Racine in Racine County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Spark

Photographed by Paul F, May 27, 2010

1. The Spark Marker

Inscription. In 1873 the Rev. Dr. J.W. Carhart of Racine designed and operated the first light self-propelled highway vehicle in the United States, and probably the first in the world. He named it the Spark. It was driven by a two cylinder steam engine, steered by a lever, and had a speed of five miles per hour. When his “infernal machine” first appeared, the hideous noise created by its operation caused the people of Racine to threaten to run Carhart out of town. Carhart seems to have agreed with the general opinion of his invention but added, “It must be remembered that at the time there were no liquid fuel, ball bearings or rubber tires.” At the 1908 International Automobile Exposition held in Paris, France, Carhart was addressed as the “Father of Automobiles” and received a cash award and a certificate of honor for his invention.

Erected 1957 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 72.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 42° 41.943′ N, 87° 50.308′ W. Marker is in Racine, Wisconsin, in Racine County. It can be reached

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

from the intersection of Durand Avenue and South Ohio Street. Marker is located inside Pritchard Park, at the northwest corner of Durand and Ohio. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Racine WI 53406, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Civil War Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Mound Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away); Soldiers of the American Revolution (approx. 1.9 miles away); Joe (approx. 2 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Southside Historic District / Southside Historic District Parks (approx. 3.1 miles away); 32nd 'Red Arrow' Infantry Division Memorial (approx. 3.1 miles away); Racine City Hall (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Racine.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Rev. John Wesley Carhart and the Spark. Racine County Eye website entry (Submitted on May 26, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

via Racine County Eye, unknown

2. The Spark

Photographed by Paul F, May 27, 2010

3. The Spark Marker

Marker from parking lot.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,504 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 9, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on May 26, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on August 9, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.