When she turned 39, she did something wildly bold.
Without asking, Bertha Benz took her husband’s brand-new car, loaded up her two children, and set off on a 90-kilometer drive from Mannheim to her mother’s house in Pforzheim.
She sent a quick telegram to her husband, Carl Benz, saying:
“We’re at Grandma’s, everything’s fine,”
and then drove back home.
Why? Because Carl had been too nervous or maybe just too hesitant to take the car out for a proper test drive for two whole years. 😳
Remember, this was 1888, a time with no road maps, no GPS, no gas stations.
Bertha navigated using rivers and railroads.
Imagine her bouncing for twelve hours in a lightweight carriage with wooden wheels, powered by a tiny two-horsepower engine.
Reckless? Absolutely. A little bit crazy? Probably.
But also a trailblazer who changed history.
Her unauthorized road trip was a powerful statement: The automobile was safe. It was ready for everyday use.
And it was a loving nudge to Carl, reminding him why he started this journey in the first place.
Bertha Benz was the first person in the world to take a long-distance trip by automobile.
So next time you hear the tired old joke about “the woman at the wheel,” remember her because she literally paved the way. 🚗🔥