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American engineering continues to propel the nation's progress and prosperity. Here are the top ten greatest engineering feats in American History.
1. Transcontinental Railroad - Completed in 1869, the railroad linked the Atlantic and Pacific coasts by rail, transforming travel, commerce and westward expansion while helping unify the nation after the Civil War.
2. Erie Canal - The 363-mile canal connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, turning New York City into America's leading port and opening the Midwest to trade and settlement.
3. Panama Canal - Completed under U.S. leadership in 1914, the canal dramatically shortened global shipping routes by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
4. Hoover Dam - Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam controls flooding, stores water and generates hydroelectric power for millions across the Southwest.
5. Golden Gate Bridge - When it opened in 1937, it featured the world's longest suspension bridge main span and became one of America's most recognizable landmarks.
6. Brooklyn Bridge - Completed in 1883, the bridge pioneered steel-wire suspension technology and connected Manhattan and Brooklyn across the East River.
7. Interstate Highway System - America's vast highway network revolutionized transportation, commerce, military mobility and suburban development.
8. Apollo Program - Supported by the powerful Saturn V rocket, the Apollo program landed humans on the Moon and remains one of history's greatest engineering achievements.
9. Grand Coulee Dam - One of the largest concrete structures ever built, Grand Coulee Dam provides irrigation and electricity throughout the Pacific Northwest.
10. Empire State Building - Constructed in just over a year, the Empire State Building symbolized American ambition and skyscraper engineering.