Every time you drive on a road, cross a bridge, turn on a faucet, or send an email you are using part of the national infrastructure. It is all too easy to take such resources for granted but every one of them was once a new development in America’s social history. In U.S. Infrastructure Deborah Kent takes a look back at the origins of significant elements in the web of services and resources that make up America’s infrastructure. Kent begins her story by looking back at the earlier days of the American Republic and tracing the evolution of transportation and communication services. Developments such as the construction of canals, railroads, and highways all made the distribution of goods and passenger travel far easier than in the days of horses. Likewise, the building of a transcontinental telegraph system made communication across the 3,000 mile width of the nation relatively easy. In a similar vein the development of electricity, natural gas, and petroleum products acted as catalysts for all sorts of development in both the private and public sectors. Finally, the crafting of computers and the Internet made global communication and commerce a reality. As the author points out in this well written and informative text, the national infrastructure is a foundational element in the functionality of American society. This book tells the story of some critical aspects of those structures and services in a way that will be readily approachable to upper elementary and middle school readers. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck; Ages 9 to 12.
