During America’s time on the world stage, its inventors have churned out some of history’s finest inventions. They have made an impact on everything from the space race to everyday life. This post highlights five of the greatest American inventions.
The Lunar Module
The Lunar Module is literally an out-of-this-world invention. After all, it put a man on the moon in 1969. Subsequent missions also made use of different iterations of the Lunar Module.
According to Interesting Engineering, credit for its invention goes to Thomas Kelley of New York, though it should be noted that a team of 7,000 mechanics, technicians, and engineers were involved in the Lundar Module construction. Also notable is the fact that no mission was “ever significantly affected” by a problem with the Lunar Module, per the Space Foundation Discovery Center. That speaks to the quality of this invention and the care that went into building it.
The Swivel Chair
Only a small number of astronauts got to ride in the Lunar Module, but plenty of everyday people use this list’s next invention: the swivel chair. Fittingly, one of America’s founding fathers invented the swivel chair, per Workplace Insight.
As he was drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson became dissatisfied with his Windsor chair and endeavored to create one that afforded him more ease of movement. The innovation in the swivel chair was an “iron spindle between the top and bottom half,” allowing for rotation.
The Microwave Oven
Americans have also contributed to the realm of appliances. For example, Maine’s own Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven in 1946, as highlighted on Popular Mechanics. Spencer, a self-taught engineer innovated the concept after a radar magnetron melted a snack in his pocket.
The year after he made his invention, commercial microwaves appeared on the market. Today, virtually every American kitchen and most kitchens worldwide, feature a microwave.
The Adirondack Chair
Now known for its comfortable, contoured design, the Adirondack chair was the brainchild of New York’s Thomas Lee. After building it during an inspired family vacation to Westport, New York, Lee christened it the Westport chair. Sadly, Lee’s friend, the carpenter Harry Bunnell, patented the chair without crediting Lee.
And later, designer Irving Wolpin also took and patented Lee’s idea, following some tweaks. In the ensuing years, other designers made their own changes to what eventually became known as the Adirondack chair. Its current name comes from the Adirondack Mountains, which are close to where Lee created the original chair. Today, this great American invention features prominently on porches, patios, and other outdoor spaces nationwide.
The Adirondack chair is the perfect companion for listening to a ballgame, drinking a cold beverage, or tending to the BBQ or outdoor pizza oven on a lazy Summer afternoon.
ARPANET
You can read this article online thanks to one of the world’s most impactful American inventions: the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). The US Department of Defense originally backed the project. Then according to HISTORY’s Evan Andrews, ARPANET came to be in the late 1960s and made it possible for “multiple computers to communicate on the same network.”
The first message it sent was simply the word “LOGIN,” and ARPANET crashed in the process. From those humble beginnings, however, the technology grew over time. With contributions from many scientists and researchers, ARPANET eventually grew into the internet.
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