author
California State Automobile Association
What began as an early motorists’ club in San Francisco grew into one of the West’s best-known AAA organizations, with roots in road advocacy, mapping, and driver services. Its story tracks the rise of the automobile itself in Northern California and beyond.
1 Audiobook
Motorland, September-October, 1955
by California State Automobile Association
About the author
Founded in 1900 as the Automobile Club of California, the organization that became the California State Automobile Association was part of the earliest wave of American car clubs. Its members pushed for better roads, clearer laws, and wider acceptance of automobiles at a time when driving was still new and often difficult.
In 1907, California State Automobile Association was incorporated to serve Northern California motorists. Over time, it expanded its role from advocacy into practical services such as road information, mapping, travel support, and insurance-related offerings, and it later became part of the AAA federation.
Today, the organization is known as AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, reflecting a broader regional identity. Even with that newer name, its history still points back to the original CSAA mission: making travel easier, safer, and more reliable for drivers.