigan thought it'd be a good idea to mark roads to separate traffic. Hines was a member of the Wayne County Road Commission at the time. So in 1911, River Road in Wayne County became the first road in the world to be marked.
1911: Roads marked for first time —
Edward N. Hines from Michigan thought it'd be a good idea to mark roads to separate traffic. Hines was a member of the Wayne County Road Commission at the time. So in 1911, River Road in Wayne County became the first road in the world to be marked.
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Few things achieve iconic status like that of RMS Titanic. Its sinking on April 15, 1912, has echoed down the decades. Here a man looks on in what is believed to be the last picture taken of the ship as it leaves Queenstown, now known as Cobh, in Ireland.
1912: Titanic sinks —
Few things achieve iconic status like that of RMS Titanic. Its sinking on April 15, 1912, has echoed down the decades. Here a man looks on in what is believed to be the last picture taken of the ship as it leaves Queenstown, now known as Cobh, in Ireland.
PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images
American aviator Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo trans-Atlantic nonstop flight on May 20-21, after flying for 33.5 hours. A typical New York to Paris flight today takes around eight hours.
1927: First solo, nonstop trans-Atlantic flight —
American aviator Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo trans-Atlantic nonstop flight on May 20-21, after flying for 33.5 hours. A typical New York to Paris flight today takes around eight hours.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The Hindenberg crash in New Jersey in 1937, which killed 36 people, effectively ended the era of zeppelin aviation. The Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Company recently launched a new model, using nonflammable helium instead of hydrogen.
1937: Hindenberg disaster —
The Hindenberg crash in New Jersey in 1937, which killed 36 people, effectively ended the era of zeppelin aviation. The Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Company recently launched a new model, using nonflammable helium instead of hydrogen.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The first crash test dummy was the Sierra Sam, created in 1949 to test ejection seats on aircraft. Over the years, the crash test dummy has been refined to be more human-like in shape, size and weight.
1949: Crash test dummy born —
The first crash test dummy was the Sierra Sam, created in 1949 to test ejection seats on aircraft. Over the years, the crash test dummy has been refined to be more human-like in shape, size and weight.
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Rarely do three letters conjure such relief in the minds of hungry, homesick travelers. The world's first ATM was unveiled in 1967 at Barclays Bank in Enfield, London. The machine was created by John Shepherd Barron, who headed up the invention team at De La Rue Instruments, and worked by cashing radioactive checks.
1967: ATM unveiled —
Rarely do three letters conjure such relief in the minds of hungry, homesick travelers. The world's first ATM was unveiled in 1967 at Barclays Bank in Enfield, London. The machine was created by John Shepherd Barron, who headed up the invention team at De La Rue Instruments, and worked by cashing radioactive checks.
PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images
Elegant, fast, luxurious -- Concorde is one of only two supersonic planes to have entered commercial service (the other being the Tupolev Tu-144). Its retirement in November 2003 was seen by many as a backward step in air travel.
1969: First Concorde flight —
Elegant, fast, luxurious -- Concorde is one of only two supersonic planes to have entered commercial service (the other being the Tupolev Tu-144). Its retirement in November 2003 was seen by many as a backward step in air travel.
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It's hard to imagine that the wheeled suitcase didn't exist 50 years ago. When Bernard Sadow invented his wheeled suitcase in 1970, he had trouble selling it to the luggage industry. It was thought that people wouldn't want to pull their suitcases behind them. Nice call, luggage experts.
1970: Someone (finally) puts wheels on a bag —
It's hard to imagine that the wheeled suitcase didn't exist 50 years ago. When Bernard Sadow invented his wheeled suitcase in 1970, he had trouble selling it to the luggage industry. It was thought that people wouldn't want to pull their suitcases behind them. Nice call, luggage experts.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
It was a little more than forty years ago that a call was made from the first handheld mobile phone by its creator, Martin Cooper. Now, it's rare not to be constantly interrupted by the bleeps and vibrations of this pocket-sized computer.
1973: First handheld mobile phone —
It was a little more than forty years ago that a call was made from the first handheld mobile phone by its creator, Martin Cooper. Now, it's rare not to be constantly interrupted by the bleeps and vibrations of this pocket-sized computer.
anders/creative commons
When you're lost on the back roads of a small town and your GPS comes to the rescue, think of Roger L. Easton. He worked with a team at Naval Air Systems Command in the United States to develop and track satellites in space. His work ultimately led to the invention of GPS, for which the patent was awarded in 1974.
1974: GPS hits the road —
When you're lost on the back roads of a small town and your GPS comes to the rescue, think of Roger L. Easton. He worked with a team at Naval Air Systems Command in the United States to develop and track satellites in space. His work ultimately led to the invention of GPS, for which the patent was awarded in 1974.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images
Invented by Kodak engineer Steve Sasson in 1975, the first digital camera used a lens from a movie camera and a digital cassette recorder as a memory card, but it paved the way for all of us who click and snap our way through our vacations today.
1975: Launch of digital cameras —
Invented by Kodak engineer Steve Sasson in 1975, the first digital camera used a lens from a movie camera and a digital cassette recorder as a memory card, but it paved the way for all of us who click and snap our way through our vacations today.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Power shifted into the hands of travel consumers in the 1990s, when Expedia, Priceline and a raft of other public access booking engines were born. Travel agents no longer held the only keys to the hotel and airline reservation channels, leading others, such as Tripadvisor, to become the influential market leaders they are today.
1990s: Birth of online booking engines —
Power shifted into the hands of travel consumers in the 1990s, when Expedia, Priceline and a raft of other public access booking engines were born. Travel agents no longer held the only keys to the hotel and airline reservation channels, leading others, such as Tripadvisor, to become the influential market leaders they are today.
From tripadvisor.com
In 2001, U.S. rich guy Dennis Tito became the world's first space tourist. His six-day trip rotating the Earth reportedly cost $20 million. While the expense still prevents the majority of us from taking a vacation to space, at least it's a possibility.
2001: A space tourist —
In 2001, U.S. rich guy Dennis Tito became the world's first space tourist. His six-day trip rotating the Earth reportedly cost $20 million. While the expense still prevents the majority of us from taking a vacation to space, at least it's a possibility.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images
The 787 had a record number of pre-orders when it was announced with nearly 800 planes due for delivery. A series of problems, mostly involving the plane's battery system, saw the whole fleet grounded for a short period in 2013. It's technological advances may yet prove revolutionary.
2012: Boeing Dreamliner launched —
The 787 had a record number of pre-orders when it was announced with nearly 800 planes due for delivery. A series of problems, mostly involving the plane's battery system, saw the whole fleet grounded for a short period in 2013. It's technological advances may yet prove revolutionary.
courtesy Boeing