Every American Should Visit These – The Best Car Museums in the U.S.
These top automotive museums don’t just showcase classic cars – they tell the story of how engineering and design have evolved through the decades.
The human love affair with cars began more than a century ago, when the first clunky “horseless carriage” rolled into our lives—and our hearts. The following six automotive museums are far more than collections of vintage vehicles. They’re living tributes to innovation and design, and a reminder of how cars have shaped American culture, industry, and identity.
Petersen Automotive Museum – Los Angeles, California
Housed in a former department store on Wilshire Boulevard, the Petersen Automotive Museum is large enough to display over 200 historic vehicles at once. The exhibits range from legendary Hollywood movie cars to celebrity-owned classics. Visitors can check out the Batmobile, Greta Garbo and Clark Gable’s Duesenberg, and Rod Stewart’s rare 1983 Ferrari convertible. There’s also an entire section dedicated to antique automobiles and the early days of motoring.
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Since Corvette production began here in 1981, car lovers have flocked to Bowling Green for factory tours and the nearby museum. You’ll find the rare 1983 Corvette—of which only one exists—alongside early hatchback editions and concept cars that never made it into mass production. One of the most popular exhibits is the pit crew experience, where visitors can change tires or fuel up a race car just like at the track.
National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection) – Reno, Nevada
While building his casino empire, William Harrah also amassed one of the world’s finest car collections. The museum now showcases around 200 of his favorite vehicles, including his first acquisition—a 1911 Maxwell. The “Celebrity Cars” section features Al Jolson’s 1933 Cadillac, Jack Benny’s 1923 Maxwell, James Dean’s 1949 Mercury from Rebel Without a Cause, and Frank Sinatra’s 1961 Ghia sedan.
The museum’s main exhibits recreate four distinct streetscapes representing each quarter of the 20th century, complete with period storefronts, signage, and authentic artifacts.
Studebaker National Museum – South Bend, Indiana
The Studebaker brothers, sons of a blacksmith and wagon builder from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, used their family craftsmanship to create horseless carriages powered by electric motors designed by Thomas Edison and built by George Westinghouse. That was in 1912—and by the 1950s, Studebaker’s sleek designs had become icons of mid-century style.
The museum’s collection includes the 1935 Conestoga wagon that helped open the American West, President Lincoln’s 1863 carriage, and some of the last Studebaker models produced before the company closed in 1966.
International Motorsports Hall of Fame – Talladega, Alabama
Long before Talladega Nights made the name famous, this track was a sacred site for NASCAR fans. The museum complex spans five buildings, each focused on a different theme. On display are legendary race cars like the 1979 Budweiser Chevy and Dale Earnhardt’s Goodwrench Chevy—winner of 76 races before his tragic 2001 crash. You’ll also see Harry Gant’s final race car from 1995, along with hundreds of trophies, helmets, uniforms, model cars, photos, and artwork celebrating the history of motorsports.
The Henry Ford Museum – Dearborn, Michigan
Set on 12 acres near Ford’s world headquarters, The Henry Ford Museum is home to hundreds of vehicles that shaped American history. Among them: the ill-fated Edsel, President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 Lincoln limousine, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, and one of the few surviving 1948 Tucker sedans. Historical ads, photographs, and news clippings bring each era to life.
The museum also features early airplanes and biplanes, including one with Ford’s Tri-Motor engine. The “Made in America” exhibit highlights the country’s mechanical heritage—from toasters to locomotives. And just next door is Greenfield Village, a living history park with glassblowing demonstrations and vintage rides aboard a 1931 Ford Model AA bus.
Knowing about cars is one thing—but seeing them up close is something else entirely. If you want to connect with automotive history and witness the machines that helped define America, make time to visit one of these car museums. You won’t regret it.
Do you have a favorite car museum? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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