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America's First Great Eclipse: How Scientists, Tourists, and the Rocky Mountain Eclipse of 1878 Changed Astronomy Forever
Based on a decade of research, America's First Great Eclipse takes readers on a thrilling historical journey, revealing that nineteenth-century Americans were just as excited about a total solar eclipse as we are today ... and, like us, were willing to travel thousands of miles to see it.
The upcoming total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 is being called the Great American Eclipse. But it is not the first eclipse to deserve that title. In the summer of 1878, when the American West was still wild, hundreds of astronomers and thousands of tourists traveled by train to Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas to witness America's first "Great Eclipse."
America's First Great Eclipse tells the story of a country, and its scientists, on the brink of a new era. Near the end of the nineteenth century, when the United States was barely a hundred years old, American astronomers were taking the lead in a science that Europeans had dominated for centuries. Scientists like Samuel Langley, Henry Draper, Maria Mitchell, and even the inventor Thomas Edison, were putting America at the forefront of what was being called the "new astronomy."
On July 29, 1878, having braved treacherous storms, debilitating altitude sickness, and the threat of Indian attacks, they joined thousands of East-coast tourists and Western pioneers as they spread out across the Great Plains and climbed to the top of 14,000-foot Pikes Peak, all to glimpse one of nature's grandest spectacles: a total solar eclipse.
It was the first time in history so many astronomers observed together from higher elevations. The Rocky Mountain eclipse of 1878 was not only a turning point in American science, but it was also the beginning of high-altitude astronomy, without which our current understanding of the Universe would be impossible.
22 illustrations.
The upcoming total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 is being called the Great American Eclipse. But it is not the first eclipse to deserve that title. In the summer of 1878, when the American West was still wild, hundreds of astronomers and thousands of tourists traveled by train to Wyoming, Colorado, and Texas to witness America's first "Great Eclipse."
America's First Great Eclipse tells the story of a country, and its scientists, on the brink of a new era. Near the end of the nineteenth century, when the United States was barely a hundred years old, American astronomers were taking the lead in a science that Europeans had dominated for centuries. Scientists like Samuel Langley, Henry Draper, Maria Mitchell, and even the inventor Thomas Edison, were putting America at the forefront of what was being called the "new astronomy."
On July 29, 1878, having braved treacherous storms, debilitating altitude sickness, and the threat of Indian attacks, they joined thousands of East-coast tourists and Western pioneers as they spread out across the Great Plains and climbed to the top of 14,000-foot Pikes Peak, all to glimpse one of nature's grandest spectacles: a total solar eclipse.
It was the first time in history so many astronomers observed together from higher elevations. The Rocky Mountain eclipse of 1878 was not only a turning point in American science, but it was also the beginning of high-altitude astronomy, without which our current understanding of the Universe would be impossible.
22 illustrations.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2017
20 people are currently reading
595 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 27, 2018
Interesting little book about the 1878 total solar eclipse. Told from accounts by scientists, amateur astronomers and interested citizens the book provides easily readable observations and some local Colorado history.
May 29, 2022
A great read--non-fiction with a storyteller's heart. Loved it.
July 21, 2017
America's First Great Eclipse is the perfect guide to the 1878 eclipse giving the reader a picture of the types of people who came west to Colorado and Wyoming which were located on the patch which expected to see the full eclipse. The scientists and recreational viewers were also hoping the increased altitude would provide them with the ability to get better observational results.
This is a great primer for more experienced eclipse viewers, but not so much science that the average reader will get discouraged. It's a great, quick read.
This is a great primer for more experienced eclipse viewers, but not so much science that the average reader will get discouraged. It's a great, quick read.
February 25, 2019
Very good account of an event that is never really recognized. Amazing that this study of science was occurring in an area of the country that just a few years previously had witnessed Custer's Last Stand.
Short and easy read.
Short and easy read.
May 14, 2024
There is a wonderful story that accompanies this book I only recently discovered. I knew the author in college, here at CSU. We both lived in Allison Hall and we both went through the history program. Being before the internet and social media and all that (“Get off my lawn!”), I had no idea where he was or what he was doing after we graduated almost thirty years ago. So there I was listening to NPR on the morning of our recent eclipse just a few weeks ago. Our local public radio station has a bit called “In the NoCo,” “a daily slice of life and culture in northern Colorado.” The host introduced her guest for the day, Steve Ruskin, to talk about the total eclipse that happened back in 1878, when Colorado (a new state only two years old) became the focus of attention for high-altitude observations with telescopes and the newly-invented cameras. I recognized the name immediately but didn’t assume it was the same Steve Ruskin I knew since, again, I had no idea what he had done after graduation. I looked him up and emailed him and sure enough, it was the same Steve Ruskin I knew. It turns out he has a PhD in the History of Science and still lives in the state. This book is a fun, short, pop history of that monumental 1878 eclipse, drawing professional and amateur astronomers from all over the country to observe it from the high altitudes of Colorado and Wyoming (not a state yet, and Thomas Edison observed the eclipse from up in Rawlins). Steve argues this eclipse changed astronomy in big ways: it utilized new technologies in telescopes, spectrometers, and cameras, and underscored the importance of observing the skies at higher altitudes. And as it turns out, Steve has also authored a number of books/series of fantasy thrillers and space operas.
November 30, 2017
This is a great book about the 1878 eclipse. This major astronomical event saw the area of totality (total eclipse) move across the American West, placing parts of Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana in total darkness. This was an interesting time of contrasts: the astronomers who wanted to observe the eclipse primarily went to Colorado in part due to its accessibility by railroad. Montana, in contrast, had no astronomical expeditions because not only had the iron rails not reached the territory but the destruction of Custer's command at the Little Big Horn had taken place there in 1876.
Ruskin does an excellent job of describing some of the quirks of this event and descrobes many of the personalities involved, including an all-female expedition and inventor Thomas Edison's attempt to use one of his inventions to study the eclipse. Ruskin discusses the changes then taking place in the field of astronomy and how the Great Eclipse helped to firmly establish America's place in the field. Well-illustrated.
Ruskin does an excellent job of describing some of the quirks of this event and descrobes many of the personalities involved, including an all-female expedition and inventor Thomas Edison's attempt to use one of his inventions to study the eclipse. Ruskin discusses the changes then taking place in the field of astronomy and how the Great Eclipse helped to firmly establish America's place in the field. Well-illustrated.
December 1, 2021
A Compelling Science Narrative for the Public
This is not a casual novel. It is not fiction.
Steven Ruskin takes his considerable skills as an author to present a History of Science view of the 1878 Great Eclipse. In this fashion, the book is not a dry compilation of facts, but a tale of the historic eclipse event, the scientists and their expeditions, the participation of the general public, and the impact on the Rocky Mountain states in the adoption of high altitude astronomy sites.
I can’t wait for October 14, 2023.
This is not a casual novel. It is not fiction.
Steven Ruskin takes his considerable skills as an author to present a History of Science view of the 1878 Great Eclipse. In this fashion, the book is not a dry compilation of facts, but a tale of the historic eclipse event, the scientists and their expeditions, the participation of the general public, and the impact on the Rocky Mountain states in the adoption of high altitude astronomy sites.
I can’t wait for October 14, 2023.
May 1, 2023
When an eclipse signifies a new dawn for America and for astronomy
Mr. Ruskin's enthusiasm for the subject matter shines on every page, and it makes this book a joy to read. The optimism that permeated the western frontier at this moment in history is so inspiring. Anything was possible - including taking our understanding of our sun to new heights using new technology and tools and, of course, the mountaintops.
This book captures a special moment in time for America and for astronomy - the beginning of something new.
Mr. Ruskin's enthusiasm for the subject matter shines on every page, and it makes this book a joy to read. The optimism that permeated the western frontier at this moment in history is so inspiring. Anything was possible - including taking our understanding of our sun to new heights using new technology and tools and, of course, the mountaintops.
This book captures a special moment in time for America and for astronomy - the beginning of something new.
August 20, 2019
I like the small size of this book. It's just a sampler of historical events and gives you enough info in the back of the book to go deeper into topics that interest you. I also thought the section on how the eclipse affected the economy was very interesting. But my favorite section was of the Hunt for Vulcan. Will probably read more about it later.
May 25, 2017
On August 21, 2017, Americans will be able to see a total solar eclipse as the moon will pass between the earth and the sun, darkening skies for a few minutes across a great swath of the nation and making visible the solar corona. Hotels are already booked in cities near the path of this eclipse. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of America, are looking forward to observing this celestial phenomenon.
And though we may think that in our age of instant communication and easy transportation, Americans today can do what our forebears could not, in this book, Steve Ruskin shows that our forebears were similarly fascinated in July 1878 when an eclipse also crossed a great swath of the nation. Then, as now, hotels were packed. Billiard tables were converted into beds.
Thomas Edison traveled to Rawlins, Wyoming to watch. Maria Mitchell, the world’s first female professor of Astronomy led an all-woman team to study the phenomenon. Before the cog railway was completed, others lugged the highest tech of the day up Pikes Peak where they braved the elements to observe the heavens.
In the process, astronomers, professional as well as amateur, learned about the benefits of setting telescopes and building observatories at high altitudes.
This book is a good read and reminds me of Erik Larson’s books (minus the murder) with a nice blend of information about the history and culture of the period as well as insights into the (then-)latest scientific advances. So absorbed was I in reading the book while doing cardio at the gym that I never once needed look up at the TV monitors.
And though we may think that in our age of instant communication and easy transportation, Americans today can do what our forebears could not, in this book, Steve Ruskin shows that our forebears were similarly fascinated in July 1878 when an eclipse also crossed a great swath of the nation. Then, as now, hotels were packed. Billiard tables were converted into beds.
Thomas Edison traveled to Rawlins, Wyoming to watch. Maria Mitchell, the world’s first female professor of Astronomy led an all-woman team to study the phenomenon. Before the cog railway was completed, others lugged the highest tech of the day up Pikes Peak where they braved the elements to observe the heavens.
In the process, astronomers, professional as well as amateur, learned about the benefits of setting telescopes and building observatories at high altitudes.
This book is a good read and reminds me of Erik Larson’s books (minus the murder) with a nice blend of information about the history and culture of the period as well as insights into the (then-)latest scientific advances. So absorbed was I in reading the book while doing cardio at the gym that I never once needed look up at the TV monitors.
June 25, 2017
This is a wonderful book, and a great way to get excitement up for this summer's total eclipse. The author has a great voice, and intersperses history, science and an interesting narrative very well. It's a great summer read, especially this summer.
September 23, 2017
The writing about the 1878 eclipse was descriptive and informative, particularly from a historical perspective. This was particularly relevant and interesting to read in 2017, as another eclipse darkened the early afternoon sky here last month.
March 11, 2024
This is very hard to give a rating. If I rate it based on the genre, then it gets 5 stars for being a historical non-fiction. However, if I rate it in comparison to the typical genres I read, then it gets a 3. So, a 4 it is. I am now prepared for the second greatest American eclipse next month.
August 23, 2017
Interesting account of the popular excitement and science of that occurred around this astronomical event. I'm glad I read it before our trip to see the eclipse of Aug 21, 2017.
March 24, 2024
I love the History that was compiled
April 1, 2024
Good primer for the eclipse
March 20, 2018
I was hoping for more of a scientific book on eclipses and what we knew of them up at the 1878 eclipse, but this was more of a run down of 1878 eclipse historically. i was not really looking for how many hotels Denver had at the time of the eclipse, nor of the exact route Edison took to get to Wyoming. To be fair, I didn't really read the summary or title super well, I just saw that a book about eclipses was on sale and I was all up on the 2017 eclipse hype so I bought it. It was much more interesting in thinking back over it, than it was when i was listening to it. but I think thats because while I was listening I just kept waiting for it get to get deep in the weeds with science.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews