Bill Slavin

Taking a photograph today is as simple as pressing a button on a phone, but in the year 1877, capturing a picture was a massive challenge. Discover the fascinating life of George Eastman, a young man who completely changed the way we remember our favorite moments. When George first discovered his love for photography, cameras were giant, heavy wooden boxes, and taking a single picture cost a lot of money and required messy, wet chemicals. George knew there had to be a better way. Even though he did not have a lot of formal schooling, he was packed with brilliant ideas. You will see how his clever mind led him to invent dry film and the famous Brownie camera, making it easy and affordable for anyone to take pictures. Dive into the world of early invention and find out how one determined hobbyist brought the magic of photography out of the professional studios and right into the hands of everyday people around the world.

Born to parents who had escaped slavery, Elijah McCoy grew up with big dreams and a brilliant mind for machines. He traveled all the way to Scotland to study mechanical engineering, learning everything there was to know about designing and building powerful engines. But when he returned to the United States, railway companies refused to hire him as an engineer because of the color of his skin. Instead, he was given the dirty, exhausting job of shoveling coal into train fireboxes. You will discover how Elijah refused to let this unfair treatment stop his brilliant ideas. While working on the trains, he invented a groundbreaking automatic oiling cup that kept engines running smoothly without having to stop. Learn how his incredible invention revolutionized train travel and machinery around the world, proving that true talent and determination can overcome even the highest barriers.

Arriving in America with just four cents in his pocket and a head full of brilliant ideas, Nikola Tesla was ready to change the world. He dreamed of using the rushing water of Niagara Falls to generate incredible amounts of electricity. When he landed a job working for the famous inventor Thomas Edison, it seemed like a perfect match. But Tesla and Edison quickly clashed over the best way to power the country. You will read about the fierce rivalry between these two brilliant minds as they battled to light up America's cities. Discover how Tesla partnered with George Westinghouse to prove that his alternating current system was the safest and most powerful way to deliver electricity. Step into the spark-filled laboratory of a visionary genius whose mind was always racing with futuristic inventions that shaped the modern world.