Barons of the Sea

Constant Wonder - Radio Archive, Episode 901

Mar 5, 2021 8:00 pm
52:50 mins

A historian reveals the complicated race to build the world's fastest clipper ship. Jonathan Rees of Colorado State University-Pueblo tells us how the "Ice King" shipped ice around the globe before refrigerators.

Episode Segments

Episode Segments

The Race to Build the World’s Fastest Clipper Ship

33m

Some of the biggest names in American history are tied up with the 19th century opium trade, including FDR’s grandfather.

How the World Kept Cool When "The Ice King" Ruled

20m

Before the refrigerator, or air conditioning or electric fans, ice was a hot-–or rather, cold-–commodity.