Airstream – the name itself invokes the smooth, silver curves of the aerodynamically designed camping trailer that first rose to popularity in the 1940s. The airstream trailer has sleek lines that are reminiscent of an optimistic, streamlined vision for the future. And the juxtaposition of its comfort with its intended purpose of camping makes it the American dream in an aluminum nutshell.
Because of this rich symbolism and its iconic appearance, the Airstream trailer has made appearances on screens big and small, from “Independence Day” to “Gray’s Anatomy.”
The idea of the Airstream as an American icon isn’t just empty symbolism – its story mirrors 20th-century American history.
The Beginning
Back in the 1920s, Wally Byam began building trailers in his backyard. These were initially constructed out of materials like masonite, but Mr. Byam consistently experimented, eventually settling on aluminum bodies and a shape rather unusual for the time.
In 1936, after about two decades of experimentation, and drawing in his knowledge of aviation design, Wally Byam produced the “Airstream Clipper” and a well-known American brand was born.
The Clipper was named after the first trans-Atlantic seaplane, and its cylindrical silver-aluminum design cut wind resistance and improved fuel efficiency. It had its own water and electric lights and slept four.
The Rise To Popularity
During World War II, Mr. Byam put the trailer business on hold as travel became an unaffordable luxury to most. After the war, the economy boomed and the Airstream trailer became iconic.
In fact, Mr. Byam’s designs were so one-of-a-kind and innovative, that his successors kept working off of his example after his passing and continued to make Airstream thrive in continuation of his legacy. Part of that continuation was to make sure that Airstreams are still made in the United States of America today.
In the decades since, Airstream trailers have made inroads into nearly every corner of American culture. President Kennedy used one as an office during a visit to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, just a few months before his death.
The astronauts who first walked on the moon were quarantined in an Airstream trailer once they returned to earth from their adventures in space.
The Airstream Trailer Today
Many stars of stage and screen (who often must live in trailers) have owned an Airstream, including Matthew McConaughey, Lenny Kravitz, Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, and Denzel Washington. A customized 1957 Airstream was a notable feature of MTV’s Santa Monica headquarters for many years, and contestants on “The Apprentice” were once challenged to create a mobile business using an Airstream camping trailer.
The Airstream’s design has stood the test of time, as evidenced by the fact that more than 30% of the Airstreams currently on the road are over 50 years old. That includes a few that were built from a kit, bought for $5 in the 1930s!
Luckily, for folks who don’t have space for a trailer or don’t care for the expense of owning one, Airstream rental is a service that’s increasingly popular and available. An Airstream rental is the original “glamping” – all the comfort and freedom, none of the logistical hassle and expense. The innovation, style, and durability of an Airstream made it an American icon – one you can experience for yourself.
