Television, the Internet, Barbie and Disneyland Among the Contenders
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Which ideas and innovations over
the last 75 years have most influenced American life? The Henry Ford, located
in Dearborn, Michigan and celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is
asking Americans to express their views. The institution has teamed up with
America Online, with support from DTE Energy Foundation, to give people the
chance to select from a list of 75 ideas and innovations. The list was
compiled by the history attraction's experts and historians and offers people
the opportunity to vote for their choice in an online poll.
Beginning today, those interested can vote on AOL's public web site at
http://www.aol.com/thehenryford or http://www.thehenryford.org and AOL members
can vote at AOL Keyword History. Participants can vote through October 18.
Results of the nationwide poll will be announced October 21.
"Life in the United States since 1929 has been shaped by extraordinary
imagination and innovation," said Steve Hamp, president of The Henry Ford.
"Our historians and curators, who so effectively study and chronicle our
nation's story, have identified what they believe are the thoughts and
breakthroughs that have most changed our lives over the past three quarters of
a century. And now we're asking America to pick the top 10."
Included among the nominations are such everyday conveniences as frozen
food, credit cards and cell phones. Scientific breakthroughs include the
harnessing of nuclear energy, the introduction of lasers, penicillin and the
MRI. The Internet, broadcast television and comic books are among the
communications advances highlighted. Catalysts of societal change include the
Civil Rights Movement, the 1964 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and
Health, and Title IX. And the institution's experts argue that such popular
culture icons as Barbie, Disneyland, hip-hop music and big box retailers have
had significant influence on the way we live.
"To make our list, the idea or innovation had to have been introduced by
an American within the last 75 years," said Judith Endelman, director,
Historical Resources and the Benson Ford Research Center for The Henry Ford.
"Beyond those criteria, we assessed the impact -- positive and negative -- of
the submission on everyday life in the United States. The result is a
fascinating story of personal, commercial, political and scientific change.
Now America can continue the dialogue we started here at The Henry Ford. We
hope to learn as much from America's conclusions as we did from compiling the
nominations."
"Our members are real history buffs, and we are thrilled to give them this
special opportunity to participate in this landmark poll and learn more about
these important innovations," said Chris Johnson, Executive Director, Research
& Learn. "The online medium is the perfect forum to educate and engage
people, and through robust content and multimedia features, we will bring
these innovations to life for people across the country."
"We are delighted to be partnering with America Online on this important
initiative," said Hamp. "The Internet, which of course is one of the
innovations on our list, makes it possible for us to hear the voice of people
around the world. Over the next 17 days we'll be conducting a survey unlike
anything our founder, Henry Ford, could have dreamt of in 1929. Our hope is
that this national conversation conducted in living rooms, on talk shows and
around water coolers around the world will be a fitting legacy of our 75th
anniversary."
The Henry Ford, located in Dearborn, Michigan was founded in 1929 by
automotive pioneer Henry Ford. This history destination includes Henry Ford
Museum, Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre, The Benson Ford
Research Center and The Ford Rouge Factory Tour. The Henry Ford, America's
Greatest History Attraction, is the history destination that brings the
American Experience to life. For more information and admission prices please
visit our website at http://www.TheHenryFord.org .
At AOL Keyword: History, AOL members can explore a host of content and
features including streaming video, photo galleries, maps and more from AOL's
Research & Learn channel. The #1 education site on the Internet, AOL Research
& Learn channel is a comprehensive source for trusted brand name education
resources for homework help, college prep and distance learning as well as
entertaining science, history and books content and community.* AOL members
can access content and multimedia resources from a host of industry leading
brands including World Book Encyclopedia, Merriam Webster Dictionary, BBC and
National Geographic. From premium reference resources and live help from real
teachers to fun multimedia features, AOL Research & Learn offers a one-stop-
shop destination for learners of all ages. AOL Research & Learn is part of
AOL's Life Management Offerings, including AOL Bill Pay, AOL Food and AOL Diet
& Fitness, all of which are designed to provide busy parents with everyday
tools and solutions that simplify their daily routines and responsibilities,
including raising a family.
About AOL(R) Life Management
AOL now provides a suite of solutions for busy members to help make every
day easier. From losing weight to saving money to deciding what's for dinner
to helping children with their homework, AOL offers solutions to life's daily
challenges. Weaving together powerful tools and expert advice and information
from industry leaders, as well as tips and advice from other AOL members, AOL
is the "always on" resource for making daily decisions and activities easier.
Life management resources for AOL members can be found in areas that include
AOL(R) Food, Living, Bill Pay, Health, Diet & Fitness, Parenting, Research &
Learn, AOL(R) Books, Horoscopes, Homework Help and across member-led
communities on the service.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.
Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive
services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.
*Source: Media Metrix, August 2004
75 Innovations in 75 Years
Presented by The Henry Ford,
America's Greatest History Attraction
1929 frozen food
1929 residential air conditioning
1930 supermarkets
1930s manufactured food
1933 New Deal
1934 comic book
1934 nylon
1935 Social Security Act
1935 DC-3 airplane
1938 Teflon(R)
1939 xerography
1940 automatic transmission (cars)
1941 broadcast television
1941 helicopter
1942 mechanical cotton harvester
1944 GI Bill Servicemen's Readjustment Act
1945 penicillin
1945 fluoride
1946 Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, Benjamin Spock
1946 synthetic herbicide 2, 4-D
1947 Levittown
1947 transistors
1948 LP records
1948 Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, Alfred Kinsey
early 1950s VCR/video tape recorder
1950 credit cards
1952 barcode
1952 cardiac surgery
1953 DNA structure
1954 lasers
1954 Brown v. Board of Education
1954 polio vaccine
1955 Civil Rights movement
1955 Disneyland(R)
1955 fast food
1955 rock 'n' roll
1956 interstate highway system
1958 earth satellite
1958 integrated circuit /computer chip
1958 nuclear energy
1958 commercial jet airplanes
1959 Barbie(R)
early 1960s Internet and World Wide Web
1960 birth control pills
1961 Apollo Project
1961 food stamps
1962 "Big Box" Discount stores
1962 Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
1963 Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan
1964 Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health
1965 Unsafe at Any Speed, Ralph Nader
1965 Motor Vehicle Air Pollution and Control Act
1965 Medicare
1965 Voting Rights Act
1966 "Black Power"
1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Highway Safety Act
1967 microwave oven
1967 high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
1969 Sesame Street(R)
1972 Title IX of the Education Amendments
1973 cell phones
1973 Roe v. Wade
1974 personal computer revolution
1975 cable television
1977 MRI
1977 Roots (TV)
1978 Complete Book of Running, James Fixx
1978 Airline Deregulation Act
1979 hip-hop music
1980 CNN(R)
1981 Cyclosporin
1981 MTV(R)
1988 Prozac(R)
1994 genetically modified food
1995 Global Positioning Satellites (GPS)
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