Clearing the View

The Forgotten Story of Mary Anderson, Inventor of the Windshield Wiper

She changed the way the world drives — and history almost erased her name.

In 1903, Mary Anderson, an independent businesswoman from Alabama, patented a simple yet revolutionary invention: the windshield wiper. Her “Window-Cleaning Device” solved a universal problem, making driving in rain and snow safer for everyone. But the auto industry dismissed her idea as impractical. By the time wipers became standard, her patent had expired, and Mary was forgotten.

Clearing the View: The Forgotten Story of Mary Anderson, Inventor of the Windshield Wiper uncovers the life of a woman ahead of her time. From her roots in post–Civil War Alabama to her pivotal trip to New York City, this book immerses readers in the dawn of the automobile age — a time of invention, resistance, and rapid change.

Through rich storytelling and historical detail, Mary’s story is finally restored:

• The snowy streetcar ride that sparked her idea.

• Her bold step into the male-dominated world of patents.

• The rejection and silence she endured for seventeen years.

• The cruel irony of seeing her invention adopted only after her rights expired.

• Her belated recognition in the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

For readers of hidden history, women’s biographies, and stories of forgotten innovation, Mary Anderson’s journey is a reminder that even the simplest ideas can change the world — and that history doesn’t always remember its pioneers in time.