The Oldest Surviving American Automobile | The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation

On this segment of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation, Mo Rocca meets with Curator of Transportation Matt Anderson to learn more about the oldest surviving American automobile.

In the 1860s, mechanic Sylvester Roper began experimenting with stem-powered horseless carriages, and by 1865, he had a working prototype. Steam-powered locomotives and ships were familiar sights to Americans in the 1860s, but Roper's horseless carriage was more of a spectacle than a mode of transportation. They weren’t considered practical vehicles but rather became popular attractions at circuses and fairs.