On this day in 1902, the first air conditioner was created

On this day in 1902, the first air conditioner was created. Willis Carrier, a young mechanical engineer in Buffalo, New York, invented modern A/C while seeking ways to reduce humidity’s effects on paper. Modern air conditioning came to be used for much more than keeping paper dry. Today, it’s still easy to appreciate the value of Carrier’s invention! 🔥☀️❄️🌬💁‍♀️

Did you know? In its early years, air conditioning influenced the movie theater industry. During the 1920s, theaters were some of the earliest businesses to adopt A/C, resulting in increased summer popularity as patrons came inside to beat the heat. Marketers took advantage of the trend, releasing their “summer blockbusters” when moviegoers were most likely to seek the cool air. 🎥 🎞 🎥

An accomplished engineer with a degree from Cornell University, Carrier went back to his roots when recalling his most important lesson. As a boy, he struggled while learning fractions. His mother remedied the problem, demonstrating fractions by cutting whole apples into diminishing pieces. Carrier claimed that this was his most important lesson as it showed him the importance of creative and intelligent problem-solving. 🍎🍏🍎

New York Movie, Edward Hopper, 1939