The first big balloon was made by two French
brothers, Joseph Michael and Eitenne Montgolfier in 1783. It was
made with pieces of paper and light cloth. Hot fire was placed
under it and it soared upward when it was released.
That same year A.C. Charles made a gas balloon. There was a valve
that would open and allow hydrogen to fill the balloon. to go
higher the balloonist would release sandbags from the cockpit.
The valve would deflate to head back downward.
Soon the popularity of the balloon spread. People were talking
about this new invention.
In 1785 two men crossed the English Channel in one try in a balloon.
It surprised millions of people.
In 1797 a French balloonist Andre Garnerin amazed the crowd by
leaping from a balloon and falling safely to the ground. Later
people found out that he had invented the parachute.
In the Civil War, World War 1, and World War 2 balloons were used
to observe enemy territory.
Today all over the World you can ride balloons for fun.