The Story of Airstream

The Story of Airstream

Wally Byam, the founder of Airstream, was born on July 4, 1896, in Baker City, Oregon. He spent his early years in Oregon, surrounded by water and forests, which ignited his strong desire for travel. After completing his education at Stanford University, he pursued a career in publishing while indulging in camping trips with his first wife, Marion.

However, Marion wasn't fond of sleeping on the ground in a tent. In search of a solution, Wally devised a tent setup atop a Model T chassis. It was an improvement but lacked sufficient protection from the elements. Subsequently, Wally designed a teardrop-shaped structure on a platform, equipped with a sleeping area, stove, and ice chest. The travel trailer received praise from Wally's friends and neighbors, leading him to start selling kits for others to construct their own.

Recognizing the potential, Wally established a small travel trailer factory in California in 1931. He named his creations "Airstreams" because of their smooth, streamlined movement on the road. Today, Airstream remains an iconic symbol of American road adventures.

Airstream's headquarters now resides in Jackson Center, Ohio, where skilled craftsmen and craftswomen have upheld the Airstream tradition for generations. Across Canada and now in Alberta, countless Airstream enthusiasts have embraced a life of adventure, following the creed originally penned by Wally Byam.

Mission of Airstream

At Airstream, we strive to stir the venturesome spirit by encouraging adventure lovers to embrace new experiences and connect with fellow travelers. By offering a more satisfying, independent, and meaningful way to travel – and  by promoting good fellowship along the way – we aspire to make travel dreams come true.