Museums

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Taking a long-awaited vacation and planning an itinerary? Why not include an auto museum on your schedule – it’s something that provides interest to adults and children alike. Auto museums offer a wonderful opportunity for an educational and exciting vacation activity.

Often publicly owned and operated, auto museums are open to the public and allow a rare glimpse into a world gone by. There are various types of auto museums, some housing all kinds of cars and other specializing in certain types of vehicles from racing cars to motorcycles. Some museums may feature a section with new, space-age designs and concept cars. Discover classic, vintage, antique cars and motorcycles and learn about their development over the years. There are some museums, such as the new International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, NY that are exclusively devoted to racing vehicles. There are also larger, more inclusive auto museums like the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC) located at the Detroit Public Library, a fantastic resource for all things automotive. Of course, you’ll find some of the most historic cars in US history at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. At the other end of the scale, local and regional auto museums offer visitors a close up look at cars and trucks that have local significance. All in all, a visit to an auto museum provides one of life’s rare pleasures – and usually at a very reasonable cost.

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