<P> The history of standard time in the United States began November 18 , 1883 , when United States and Canadian railroads instituted standard time in time zones . Before then , time of day was a local matter , and most cities and towns used some form of local solar time , maintained by some well - known clock ( for example , on a church steeple or in a jeweler 's window ) . The new standard time system was not immediately embraced by all . </P>
<P> The history of standard time in the United States began November 18 , 1883 , when United States and Canadian railroads instituted standard time in time zones . Before then , time of day was a local matter , and most cities and towns used some form of local solar time , maintained by some well - known clock ( for example , on a church steeple or in a jeweler 's window ) . The new standard time system was not immediately embraced by all . </P>
when did time zones start in the us
when did time zones start in the us
November 18 , 1883
November 18 , 1883