Saturday, October 4, 2025

ATTRACTIONS: Other Notable Automobile Museums

Continuing with my very Short list of some more interesting sounding Museums I've Gleamed Thar Names over thou Years from Near and Afar. Feeling it was time for a total “refresh” on the list that’s laid dormant since Gory 2008, Youza!

 

ALABAMA

Barber Motorsports Museum

Location: Birmingham

Although I'll most likely never get Thar, if you're ever attending the Indy Cars race at the Oh, So Bootyful' Barbers, nee Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, near Birmingham. Then You'll Definitely wanna check out Messer George Barber's Amazing Museum, Chock Oh-Block with Motorcycles and the largest Lotus racing cars collection in Nort America, with thee “Oldest” IndyCar Blogger, Hya! Geo. Phillips of Oilpressure Fame; Yeah George, I know that Mike Silver’s Older then you! Having Written about A Day at the Museum previously, below.

 

A Day At the Museum

 

Museum website

https://www.barbermuseum.org/

 

ARIZONA

Penske Racing Museum

Location: Scottsdale

Nestled inside El Capitano’s', nee Roger Penske's Flagship Arizona Auto dealership in north Scottsdale, the museum features the majority of Penske’s Indy 500 winners along with other related vehicles and paraphernalia which is rotated on a Semi-regular basis.  Being almost a yearly visit when I visit The Valley of the Sun, especially since you cannot beat the price of admission - FREE! Plus there’s always a Boatload of Exotic Cars to puruse inside ‘N out, i.e.; Aston Martin’s, Bentley’s, Ferrari’s, Jaguar’s, Lamborghini’s, Porsche’s, etc. Along with ALL of the Staff being super friendly, courteous and fun to be around; a la The Captain’s business motto of “attention to Detail!

 

Having scribbled this No Fenders story following my latest visit…

 

Traipsing thru the Penske Racing Museum again

 

Museum website

https://www.penskeautomall.com/penske-racing-museum/

 

CALIFORNIA

Blackhawk Museum

Location: Danville

Heard about this museum many, many moons ago. Being renown for its Classic Car collection of rare and vintage automobiles. Reportedly housed in the Blackhawk Plaza Shopping Mall. The museo houses a total of five distinct gallerys. One Automotive, and the other featuring The Spirit of the Old West, Art of Africa, Into China and World of Nature. And is an affiliate of the Smithsonian.

 

Museum website

https://blackhawkmuseum.org/

 

Peterson Automotive Museum

Location: Los Angeles

This museum really shouldn’t need any introduction, and is definitely one I wish I’d visited! As I believe it’s the nation’s premiere Automotive museo, renown for its fantastic collections and displays of automotive treasures.

 

Having scribbled about it once in the following No Fender link, regarding one of its members Car Collection…

 

RETRO: Notorious Porsche and Ferrari land in Same Owner’s Hand

 

Museum website

https://www.petersen.org/

 

COLORADO

Shelby American Collection

Location: Boulder

Another museo I heard about many decades ago. Presumably when I was heavy into my FoMoCo Cazes’, i.e.; All things Shelby and Ford racing related.

 

Museum website

https://www.shelbyamericancollection.org/

 

FLORIDA

The Brumos collection

Location: Jacksonville

Holy Whopper Racing Car Batman! Having learned of this five years ago, Arse-sumedly perusing Car & Driver magazine, via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service.

 

As Steve McQueen’s legendous’ Gulf Porsche 917, used in the movie Le Mans fetched a whopping $14m at auction, and is now part of the Brumos Car Collection. Which I’d hunker is worth a visit if nearby in the Sunshine State.

 

$14 Million Steve McQueen Porsche 917 is Star of Brumos Collection

 

Museum website

https://www.thebrumoscollection.com/

 

INDIANA

IMS Museum

Location: Speedway

How could I almost leave this off my list, Eh? Although it will forever be the Hall of Fame museo for Mwah. Although I’ve never been to the newly renovated structure that had its grand reopening in April, 2025. Not to mention the price of admission has seriously increased! Yet, if ever in Indianapolis, or looking for something to do over the Month of May. Then I highly recommend a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, nestled inside the legendous racetrack.

 

Museum website

https://imsmuseum.org/

 

NEBRASKA

Museum of American Speed

Location: Lincoln

So I’d wanted to include the Unser Museum of Albuquerque, New Mexico upon my ever growing list. Having a water bottle from its gift shop here in Tomaso Manor. And thus, naturally I was quite surprised to learn that the Unser Museum was closed in 2023, Say What!

 

For which reportedly, the bulk of the Unser Museum collection will reside in the Museum of American Speed, the fastest growing Automotive museum. Housed in its 90,000 square foot museo’s expansion.

 

So if you’re ever in the “Heartland”, Err Nebraska and looking for something to do, then Check It out.

 

Museum website

https://www.museumofamericanspeed.org/

 

NEVADA

National Automobile Museum

Location: Reno

Believe this is the same museum I visited many decades ago? When attending an SCCA Pro Racing Trans Am event, held in the Hilton Hotel and Casino’s parking lot. As I remember it being a pretty cool museum with lots of cars. But what I recall liking best about it, was that the cars were displayed with period correct memorabilia.

 

Museum website

https://automuseum.org/ 

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

ATTRACTIONS: Northwest Automotive Museums

When Yuhs need to be inside during Our Inclement Weather, or “Escaping” the Heat…

 

The original Attractions “page” was started long ago, in a different era, when ‘Ol Lone Star JR’, aka Johnny Rutherford had been appointed to the Harold Lemay museum’s Board of Director, circa 2008, Crikeys! Which somehow I’m guessing He’s no longer affiliated with?

 

But my list of museums “Parking lot” had simply become overcrowded and hence, the need to pave more parking spaces, which I’ve been doing very slowly…

 

WASHINGTON

Americas Car Museum

Location: Tacoma

Believe ground was broken on the ten acre site donated by the City of Tacoma in 2010. For what would become a four story, or is it five? 165,000 square foot building housing 350 cars, mostly from the late Harold LeMay’s private collection. Known for being the nation’s largest private collection.

 

Presumably, one of LeMay’s most treasured automobiles was the 1948 Tucker He purchased, which I’ve “seen” before. Having been an ACM member for the first three years of its existence.

 

It’s a wonderful museum, with constantly revolving automotive displays. As think my favourite was when they did an Route 66 exhibit. Not to mention having some of the IMS Hall of Fame IndyCars once on display, most notably one of the Lotus 56 Turbine cars!

 

Alas, having left for whatever will be my Home state, I last visited the ACM museo in Gory 2016, which seems like a really long time ago! Having posted this monstrous five page story, Wayback’ when…

 

AUTOS: Bimmers’ abound at America’s Car Museum

 

Museum Website

https://www.americascarmuseum.org/

 

LeMay Family collection

Location: Marymount

The bulk of Harold LeMay’s private Car Collection resides on the Marymount campus in Tacoma, which I’ve been to once before. But am loathe to admit how long ago that was! Although being before the America’s Car Museum building was built, Crikeys!

 

As I just remember walking past row after row of vehicles, including a Hemelgarn IndyCar, and perhaps a Sherman tank?

 

Having scribbled about Lucky’s Garage and Harold LeMay, the Man in the following No Fenders tome nearly a decade ago…

 

AUTOS: Lucky’s Garage and the Man who Inspired It

 

Museum Website

https://lemaymarymount.org/

 

Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum

Location: Kent

Yeah, this Ain’t a Car museum per se, and suppose it actually angles towards aviation instead. Due to having several great vintage, WWII piston powered Aeroplane engine, i.e.; Rolls Royce, Merlin and Allison Hydroplanes on display. Along with a lone turbine powered boat. Being the 1982 U-00 Atlas Van Lines turbine Hull, driven by Chip Hanauer.

 

But it’s a very quaint, unique museum, with a different flavour for those Hard Core racing enthusiasts…

 

Museum Website

https://thunderboats.ning.com/

 

OREGON

Western Antique Aeroplane Automobile Museum (WAAAM)

Location: Hood River

Stumbled into this museum a few years ago when reading the Smithsonian’s Air and Space magazine via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone’s service, about a rare glider I’d never heard of before.

 

Best part of all about this museo is that they call themselves a living museum. Proclaiming that everything is restored to fully functioning status. Along with either being flown or driven, very Cool!

 

Museum Website

https://waaamuseum.org/

 

Pacific Northwest Truck Museum

Location: Brooks

Thar’ were initially two Automotive museums lurking some nine miles north of Salem, the State’s Capitol. In the before unknown Brooks, Oregon to Mwah. With a population of an eye-popping 472, Jeepers!

 

Naturally, my follow-up gander on Zed Intrawoods’, nee internet claimed the museo’ is located in Salem, on Brooklane Road NE. Which I suppose makes more sense, since Brooks itself must be tiny!

 

Trucking is “King” in the Pacific Northwest, albeit it seems odd that Warshington’ doesn’t have a Kenworth or Paccar Truck museum? While weekly I hear the J-Brake and rumble of “Older” logging trucks here in Bumfiddle’ Florence…

 

As the museum’s website proclaims they have over 75 vintage trucks in their collection. Ranging from Semi-truck rigs’ such as GMC, Kenworth, International, Peterbilt, Freightliner and Mack. Along with many trucks from the past that no longer are manufactured.

 

While their newest acquisition is the Freightliner donated first generation Electric Semi-tractor. Built upon a 2017 Cascadia Sleeper Cab platform, with many European parts on the hand built chassis.

 

As it sounds like a very interesting museum, worthy of a visit…

 

Museum Website

http://pacificnwtruckmuseum.org/index.html

 

Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum

Location: Brooks

This was the other Automobile museum to pop-up when googling Automotive museums in Oregon. Also being located in Brooks, with the same address as the Truck museo’ above, Hmm?

 

As their website says they’re dedicated to preserving the history of vintage Automobiles and Motorcycles. And proud to be one of the 14 Museums located in Brooks, whilst I’ve got no idea how large the museum is? Or what it All encompasses?

 

Museum Website

https://www.nwcarandcycle.org/

 

Powerland Heritage Park

Location: Brooks

Uhm, what’s that well worn saying? Ah, I love it when a plan comes together! As the mystery’s solved, Tuh-duh!

 

The two museums listed above, make up part of the 14 total museums located on the Powerland Heritage Park campus, a 62 acre parcel of land dedicated to the preservation of many vintage machinery.

 

With such factions as Antique Caterpillar and John Deere machinery, the Western Railway Preservation Society,, Willow Creek Railway and Willamette Valley Model Railroad Operating museums. Along with the Trucks, Vintage Cars & Motorcycles, Pacific NW Logging and other related Steam powered collections, it sounds like a fantastic place to visit!

 

Museum Website

https://www.antiquepowerland.com/about-powerland-heritage-park