Urban Transit: Moving in the City

As countries urbanized and industrialized, a dilemma arose—how to move about efficiently. Transit systems were the solution, evolving from horse drawn omnibuses to cable railroads, elevated trains and the ubiquitous clanging trolley car. And throughout this evolution far-fetched schemes developed, political machinations followed, and early transit equipment highlighted craft work, with inlaid wood, elaborate paint schemes and glass ornamentation.

Check out this recorded webinar presented by labor historian, Mike Matejka. Matejka serves on the McLean County Museum of History’s board and is vice-president of the Illinois Labor History Society, along with many other community positions. His father was a St. Louis transit worker, beginning in 1947 as a trolley motorman, and a 50-year member of the Amalgamated Association of Street & Electric Railway Men & Motor Coach Employees of the United States & Canada Division 788.