September 20

On September 20, 1893, Charles Duryea and his brother Frank completed the first successful road test of their gasoline-powered vehicle in Springfield, Massachusetts. They built the Motor Wagon in a modest bicycle workshop, fitting a 4-horsepower, single-cylinder engine to a custom chassis. This trial proved that gasoline engines could outpace steam and electric predecessors. The public demonstration attracted significant attention from investors and the press. It led to the establishment of the Duryea Motor Wagon Company, often recognized as America’s first automobile manufacturer. This pioneering achievement laid the foundation for the U.S. auto industry and transformed personal transportation worldwide.