Duryea Motor Carriage, 1893
Duryea Motor Carriage, 1893
- Description
- This experimental vehicle is one of the earliest American-made automobiles. On September 21, 1893, Frank Duryea road-tested the vehicle – a second-hand carriage with a gasoline engine – in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1896, Frank, his brother Charles, and financial backers founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, the first American company that manufactured and sold automobiles. Thirteen production models were made; the only surviving example is in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. This forerunner was donated to the Smithsonian in 1920 and was restored in 1958.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- automobile
- date made
- 1893-1894
- maker
- Duryea, Charles E.
- Duryea, J. Frank
- Associated Place
- United States: Massachusetts
- Measurements
- overall: 81 in x 64 in x 97 in; 205.74 cm x 162.56 cm x 246.38 cm
- ID Number
- TR.307199
- accession number
- 65715
- catalog number
- 307199
- Credit Line
- Gift of Inglis M. Uppercu
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Transportation, Road
- America on the Move
- Automobiles
- Transportation
- Road Transportation
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Comments
"As a history docent at the Museum of Springfield History, we often talk about the "model " of the 1893 Duryea that was build by a Springfield teacher and that we have on display in the museum.Does the Smithsonian have the "original " car - or do you have a copy also? I believe only 1 car was ever manufactured.Thank you for your assistance."
Theresa R. Augusti
Wed, 2016-02-10 11:08
Nancy Sharp
Mon, 2019-07-15 15:55