Automotive Museums Worth a Visit

Automotive buffs love anything to do with cars anderas of automotive history. There are historical pieces
this includes visits to museums. And if traveling withsuch as the Thomas Flyer, winner of the 1907 New
children a museum visit is an ideal family activity thatYork to Paris race, and long forgotten antiques such
also provides an educational experience.as the 1912 Rambler and the only 1906
The Gilmore Car Museum in southwest Michigan isAdams-Farwell in existence. Racing enthusiasts can
rated as one of America's ten best. It comprises aview the 1925 Duesenberg, America's first successful
group of historic barns that have been restored andspeedway racing car and the first car mounted with
spread over ninety acres. Housed within you will finda straight-eight engine. In total the collection features
a blend of antique and classic cars. It is the "onlyover 200 cars.
museum dedicated solely to exhibiting vehiclesThe Museum of Automobile History in Syracuse, New
produced by the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co. one ofYork is unique in that one can walk around its 12,000
America's most celebrated automobiles." And,square feet but never see a car. Locating the building
depending on which barn you visit, you can view theposes no problem as the outside is plastered with 10
most popular muscle cars of the 60's and 70's or theby 20 foot billboards featuring advertising from the
classic cars of the 30's.1940's and 1950's. The inside contains an eclectic
The Gilmore also contains an impressive collection ofcollection of memorabilia including posters, sketches,
hood ornaments. However, the Gilmore is only openstyling models, letters, patent applications, a copy of
from May until October. Those interested in movie,a speeding ticket issued to James Dean two hours
TV and celebrity owned cars could head to theprior to his death and Walter Chrysler's driver's license
Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg,together with his 1924 registration for the first
Tennessee. Here one can view 'Herbie the Love BugChrysler.
and 'Little Herbie" as well as a Batmobile. TheOne can also view oil paintings and rare advertising
museum is now home to the Ford Thunderbirdpieces such as a complete set of Burma Shave road
owned by the Beach Boys and featured in one ofsigns. The museum is the brainchild of Walter Miller
their hits, "Fun, Fun, Fun. The car bears theirwho believes that "the history of the automobile is
autograph on the hood. And Elvis' Mark IV Lincolnabout much more than just motor vehicles." "There
together Bob Hope's 1953 Buick are also on displayisn't a person living in America today whose life
The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevadawasn't influenced or shaped by the automobile." And
now houses the former very impressive collection ofjust like car design, the museum is still evolving as the
Bill Harrah in a 105,000 square foot building along theback rooms are full of all types of related materials
banks of the Truckee River. The cars are exhibitedawaiting sorting, cataloging and exhibiting while new
as parts of sets displaying the life during the differentmaterials continue to arrive almost daily.