Aaron W. Marrs

Aaron W. Marrs, a historian and author, dives into the transformative power of steam technology in 19th-century America. He discusses how railroads and steamboats reshaped travel, culture, and communication, enabling people to experience landscapes and communities in unprecedented ways. The conversation touches on the paradox of risk in steam travel, the influence of steam on American music, and the way guidebooks evolved with commercialized travel. Marrs also highlights the complex cultural shifts catalyzed by these advancements, including implications for societal norms and sensitive dialogues.