Automobile showrooms have come a long way since their inception, evolving into a significant part of the global automotive industry. Today, car showrooms are much more than just spaces to showcase cars; they serve as hubs for customer engagement and interaction with the brand.
The early automobile showrooms were simple spaces with a few cars displayed on the street or in a garage. However, with the growing popularity of cars in the 20th century, car showrooms became larger and more prominent. The first automobile showroom in the world was opened in Europe in of 1890s late specifically in Paris, by the 1920s, car dealerships had become a common sight in most major cities around the world, and from that time USA became one of the pioneers in this industry through Ford, Chevrolet and others.
In the 1920s, car showrooms became larger and more elaborate, with luxurious interiors, air conditioning, and even lounges for customers to relax in. Here, below are some vintage photographs show car showrooms in Washington D.C. in the 1910s and 1920s:
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| Automobile showroom (Hudsons on the left), probably in Washington D.C., ca. 1910s. |
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| Automobiles and wallboard manufactured by The Beaver Co., 1911. |
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| Exhibits at the Washington, D.C. auto show, March 3-10, 1917. |
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| Westcott automobiles at the Washington, D.C., auto show, 1917. |
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| Westcott automobiles at the Washington, D.C., auto show, 1917. |
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| Duesenberg Straight Eight in a dealer window, ca. 1920s. |
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| Oldsmobile car showroom window display in DC, ca. 1921. |
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| Automobiles in window of the Washington Cadillac Co, 1927. |
