100 Objects #4: Lowe's Gas Bag
Summary
This episode explores the life of Thaddeus Lowe, an eccentric inventor who pioneered military ballooning during the Civil War after a failed attempt at overnight mail delivery. Host Roman Mars and guest Jack Hitt trace Lowe’s journey from creating the Union Balloon Corps for aerial reconnaissance to his later ventures in gas heating and ice production. The narrative connects Lowe’s early experiences of isolation in the sky to the legacy of American aviation, culminating in the story of his granddaughter, stunt pilot Poncho Barnes, and astronaut Mike Collins.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Mazda and Empower
Thaddeus Lowe and the dangerous early days of ballooning
Lowe's failed attempt at an overnight mail service
Landing in South Carolina during the start of the Civil War
Pitching aerial reconnaissance to President Lincoln
Sponsors: Progressive, LinkedIn, Noon, and AT&T
The Union Balloon Corps and the Confederate 'petticoat balloon'
Lowe's post-war inventions: gas heaters, ice, and Mount Lowe
Lowe's legacy, The Wizard of Oz, and Mike Collins
Credits, guest info, and final sponsors
Listen ad-free on Castria