May 29, 2024 | Benefits & Use, History, Industrial Revolution, North American Expansion
At the start of the 19th century, there was no Texas as we know it today. Rather, west of Louisiana—the French colony-turned-state at the conclusion of the War of 1812—was a dry and rugged patchwork of native American and Mexican-held lands. After two rounds of war...
Feb 19, 2024 | Benefits & Use, History, Industrial Revolution
Crosstie wood preservation methods have been vital to the development of railway transportation, infrastructure, and supply chains around the world. This timeline illustrates the role that coal-tar creosote and other wood preservatives have played in economic...
Sep 12, 2023 | Benefits & Use, History
“Creosote” Used in Wood Preservation, Explained In the United States, the term “creosote” is pretty confusing. It begs the question: “What is creosote made of?” There are many substances referred to as “creosote,” which makes it hard to figure out which...
Jul 20, 2023 | Benefits & Use, History, North American Expansion
By the early 20th century, a shared national identity was emerging in America. Fresh fruit and baseball would become a part of this new reality, fueled by the railroads and crossties that increasingly connected Florida to the rest of the nation. In the first...
Apr 24, 2023 | Benefits & Use, History
Believe it or not, there is an internet meme about utility poles. It “went viral” in 2018 because it was both funny and thought-provoking. It was just a thought posted in a Reddit forum, lacking any visuals: “Telephone poles are trees that cleaned up and got a job.”...
Mar 29, 2023 | Benefits & Use, History, Industrial Revolution
Every good “ghost story” tells the life story of the person whose soul is stuck between this life and the after-life. The audience learns his or her trials and tribulations, and usually what “unresolved issues” are keeping the spirit circling its childhood home. The...
