DETROIT'S role as the epicenter of the American auto industry has attracted a wide variety of worthwhile collections to the area. Here is a list of museums to visit in Ohio and Michigan, states that have played a huge role in the development of the American automotive industry.
A classic Matchless G50 at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio.
A postwar Buick at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich.
Michigan
ALFRED P. SLOAN MUSEUM Regional history, hands-on science and historic automobiles, including more than 80 cars built in Flint, are featured in the museum named after the General Motors president and chairman in the 1930s. Open daily. Admission fee. 1221 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, Mich. 48503. (810) 237-3450. sloanmuseum.com
AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME This center, on the grounds of the Henry Ford Museum, recognizes outstanding achievement in automotive and related industries. More than 200 giants of the motor vehicle industry, like John M. Mack, Walter P. Reuther and Enzo Ferrari, have been inducted into the hall. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee. 21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Mich. 48124. (313) 240-4000. automotivehalloffame.org
DETROIT HISTORICAL MUSEUM Changing exhibits portray city life, the history of the region and the rise of the auto industry. The collection contains 27 cars representing 19 makes and a portion of the assembly line from General Motors’ Clark Street plant. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission fee. 5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich. 48202. (313) 833-1805. detroithistorical.org
G.M. WORLD A changing 50,000-square-foot exhibit of G.M. vehicles at the company’s headquarters in the Renaissance Center. Open daily. Free. Renaissance Center, Detroit. 48243. (313) 667-7151. gm.com
GILMORE CAR MUSEUM Nearly 200 vehicles spanning more than 100 years of automotive heritage are nestled on 90 acres in restored historic barns. They range from a 1899 Locomobile to Model Ts, a classic Duesenberg, an elusive 1948 Tucker and the muscle cars of the 60s. The Pierce-Arrow museum on the grounds includes a 1912 motorcycle. Open daily May 1 through Oct. 31 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee. 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, Mich. 49060. (269) 671-5089. gilmorecarmuseum.org
THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM The museum and the adjoining Greenfield Village complex of historic buildings are in the shadow of the Ford Motor Company headquarters. The museum’s automobile exhibit depicts the American industry’s history, including many of the technological, styling and marketing details of automobile production. The collection includes 200 cars, including the Lincoln limousine in which President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Museum is open daily; Greenfield Village open daily April 15 to November 2, Friday through Sunday in November and December, and closed January 1 through April 14. Admission fee. 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Mich. 48121. (313) 271-1620. hfmgv.org
FORD ROUGE FACTORY TOUR Part of the Henry Ford Museum. The Rouge plant was an automotive “ore to assembly” complex between 1917 and 1928. At its peak, the plant had 16 million square feet of production buildings and 120 miles of conveyors that turned out a new car every 49 seconds. Open daily from April 16 to Sept. 3; closed Sundays the rest of the year. Admission fee; reservations recommended. 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Mich. 48121. (313) 271-1620. hfmgv.org
R.E. OLDS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM In the hometown of Ransom E. Olds, founder of Oldsmobile, the museum has an extensive collection of Oldsmobiles, from the oldest to the fastest, in addition to rare vehicles from REO, Star, Durant and Viking. Open Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sundays November through March. Admission fee. 240 Museum Drive, Lansing, Mich. 48933. (517) 372-0529. reoldsmuseum.org
WALTER P. CHRYSLER MUSEUM This modern museum opened in 1999 on the grounds of Chrysler’s headquarters. The lower garage level highlights Chrysler’s performance heritage with Hemi-powered models like Chargers, Furys and Barracudas. Another level tracks the early years of Chrysler and its predecessor companies, showcasing a 1902 Rambler, a 1909 Hudson and the famous Chrysler Six. A third level features vehicles from the company’s early days to today. Open daily except Mondays. Admission fee. 1 Chrysler Drive, Auburn Hills, Mich. 48326. (888) 456-1924. chryslerheritage.com
YE OLDE CARRIAGE SHOP The shop showcases cars built in nearby Jackson, Mich., from 1902 to 1954. It also has a variety of automobile memorabilia, including gas pumps, signs and a Coca-Cola exhibit. By appointment only. Donation requested. 3538 Henderson Road, Spring Arbor, Mich. 49283. (517) 750-4300.
Ohio
CANTON CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM A collection established by the late Marsh Belden Sr. featuring 45 unusual classic and special-interest automobiles. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee. Market Avenue at 6th Street SW, Canton, Ohio 44703. (330) 455-3603. cantonclassiccar.org
CARRILLON HISTORICAL PARK Exhibits illustrating how transportation changed the Dayton area and how Dayton changed transportation, from the horse-drawn wagons to Chevy S-10 trucks built in nearby Moraine, Ohio. The collection includes a Dayton-built 1908 Stoddard Dayton and a Xenia Cyclecar, built in 1915 in nearby Xenia. Open daily. Admission fee. 1000 Carillon Boulevard, Dayton, Ohio 45409. (937) 293-2841. carillonpark.org
CRAWFORD AUTO-AVIATION MUSEUM Nearly 200 antique, vintage and classic automobiles and aircraft ranging from Panhard & Levassor’s 1897 enclosed automobile to Bobby Rahal’s 1982 Indianapolis car, which won the first Cleveland 500. The collection also documents the technological and stylistic development of the transportation industry, with a focus on early automobiles created in Cleveland. Open daily. Admission fee. 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. (216) 721-5722. wrhs.org/index.php/crawford
GOODYEAR WORLD OF RUBBER MUSEUM Exhibits on blimps, the trucking industry, Indianapolis racecars, a moon buggy and an artificial heart. It also has a replica of a rubber plantation, exhibits on the history of the rubber industry and a reproduction of Charles Goodyear’s workshop. Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free. Goodyear Corporate Headquarters 1201 E. Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44305. (330) 796-7117.
THE MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME In a showcase of motorcycling history, the museum features 300 motorcycles, riding gear, photographs, literature, sculpture, racetrack reconstructions, dioramas and awards. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee. 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, Ohio 43147. (614) 856-2222. motorcyclemuseum.org
THE NATIONAL PACKARD MUSEUM In the town where the first Packard was built, this museum features models ranging from the 1903 Old Pacific to a 1958 Hawk. Open daily except Mondays. Admission fee. 1899 Mahoning Avenue, Warren, Ohio 44483. (330) 394-1899. packardmuseum.org
SNOOK'S DREAM CARS Housed in a replica of a 1940’s-era Texaco gas station, the collection includes everything from hood ornaments to window cranks along with its showroom of dream cars from the 1930s to the 1960s. Open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission fee. 13920 County Home Road, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. (419) 353-8338. snooksdreamcars.com
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