100 Objects #4: Lowe's Gas Bag
In 1861, one man and a โgas bagโ filled with hydrogen sparked America's obsession with going higher, farther, into the unknown. In this episode, Roman and journalist Jack Hitt tell the story of Thaddeus Lowe โ showman, scientist, and dreamer โ whose balloon flight from Cincinnati went wildly off course and straight into the Civil War. Lowe pivoted to create the US military's first aerial reconnaissance unit, a precursor to the Air Force, and today his legacy spans generationsโ stretching all the way to the dark side of the moon.
A History of the United States in 100 Objects (https://99pi.or