Known variously as the home of Yale University, the city of elms, and the gateway to New England, New Haven has contributed to American life items ranging from frisbees to hamburgers to the Winchester repeating rifle to vulcanized rubber. In New Haven originated the clinical use of penicillin and mass production of manufactured goods. Modern New Haven remains a major New England seaport and distribution center with strengths in research and biotechnology. In 1998 and again in 2003, New Haven received the nation's oldest and most highly regarded civic recognition award when the National Civic League named New Haven an "All-America City."