Freedom From Social Constraints
“I climb behind the steering wheel.... I drive off immediately without once looking back; it's a long journey but it leads to freedom.”- Corinne Hofmann, The White Masai
The car created a form of personal freedom that had not previously existed for the average person, and came to be a symbol of California living.
It shrank space, allowing Californians to travel and live where they desired. It allowed the city worker and resident the freedom to live on the outskirts of town or in a neighboring small community.
It created a space that previously did not exist. Couples could now court unsupervised by a chaperone. Having a “set of wheels” also fostered freedom and, some thought, rebellion in the teenager.
It offered freedom from societal expectations placed on women. In fact, as early as the 1920s, cars were being developed with the female driver in mind.
California State Capitol Museum – The Road Ahead Exhibit
This is a website specifically for the “The Road Ahead: The Automobile’s Impact on California” Exhibit. Dates: May 23, 2018 – April 29, 2019 at the California State Capitol Museum.
For Museum-related information such as contacts, hours and location: Visit capitolmuseum.ca.gov.