Decoding History–Petersen License Plate Exhibit Closing March 30th

All great things must eventually come to an end. In the short era of a memorable legacy, unfortunately, the Peterson Automotive Museum’s license plate art wall is quickly approaching the end of its exhibit schedule and closing on March 30th.

The exhibit was introduced on November 23rd, 2013. The license plate wall has been a time capsule of highly sought after plates. The plates date back to the 1910s and are from numerous places across the country. Neatly organized upon gallery whitewalls the plates give insight into the simplicity of early automotive culture.

License plates were required by the state of New York as early as 1901. Although they were not state issued, the owners were mandated to supply their own.  Simple initials were the means to stating the ownership of the vehicle. It wasn’t until 1903, in Massachusetts, that states started issuing license plates. Early license plates were made of iron and porcelain enamel covered them.  As roads began to flood with new cars and drivers, more and more states began to follow suit.

Petersen Automotive Museum was established on June 11th, 1994. Sharing its love for the automotive world, the museum houses over 400 vehicles with 150 featured at any given moment.  Alongside the cars, showcases of rare components, artwork, historical pictures, and other automobilia are sure to catch the hearts of beatniks and other enthusiasts of americana and nostalgia alike.

Just shy off the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, located in the heart of Los Angeles, the museum is honed in one of the country’s richest automotive communities. With one of the business’s missions being that everyone learns before they exit the premises, a trip to the Petersen is sure to be an insightful and adventurous one.

Be sure to check out the the license plate exhibit before it ends March 30th and catch yourself dreaming about the Golden Age preserved within the museums’ walls. For further information on the museum or exhibit, please visit petersen.org