It's a stifling 100°, the humidity is unbearable, and all you want to do is stay in a cool and comfortable, air conditioned enviornment.  Wait a second, it's 1900 and there is no air conditioning!  Hard to imagine, right?

I know it is for me.  We're all so accustomed to "cool" spots in the summer.  Whether that's at the movie theater, museums, shopping malls, or even in our homes and cars.  So who is the genius who invented air conditioning?  The one responsible for our comfort on those blazing summer days?  This is him!

Dr. Willis H. Carrier - Inventor of Air Conditioning

Dr. Willis H. Carrier.  Last name sound familiar?  It's a well-known air conditioning company today.  Carrier was a young research engineer who graduated from Cornell University.  Shortly after college, Carrier designed a machine that would control the humidity in a New York printing plant in 1902.  This invention would go on to be a summertime haven for many people.  Take a look at Carrier's blueprint of this groundbreaking design. 

1902 Blueprint of Groundbreaking Invention

In the beginning, in the early 1900s, this new invention was used primarily for industrial purposes, but slowly became more mainstream over the years.  It was in 1930 that the Batlimore and Ohio Railfoad ordered Carrier air conditioning for its dining cars.  Here is what the first air-conditioning system likley looked like:

Early 1900 Air Conditioning

Oh how times have changed.  Take a look how some of the most recent air conditioning units look:

Modern Day Air Conditioning Unit

So a happy 110th anniversary to air conditioning - a milestone invention I will always celebrate in the summer!