The First Road Trip: Bertha Benz and the Ride that Changed History

Class Description

In 1888, Bertha Benz—a mother of five and a visionary pioneer—made history as the first person to complete a long-distance journey by automobile. Her bold adventure not only demonstrated the potential of her husband Carl Benz’s invention but also sparked the global revolution of the automobile. German historian Anette Isaacs brings to life the inspiring story of Bertha Benz, a woman of courage and determination whose journey forever changed the course of transportation history.

German-born historian Anette Isaacs, MA, has presented hundreds of programs on German history, politics, and culture across the US. She holds Master’s degrees in American Studies, Political Science, and History, and directs the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual

Class Capacity: 24

Class Style: Lecture or presentation; option for questions

Materials List

No Required Materials

Cost and Registration

1 Session, $50 ($45 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($50), Community Supported ($45), and Sponsor ($55). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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View our full schedule of adult education classes.

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Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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