Museum of Automobiles

The Museum of Automobiles is an automobile museum in the city of Morrilton, Arkansas, adjacent to Petit Jean State Park. The museum features a collection of antique and classic cars, motorcycles, guns, license plates, arcade machines and automobile memorabilia. It also includes a rare 1923 Climber touring car, made in Arkansas.

Museum of Automobiles
Established1964 (1964)
LocationMorrilton, Arkansas, USA
Coordinates35.129445°N 92.891089°W / 35.129445; -92.891089
TypeAutomobile museum
Websitewww.museumofautos.com

The museum hosts many automobile-related events including swap meets and car shows.[1]

History

Opened in 1964, the museum was founded by Winthrop Rockefeller before he became Governor of Arkansas. The museum housed Rockefeller's collection of antique and classic cars until his death, and in 1975 the collection was sold to collector Bill Harrah for $947,000, which included 68 motorized vehicles and three that were horse-drawn.[2] The museum building, designed by the Little Rock firm of Ginocchio, Carter, Cromwell and Neylan, and 57-acre grounds were donated to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

A new non-profit corporation was formed and reopened the Museum in 1976 with cars on loan from collectors around the country, leasing the building from the state.[3]

Collection

Today the museum features over 30 automobiles that were donated to the collection. It also retains several cars from Rockefeller's personal vehicles: the 1951 Cadillac that he drove to Arkansas when he made the state his home, his 1967 Cadillac limousine with a Santa Gertrudis bull sterling silver hood ornament, and his 1914 Cretors popcorn wagon.

References
  1. "Father's Day Trip: 56th Annual Petit Jean Auto Show and Swap Meet". Only in Arkansas. June 3, 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. "Bill Harrah's legacy in pictures". Old Cars Weekly. November 2, 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  3. "Museum of Automobiles". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
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