This course is designed for learners who have an interest in the American Civil War and/or the role of innovation in American history.  We will explore the use of balloons by the Union Army as America's very first Air Force. Discover how Professor Thaddeus Lowe, a daredevil and self-proclaimed “most shot at man in the Civil War”, managed to convince President Abraham Lincoln to form a Union Balloon Corp under his leadership. The aeronauts of the Balloon Corps would go on to make over 3000 accessions between October 1861 and the summer of 1863, giving General George B. McClellan an unique aerial perspective of the Virginia Peninsula. We will learn about the successes of the corps and what led to its demise. This one-time American history class is primarily lecture-based (90%) with some group discussion and a Q&A. The slides are fully illustrated with Civil War-era photographs, illustrations, and eyewitness accounts. The focus will be on how technology impacted the war. No in-depth prior knowledge of the war is required, and we will not dive into details of specific battles or military tactics.