History of the Motel 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, … Continue reading History of the Motel