Trolleys or streetcars (in American English, both words are synonyms of the British word 'tram') were a common means of public transportation in many American cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The widespread use of cars, however, made them unprofitable and most of them disappeared by the late 20th century. In Memphis, a historic line along the Mississippi with some old-fashioned cars has been preserved, partly as a tourist attraction.