Charles B. King Showing an 1896 Photo of Himself Driving the First Gasoline Automobile in Detroit, Michigan

01

Artifact Overview

In 1896, Charles Brady King built and drove the first gasoline-powered automobile in Detroit. He co-founded Northern Manufacturing Company in 1902 to produce runabouts of his own design. King left the auto business in 1912 to pursue other endeavors. At his death in 1957, King was among the last surviving pioneers of America's automotive industry.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1945

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.110

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in
Width: 8.25 in