First long distance journey by an automobile

The first long distance journey was completed in a Benz Patent-Motorwagen Nr.3 of 1888 and was driven by a woman Bertha Benz who was the wife of Karl Benz. She supposedly took the Motorwagen without her husband’s knowledge and drove more than sixty miles. She did it to demonstrate that the Motorwagen could be used as a means of transportation over long distances. Accompanied her on her travel were her two sons Eugen age 15 and Richard age 14. She traveled from Mannheim through Heidelberg and Wiesloch where she stopped and purchased ligroin for fuel at the city’s pharmacy, making the pharmacy the first fueling station in history. In addition to being the driver, Bertha acted as mechanic, cleaning the carburetor out with her hat pin and using a garter to insulate a wire. Bertha asked a local shoemaker to nail leather on the brake blocks when the brakes wore out. Bertha Benz traveled a total of 121 miles on her journey making it the first long distance journey traveled by an automobile.

Every two years there is a private parade in Germany to celebrate the historic trip of Bertha Benz.  The Bertha Benz Memorial Route was officially approved as rout of industrial heritage to mankind in 2008. The Route follows Bertha Benz’s 1888 long distance journey by automobile.