New York-to-Paris Auto Race

Six automobiles leave Times Square on February 12, 1908, for a 20,000-mile race to Paris sponsored by The New York Times.

The route was established in three stages, with cars to be shipped by steamer from San Francisco to Seattle, then driven through Alaska and across the Bering Strait to Siberia for a home run toward Paris.

The Americans reached Alaska first, but that route was declared impassable. Instead the contestants agreed to an alternate route by steamer to Vladivostok. The Americans won the trophy, arriving in Paris 170 days after leaving Times Square. Besides the Americans, only the German and Italian cars even made it to Paris.