THE MID-1800’s
Happenings in the mid-1800’s and 1853 in particular.
THE ATLANTIC OF LAKE ERIE
STEAMBOAT DISASTER
AUGUST 20, 1852

In the early morning hours of August 20, 1852, in a dense fog,
the paddle steamer Atlantic collided with the Ogdensburg on Lake Erie and soon sank.
Over 200 of the 500 passengers died, many of whom were Norwegian emigrants.
It was a frightful catastrophe.
ROUTES TO THE GOLD RUSH
HOW DID PEOPLE GET
FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST COAST
DURING THE GOLD RUSH?

During the California Gold Rush days
there was a great demand to move large groups of people
from New York to San Francisco as quickly as possible.
Nearly 20% died along the way.
There were several routes:
Around the Horn
Overland
The Panama Route
The Nicaragua Route
Which were the quickest?
Which had the least amount of danger?
DAGUERREOTYPES
In 1839, Louis Daguerre of France introduced a process that produced some of the first photographic images. He sold his idea to the French government who made it a gift from France “free to the world”.
The process became known as the
“daguerreotype”
The idea was revolutionary. For the first time a lasting picture could be accurately produced in minutes!
