Today, AAA is synonymous with roadside assistance, but the organization was founded in 1902, when automobiles were still rare on American roads and owning one was an unusual luxury. At the time, most roads weren't designed for motor vehicles, and horses remained a dominant form of transportation.
The American Automobile Association wasn't created to rescue stranded motorists or offer insurance policies. Instead, its founders wanted to make motoring more practical by improving roads, advocating for drivers, and helping build the infrastructure needed for a country just beginning to embrace the automobile. More than a century later, AAA has grown far beyond those original ambitions.
