On July 23, 1900, the streets of Seattle witnessed a groundbreaking moment – the first-ever appearance of an automobile. Prior to this, the self-propelled vehicle had already made its debut in Tacoma, marking another city’s initial encounter with this novel mode of transport. Behind the wheel of this three-horsepower Woods Electric was Ralph S. Hopkins, a man described as a “capitalist,” who became a pioneer of personal transportation in the Pacific Northwest.
Manufactured by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company in 1899, Hopkins’s car was a product of a burgeoning industry. At the time, the United States was home to a mere 4,000 automobiles. The Woods Electric model was notable for its longevity in production, remaining on the market until 1919, establishing itself as one of the longest-running electric car models in early American automotive history.
Hopkins’s acquisition of this vehicle from the Woods Motor Vehicle Company in Chicago marked the beginning of an ambitious journey. He undertook a remarkable five-month drive to San Francisco, a testament to the adventurous spirit of early motorists. While the journey was primarily by road, the nascent road infrastructure sometimes necessitated transportation by railroad.
Adding to his pioneering feats, Hopkins asserted his place in automotive history by claiming to be the first to traverse the continent in a motor car. He also stated his automobile was only the second to be seen in Portland and the very first in Tacoma, further emphasizing the novelty of automobiles in these regions. Beyond city streets, Hopkins reportedly extended the boundaries of early automotive exploration by claiming to be the first to drive a vehicle on the ocean beach stretching between Aberdeen and the Columbia River in southwest Washington.
