The Modern Woman and the Mass Appeal of the Automobile

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The carport was an efficient use of resources because it required less building material than a garage and served multiple tasks once constructed. Not only did the carport provide protection and storage for the car, but it also served very nicely as a covered main entryway, a place to entertain and do outdoor cooking, a spacious front porch, a shady place on a hot sunny day, and a relaxing place to hang out on a rainy day.

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Ford Model T Coupe, 1920s, National Museum of American History

Cars transformed the American landscape. Advertisers and manufacturers claimed that the automobile promoted family togetherness through evening rides, picnics and weekend excursions. This was reflected in the shear number of automobiles on the roadways at the time. Carports or garages provided protection and storage for automobiles and served as a covered main entryway and a place to entertain and do outdoor activities. Automobiles in the 1920s are the source of much change in the lives of Americans.

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Chevrolet Advertisement, 1920s

Travel was a particularly important activity for many women who sought release from the confines of socially legitimized spaces and activities.In addition to products, the consumer culture also enshrined leisure and commercialized it. American’s expenditures on recreation increased by a remarkable 300 percent during the decade. The mass-produced, cheaper car, in conjunction with the spread of paid vacations for many workers, produced the modern vacation and helped to spawn the ubiquitous tourist camps, precursors to modern motel that were multiplying throughout the country.