On May 10, 1785, a hot air balloon crashed in Tullamore,
Ireland, triggering what is considered by many to be the
world’s first aviation disaster.

The blaze, later known as the Great Fire of Tullamore,
exposed the unexpected dangers of early ballooning
experiments.

A Dublin newspaper reported that the stunt had been
devised by two English gentlemen, who persuaded an
“English adventurer” to construct and launch a Montgolfier
hot air balloon “for the amusement of their friends.”

There, it caught fire, scattering embers and flames across
town and setting buildings alight along Barrack Street.

On May 10, 1869, the presidents of the Union Pacific and Central
Pacific railroads met in Promontory, Utah, and drive a ceremonial
last spike into a rail line that connected their railroads.

This made transcontinental railroad travel possible for the first
time in U.S. history. No longer would western-bound travelers
need to take the long and dangerous journey by wagon train.

Thomas Hill’s famous painting “Driving the Last Spike”
features Leland Stanford at the place of honor. The
painting was commissioned by Stanford, who later
refused to pay for it. (California State Railroad Museum)