Model T Ford (Manhattan Bridge)

Although the Gilded Age had ended by the time the Model T Ford was produced in 1908, the car represented the culmination of the technological advancements and economic expansion that began during that period. The Gilded Age set the stage for a new chapter in American mobility, where the automobile offered a kind of freedom and progress that, at one time, only the wealthy and elite could afford. It truly symbolized the democratization of transportation. While it was loved and driven by ordinary people, notable figures like Theodore Roosevelt also enjoyed the ride. It became known as the "Tin Lizzie" and was considered durable, reliable, and easy to repair.