The history of 19th century America is, among other dynamics, a story of railroads. The burgeoning American rail network expanded the nascent country's economy, connected the coasts, and contributed to colonial dominance of Native lands. It was, in fact, one of the central concerns of both the federal and state governments for a number of decades. This site is packed with teacher-ready resources about how the railroads developed and their impact on various aspects of American life. While the heart of the site revolves around using the 634 primary source materials that make up the Railroad Maps, 1828-1900 collection, the informative write up also covers several broad topics, including Railroad Transportation, Military Campaigns, Westward Expansion, Agriculture and Industrialization, Postal Service, and Tourism. There are also welcome analyses of songs, literature, and other topics related to the railroads, as well as links to related resources from around the Library of Congress website.