This book tells the story of engineering education at the University of Alabama, written in observation of the sesquicentennial of the College of Engineering. It explores the history of technological education in the United States, looking for southern regional variations. The book also documents the connections between technological education and economic development, the evolution of American higher education and Alabama higher education, and the history of the engineering profession. The ups and downs of the engineering program are addressed--inadequate funding, world wars, establishment of a land-grant institution at Auburn and junior colleges across the state, and the slow development of industrialization in Alabama all played roles in the shaping of the College of Engineering. Chapter titles include: "The Sun of Science Rises in the Wilderness, 1837-1865"; "Frustrated Promise, 1866-1900"; "This Symbol of Modernism, 1901-1919"; "Promise Fulfilled, 1920-1939"; "War and Society, 1940-1957"; "The Task of Overcoming Gravity, 1958-1966"; and "A Flowering Field, 1967-1987." A list of almost 150 manuscripts, newspapers, interviews, books, articles, unpublished papers, and theses is included. (JDD)