Network
Peterson Automotive Museum (Los Angeles, California)
This massive museum can show over 200 historic automobiles at a time. The museum consists of four floors, in which each will always be representative of a different era or theme. Visitors are free to walk through the exhibits and experience these historic cars in their natural era.
“Today, the Petersen Automotive Museum stands as the nation’s premiere automotive museum, serving thousands of visitors each year. The Petersen Automotive Museum is dedicated to the exploration and presentation of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example.”
National Automobile Museum (Reno, Nevada)
This automobile museum focuses mainly on vehicles that the late casino owner William F. Harrah owned and collected. Over 200 cars are displayed through 4 galleries. The galleries display the following eras: 1890s to 1900s, 1910s to 1930s, 1930s to 1950s, and 1950s onward.
“The mission of the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection) is to collect and preserve the automobile for future generations with an emphasis on vehicles collected by William “Bill” Fisk Harrah, to tell the story of the impact of the automobile on American society, and to perpetuate the legacy of Mr. Harrah as a renowned collector.”
The National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
This is not only the location of the corvette museum, but every corvette made since 1981 has been produced there also. The Corvette Museum also features the only 1983 Vette in existence.
“Since 1953 the Corvette has been America’s Sports Car. The National Corvette Museum was established as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette; preserving its past, present and future; and educating the public about Corvette.”
Harold E. LeMay Museum (Tacoma, Washington)
The LeMay Museum is in the process of building a new museum that will be called, “America’s Car Museum”. The construction is scheduled to start this summer 2010. Once finished it will be capable of holding 500 cars, and will dwarf other American car museums.
“Harold and Nancy LeMay amassed the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, other vehicles and related memorabilia in the world. At its peak, the LeMay Collection numbered in excess of 3,000 vehicles and thousands of artifacts and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest privately owned collection in the world; impressive if accomplished by a King, but jaw dropping, awesome when accomplished by a local businessman from Tacoma, Washington.”
Montana Auto Museum (Deer Lodge, Montana)
“Too many to list, but too much to miss, is a visit to the car museum in the Old Prison. Over 150 cars are on display from classic Chevys and muscle cars to a Schacht high wheeler and a 1903 Ford with tonneau and wicker side baskets.”
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum (Speedway, Indianapolis)
This museum is on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is home to the Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame Museum also displays the equipment and methods used for timing and scoring the Indianapolis 500 from the first race to the 21st century, including a viewer-activated computer presentation that explains the progress through the years. An extensive trophy collection, including the famed Borg-Warner Trophy, which honors the winner of each Indianapolis 500, is also on display along with auto racing trophies, honors and awards from around the world.
www.Indianapolismotorspeedway.com/about/35204-Museum/
Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village (Dearborn, Michigan)
“It began as a simple yet bold idea to document the genius of ordinary people by recognizing and preserving the objects they used in the course of their everyday lives. It grew into the ultimate place to explore what Americans past and present have imagined and invented — a remarkable destination that brings American ideas and innovations to life.”
Studebaker National Museum (South Bend, Indiana)
The Studebaker’s were the only manufacturer to successfully switch from making horse-drawn vehicles to gasoline powered. They were blacksmiths who got rich from their trade during the Civil War.
“The museum’s Archive Center houses an extensive collection of artifacts, manuscripts, and records from the Studebaker Corporation, Packard Motor Car Company, and local South Bend industries.”
International Motorsports Hall of Fame (Talladega, Alabama)
“One of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame’s highlight features is the Motorsports Museum. Spanning three buildings and the enclosed courtyard, this collection of history making vehicles is priceless. They represent the crowning achievements of man’s abilities and the pursuit of the our limits. To those men, this is a tribute. To all others this is a gift, for the images you see before you are history.”
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (York Springs, PA)
“The EMMR goal is to grow and expand in order to preserve history and provide knowledge not only about all forms of racing, but also the lifestyles of those involved in the agricultural expositions so closely related to Motor Racing in the century past.”
