America's Greatest Automotive Collections
From Henry Ford's River Rouge to Jay Leno's garage, automotive museums tell the story of how the United States built — and sold — the car century. This passport traces 18 of the country's best collections, including the National Corvette, the Henry Ford, and the Petersen.
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| The Henry Ford | Dearborn, MI | Largest indoor-outdoor history complex in U.S. |
| REVS Institute | Naples, FL | 100+ preserved significant automobiles |
| Gilmore Car Museum | Hickory Corners, MI | 400+ vehicles |
| Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum | Auburn, IN | Art Deco luxury |
| Studebaker National Museum | South Bend, IN | Studebaker + presidential carriages |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Petersen Automotive Museum | Los Angeles, CA | 100,000 sq ft · LA flagship |
| Lane Motor Museum | Nashville, TN | Largest European car collection in the U.S. |
| Blackhawk Auto Museum | Danville, CA | Curated showroom collection |
| LeMay Family Collection | Tacoma, WA | Marymount, WA · largest family collection in U.S. |
| LeMay America's Car Museum | Tacoma, WA | Adjacent to the family collection |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| National Corvette Museum | Bowling Green, KY | Adjacent to Bowling Green assembly plant |
| Antique Automobile Club of America Museum | Hershey, PA | 100+ vehicles |
| Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum | Birmingham, AL | World's largest motorcycle collection + Lotus |
| Volo Auto Museum | Volo, IL | Movie cars + Hollywood vehicles |
| Site | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Savoy Automobile Museum | Cartersville, GA | Modern rotating-exhibit museum |
| Mercedes-Benz Classic Center | Long Beach, CA | brand-restoration site |
| Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum | Philadelphia, PA | Sports racing focus · Philadelphia |
| Owls Head Transportation Museum | Owls Head, ME | Cars + aviation + carriages |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Classic Car Museums Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Book Ahead: Peak-season slots and timed entries sell out 2-4 weeks in advance at flagship sites. Reserve before traveling. Early Morning: Arrive at opening time. Light is best, crowds haven't arrived, and parking is empty. Member Perks: Many car museums offer reciprocal admission — National Corvette Museum membership gets you discounts at LeMay and Henry Ford. Working Shops: Mercedes-Benz Classic Center (Irvine) is also a working restoration shop. Tours include the active workshop.
This checklist spans the country. Standouts include The Henry Ford, REVS Institute, Gilmore Car Museum, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, among others — each chosen as a memorable stop worth the trip.
Yes. The Triptyka Classic Car Museums Passport is an instant printable PDF — a curated checklist grouped by region, a detail page for each stop, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
It depends on the site and the season. Many are best in spring or fall, and hours change through the year — always confirm opening times and admission before you go.
A printable classic car museums passport makes it easy — check off each one as you visit, log the date and your notes, and watch your progress add up.