Ethel Andrus, a retired teacher and principal, had a vision of helping Americans lead more vital, challenging, and politically active lives. Pursuing this dream, she founded the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)—and Grand Circle Travel—in 1958.

Grand Circle Travel was founded in 1958 by Ethel Andrus, a retired California high school principal. Andrus was a pioneer for senior rights and also founded the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). She established the travel company specifically to serve the needs of AARP members, making it the first U.S. travel company to focus exclusively on travelers aged 50 and over. Her vision was to provide affordable, culturally immersive international travel for retirees, a demographic that had previously been overlooked by the travel industry. In 1985, the company was acquired by Alan and Harriet Lewis, who expanded it into the Grand Circle Corporation. Today, the family of brands includes Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) and Grand Circle Cruise Line, continuing Andrus’s legacy of "learning and discovery" through small-group travel and philanthropic efforts via the Grand Circle Foundation.