American Technological Sublime Summary

David Nye’s American Technological Sublime explores the concept of the technological sublime in America throughout history. As the book progresses, it shows how people in the United States have been able to discover and create awe-inspiring scenes. In the earliest days of the United States the sublime was found primarily in nature, however as time has gone by people have begun to create their own sublime through the advancement of technology. As Nye explains, the earliest forms of the sublime in America were found in nature. Some examples of the natural sublime are the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and the Natural Bridge in Virginia. These destinations were considered sublime because of the way they made the people who visited them feel. They were able to evoke a feeling of amazement in regards to nature itself. As time passed however, people became more interested in finding the sublime in their own creations. With this came an increasing interest in building railroads and bridges. The American people were fascinated with railroads and bridges because they were very impressive man-made structures. Additionally, railroads and bridges were able to connect people around the country in ways that had previously been impossible. …show more content…
People were amazed by skyscrapers due to their sheer size and their ability to help people put into perspective how big the world really was. Standing on top of a skyscraper allowed people to see a completely different view of the city they lived in and helped them appreciate how vast and beautiful the landscape of the United States was. After skyscrapers, the American people became fascinated with the factories that were being built in various cities around the country. People were impressed by the design and size of the