Rheinau in Schwetzingen in Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany — Central Europe

Karl (Freiherr Von) Drais

1785-1851

Photographed by James Hulse, September 23, 2024

1. Karl (Freiherr Von) Drais Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

German:
Forstbeamter und Erfinder

Karl Freiherr von Drais, ein Spross aus niederem Beamtenadel, war eng mit Schwetzingen verbunden. Von 1805-07 unterrichtete er als Forstlehrer an der privaten Lehranstalt seines Onkels in Schwetzingen. 1811 tat Drais, der „Forstmeister ohne Forstamt", in Schwetzingen Dienst. Als er am 12. Juni 1817 die erste Fahrt mit seinem Laufrad, der so genannten Draisine, unternahm, war er bereits auf Dekret des Großherzogs für seine Erfindungen freigestellt. Die Jungfernfahrt sollte ihn vom Mannheimer Schloss, auf der alten Kunststraße, Richtung Sommerresidenz führen. Nach etwa 7 km trat Drais aus unbekannten Gründen die Rückkehr an dem nicht mehr existenten Schwetzinger Relaishäuschen (heute Mannheim-Rheinau) an. Neben des Vorläufers des Fahrrades sind die Entwicklung eines Klavier-Rekorders, der ersten Tastenschreibmaschine und des Fleischwolfs seinem Erfindergeist entsprungen. Nach der Badischen Revolution legte Karl Friedrich von Drais seinen Adelstitel ab.

English Translation:
Forestry Officer and Inventor

Karl Freiherr von Drais,

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a scion of the lower civil service nobility, was closely connected to Schwetzingen. From 1805-07 he taught as a forestry teacher at his uncle's private school in Schwetzingen. In 1811, Drais, the "forest master without a forestry office", was working in Schwetzingen. When he made his first trip on his bicycle, the so-called Draisine, on June 12, 1817, he had already been granted time off for his inventions by decree of the Grand Duke. The maiden voyage was to take him from Mannheim Castle, along the old artificial road, towards his summer residence. After about 7 km, for unknown reasons, Drais returned to the no longer existing Schwetzingen relay house (today Mannheim-Rheinau). In addition to the forerunner of the bicycle, the development of a piano recorder, the first keyboard typewriter and the meat grinder were all the result of his inventive spirit. After the Baden Revolution, Karl Friedrich von Drais gave up his noble title.

Erected by Schwetzinger Zeitreise.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1817.

Location. 49° 23.026′ N, 8° 34.675′ E. Marker is in Schwetzingen, Baden-Württemberg, in Rhein-Neckar-Kreis. It is in Rheinau. It is on Bahnhofanlage just south of Carl-Theodor-Straße. The marker is located

The view of the Karl (Freiherr Von) Drais Marker in the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 23, 2024

2. The view of the Karl (Freiherr Von) Drais Marker in the park

in a small park with a group of 28 panel markers on the west side of the transportation center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Bahnhofanlage 3/1, Schwetzingen BW 68723, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

Central Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Heinrich Tiedemann* (here, next to this marker); Louis Lingg (a few steps from this marker); Clementine Bassermann (a few steps from this marker); Hans Hirsch (a few steps from this marker); Max Bassermann (a few steps from this marker); Karl Friedrich Schimper (a few steps from this marker); Johann Michael Zeyher (a few steps from this marker); Leopold I. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Schwetzingen.

More about this marker. There is a non-related marker attached on the other side of the post.

Also see . . . Karl Drais. Wikipedia

Drais was a prolific inventor, who invented the Laufmaschine ("running machine"), also later called the velocipede, draisine (English) or draisienne (French), also nicknamed the hobby horse or dandy horse. This was his most popular and widely recognized invention. It incorporated the two-wheeler principle that is basic to the bicycle and motorcycle and was the beginning of mechanized personal transport. This was the earliest form of a bicycle, without pedals.

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(Submitted on October 29, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.