American Thomas Flyer and the Italian Zust in Times Square Ready for the Start of New York to Paris Race, 1908

01

Artifact Overview

In 1908, six automobiles raced around the globe from New York City to Paris, France. The contest took 169 days, covered 22,000 miles and spanned three continents. The cars and their racing teams had to endure cold, snow, mud, poor roads and other hardships. The cars started from New York's Times Square on February 12 and attracted a great crowd.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Lantern slide

Subject Date

12 February 1908

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

92.1.1774.18

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Family of Henry Austin Clark, Jr.

Material

Glass (Material)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 3.25 in
Width: 4 in

Inscriptions

Label with pencil handwriting adhered to side of glass lantern slide reads: THOMAS NYP 31 / 8 Handwritten in black ink on lower edge of glass: Thomas Flyer Starts New York
American Thomas Flyer and the Italian Zust in Times Square Ready for the Start of New York to Paris Race, 1908