Though the name “motel” first appeared in 1926 (the “Milestone Mo-Tel” in San Luis Obispo, California), the concept had developed steadily for almost a quarter of a century. The history of the motel is directly linked to American car culture, which began with the first affordable car, the Model T. The automobile and the freedom it represented and provided touched the American spirit of adventure, individualism and exploration.
Affordable Accommodations
At the turn of the century nearly all long-distance travel was by train. Destinations were dictated by rail routes. Accommodations were either modest, and often seedy, rooming houses near the train station, or well-appointed
downtown hotels. Traveling salesmen,
migrant workers, and others on a tight budget stayed near the rail station. The well-to-do were transported from the station downtown by horse-and-carriage where they would be met by porters and taken to often luxurious rooms.
The advent of the automobile changed
all that. The first Model T rolled off the line
in late 1908. Designed by Henry Ford to
be reliable and inexpensive, it was the
first car made by mass production and
cost $825. With the availability of an
affordable car people of average
means were suddenly able to travel to
destinations of their own choosing. With a spirit of adventure and some money for gas and oil, common folks could explore the countryside or even cross the country on their own for the first time.