El Camino Real was one of the first signed roads in the state. It was of course originally a Spanish trail connecting the catholic missions, assistencias, the Spanish presidios, and the ranchos in Alta California. However, in the 1910s, the Federation of Women's Clubs, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and later the California auto clubs worked to place unique guideposts for motorists along the whole route. These are California's famous El Camino Real bells, and are still being placed to this day.
(http://www.americanroads.us/forum/avatars/AutoTrails/ElCaminoRealCA.gif)
Parsa