1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910818450203321

Autore

White John H. <1933->

Titolo

Wet britches and muddy boots : a history of travel in Victorian America / / John H. White, Jr

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Bloomington, : Indiana University Press, c2013

ISBN

1-283-73543-1

0-253-00558-2

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (544 p.)

Collana

Railroads past & present

Altri autori (Persone)

SmerkGeorge M

Disciplina

388.0973

388.0973/09034

388.097309034

Soggetti

Travel - History - 19th century

Transportation - United States - History - 19th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Transportation for hire: from human burden to taxis -- Down that long and dusty road : stagecoach travel in America -- The omnibus : travel for all citizens -- Streetcars : that most democratic conveyance -- Ferryboats : crossing the rivers and bays -- Canals : the low and slow way to go -- River steamers : white swans on the inland rivers -- Lake steamers : on the inland sea -- Coastal and sound steamers : close to shore -- Ocean sail : at the mercy of the wind -- Ocean steam : the triumph of technology -- Emigrant travel : a nation of nations -- Passenger trains : coach class -- Passenger trains : first class -- Appendix : Travel words and tales.

Sommario/riassunto

What was travel like in the 1880's? 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