Museum Guide News

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in Manitowoc, WI cares for a collection of nearly 20,000 objects and a substantial archive pertaining to the maritime history of Wisconsin, Manitowoc shipbuilding, and USS Cobia. This includes more than 60 boats, approximately 300 regionally-built outboard motors, and over 250 ship models. Shipbuilding tools, marine navigational equipment, naval uniforms, and maritime archaeological artifacts also make up significant and growing portions of the collections. When objects are accepted into the museum’s collection, we agree to take care of them in perpetuity. This is an ongoing commitment, and a responsibility we take very seriously. The museum also cares for more than 10,000 Great Lakes shipwreck artifacts, curated on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, in its role as the preferred repository for recovered Wisconsin shipwreck artifacts. (Note, federal legislation in 1987 codified that it is expressly illegal to remove items from historic shipwrecks). The WMM collection is one of the largest maritime collections on the Great Lakes and reflects the museum’s mission of connecting all people with Wisconsin’s waterways, by engaging and educating the public about the Great Lakes, Wisconsin’s maritime history, Wisconsin’s WWII submarines, and USS Cobia. As the museum has grown over the past half-century, caring for our expanding collections has, likewise, become more challenging. While our Franklin Street facility allows us to house over 12,000 objects, items are now vulnerable to damage and deterioration. Through the years this facility has become overcrowded, making a more efficient storage system necessary. So preliminary work, largely grant funded by two programs with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), plans for expansion has begun! We invite you to visit our museum an experience the history of Maritime in Manitowoc, WI and more! https://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/visit/    

The AACA Museum, Inc. is America’s Transportation Experience!  We’re dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the motor vehicle history in a way that provides for the education and entertainment for our guests. The museum delivers a world-class automotive experience through innovative and interactive exhibits that appeal to all ages and illustrate the historical evolution and potential future impacts of one of the most culturally defining innovations of modern times – the automobile. The idea of presenting an automobile collector’s museum in Hershey, PA, originated with a committed group of automobile hobbyists. As their determination to move the project forward grew, their enthusiasm gained support throughout the region. In 1993, the AACA Museum, Inc. was incorporated as a Pennsylvania nonprofit educational institution! The new vision focused on presenting America’s intriguing automotive heritage to the public. The museum launched a $12 million capital campaign dedicated to building a world-class museum. The vision of a world-class automotive heritage museum in Hershey became a reality. The 71,000-square-foot museum, officially named the AACA Museum, Inc., opened on June 26, 2003. Offering noteworthy exhibits and an ever-growing permanent collection, the museum welcomes guests of all ages to enjoy the wonders of invention, interactive educational displays, famous and one-of-a-kind vehicles, and family fun. Today the AACA Museum at Hershey displays vintage automobiles in unique settings. Visitors can stroll through eight decades in time while traveling from New York to San Francisco. It’s a trip down “memory lane” as iconic settings reveal vehicles from generations of American motoring. The museum sponsors workshops and activities designed to raise public awareness and appreciation of the role that the automobile has played in shaping 20th century America. *Plaese check out our new exhibits which are always changing: https://www.aacamuseum.org/exhibits-experiences/#current_exhibit AACA Museum embraces the role of the collector in preserving automotive heritage. It is unique in that all the cars on display have been donated or offered for display by car experts and enthusiasts! The AACA Museum at Hershey ranks among the top automotive museums in the world and has been recognized by the Smithsonian as an Affiliate Museum. The museum is home to the Cammack Tucker Collection, the world’s most extensive collection of Tucker automobiles and memorabilia. AACA Museum also houses the Museum of Bus Transportation Collection. When traveling through Pennsylvania, make a point to stop and visit the AACA Museum and take a trip back in automobile and transportation history! https://www.aacamuseum.org/  

The Forney Museum of Transportation, in Denver, CO began as the private collection of Mr. J. D. Forney of Fort Collins, CO. https://www.forneymuseum.org/index.html From an early age Mr. Forney had an interest in cars, airplanes, and all modes of transportation. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma on January 27, 1905 Today the Forney Museum of Transportation is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 800 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 67 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more! Our collection highlights include: Pre-War Chevrolets (temporary exhibit), Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug' Kissel Car. We also feature the Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1927 Rolls-Royce, 1913-53 Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more! The Museum is fortunate enough to offer rotating exhibits every 3-4 months! The Forney Museum also has many scheduled events throughout the year, please click below and check them out! https://www.forneymuseum.org/events.html Make a point to come see us this year, as we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Thunderbirds! We are also having a fundraiser raffle, with the winner winning a brand new Corvette! Check out the details: https://www.tapkat.org/the-forney-museum-of-transportation/19xv3E  Located just 5 minutes from the heart of Downtown Denver, the Forney Museum is also an event venue in Denver. We provide your guests with a unique and memorable experience. Event Rental Venues in Central Space. Place your party right in the middle of our historic collection! This space can easily accommodate a dance floor, DJ, catering, and auction tables. The space will be sized to best fit your guest count- from 50 people up to 500 seated, and even more cocktail style. https://www.forneymuseum.org/MeetingRooms.html Next time in you're in Denver come check us out for a history in the transportation industry you’ve never seen before!  

The humboldt bay maritime museum was founded in 1977. William Zerlang, a long time collector of marine artifact, and a group of colleagues sought to establish a local museum to preserve the rich maritime heritage of the entire humboldt bay region. Today the museum serves members, visitors and researchers throughout the nation. The Mission - The museum seeks to identify, collect, preserve and interpret artifacts, photographs, library archives and materials relating principally to the maritime history of california's north coast. we also strive to promote, educate, and assist the public in understanding and appreciating maritime heritage and local culture Special Collections - With over 20,000 digitally scanned photographs, art and other paper mediums, artifacts donated and collected over a period of decades, including, but not limited to shipwreck artifacts, 4th order fresnel lens and small skiffs. the museum owns two Floating vessels. the 1910 motor vessel madaket, which has been lovingly restored and is coast guard certified to carry passengers. The second is the 1917 fishing vessel stephanie which is undergoing restoration. From shipwrecks to shipbuilding to lighthouses to ferry launches to first explorers to ship models, the museum has something for everyone!   After visiting the museum take a  75-Minute Narrated Cruise! Step Aboard! Learn the history of Humboldt Bay during an 8.5-mile cruise along the shores of the bay while the captain explains local history, industries, activities, points of interest and wildlife. Seals are sure to be seen along with migratory birds, the Fishermen's Statue and the iconic Carson Mansion. https://humboldtbaymaritimemuseum.com/madaket-cruises.html.  So come visit us soon when in California and learn about the historic Humboldt Bay in Samoa, CA. MUSEUM HOURS: Wednesday - Sunday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. https://humboldtbaymaritimemuseum.com/index.html    

The Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey was incorporated in 2000. At first, it consisted of a group of passionate collectors who liked to talk cars. Although they didn't yet have a building, they knew they wanted to share their love of automotive history with the community and to recognize automobiles' monumental impact on the world. Today, The Vintage Automobile Museum of New Jersey's primary goal is to provide an educational and entertaining family attraction that preserves, shares, and takes pride in the automotive heritage that truly shaped the growth of our state, our country, and indeed the entire world. We are proud to serve New Jersey as the state's only public car museum. Admission is always free because we believe that everyone should be able to share in the joy of cars. In 2013, thanks to the community's support and a lot of hard work, we were able to secure a building in Point Pleasant, NJ, where we could finally provide a permanent location that anyone could visit. The Museum is staffed by volunteers from all throughout Ocean and Monmouth Counties, NJ. We love cars as much as you do, and we are thrilled to be able to enjoy them together with you! For more info about volunteer opportunities with the museum, please see the membership page. The museum has housed countless vehicles over the years, ranging from the groundbreaking Model Ts of the early 20th century to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. Vehicle owners include the museum organization, the museum's trustees, donors, and local car clubs. To view all of our cars in the museum check out our gallery: https://vamnj.org/gallery/ Different vehicles are brought in every 2-3 months, allowing you to learn about all eras of automotive history. Sometimes, there will be special exhibitions that disrupt the regularly scheduled rotation of vehicles. For example, we might randomly host an all-British car display for a month. Visit often to see all the amazing vehicles the museum has to offer! We are located a short drive from the Garden State Parkway, near Route 35. Our museum is wheelchair-accessible, and we are committed to ensuring all visitors have a comfortable experience. Please let us know if you have any special needs or require additional accommodations. Museum hosts are experienced volunteers, so feel free to ask questions while you're here! We recommend calling ahead, as the museum may be closed during inclement weather or when a host is unavailable. We look forward to seeing you!    732-899-0012.  https://vamnj.org/visit/      

Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965. A non-profit memorial and museum located in Fall River, Massachusetts, veterans, families, schools, Scouts, and interested visitors from around the world have walked the decks of these historic vessels and viewed the legendary aircraft on display. With Five National Historic Landmark US Naval ships and other craft, Battleship Cove is America's Fleet Museum.  You will experience firsthand what it was like to serve on board a Navy warship in WWII and the Vietnam War era. ​ Beyond the history of these vessels is courage, honor, and patriotism that we invite you to learn more about as you explore how our military personnel served our nation! While America's Fleet Museum has been known for decades for our historic naval ships, our fleet of aircraft are both iconic and prominent in American aviation.  Centered on helicopters, our collection includes two Vietnam War combat veterans and two of the first drone unmanned aerial vehicles used by the military! Battleship Cove presents and maintains a diverse number of exhibits to complement our ships, aircraft, and mission.  We are always expanding and updating these displays to enhance our educational outreach and to provide the visitor with a fun learning experience. Some of our exhibit highlights include: National PT Boat Museum, As home to the National PT Boat Museum, Battleship Cove displays the world's largest collection of PT boat artifacts and memorabilia. Admiral Arleigh Burke National Destroyer Museum: USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. is home to the Admiral Arleigh Burke National Destroyer Museum. Here's a link to more exhibits and inforamtion:  https://www.battleshipcove.org/exhibits We also have a number of events coming up this year – for a full calendar click here: https://www.battleshipcove.org/events. You also have an opportunity to schedule event with us too!  We invite you to learn more about these aircrafts, ships and experience them in person! The Battle Ship Museum is a unique destinatiin for all ages and famililes. We look forward to seeing this year!  https://www.battleshipcove.org/    

Top five reasons to visit the EAA Aviation Museum™ in Oshkosh, WI! Walk through aviation’s history. The restoration, preservation, and operation of vintage aircraft have been part of EAA since the very beginning. Discover airplanes used in aviation’s early days, including a tribute to the Wright brothers. Get close to classic aircraft and antique artifacts. Explore military aviation. The Eagle Hangar is a massive hall of aircraft and artifacts dedicated to the memory of those who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The airplanes include examples of Allied fighters and bombers, Army, Navy, and Air Force aircraft, and more. Discover aviation’s innovators. The Innovations Gallery highlights the airplanes and their pilots who have broken dozens of world records. See Loving’s Love, an air racer that was designed and built by WWII veteran and double amputee Neal V. Loving. Get close to the full-size animated replica of SpaceShipOne, an experimental, private spacecraft that made three successful spaceflights. Observe the beauty of flight. Aviation is made up of more than airplanes and pilots. Photographers and artists have been part of the world of aviation from the beginning. Throughout the museum, there are historic photographs and works of art! Have fun with the whole family. Bring out your inner child in the Kid Venture Gallery, where you can enjoy a variety of interactive activities and exhibits. The centerpiece of this area is the Raptor Gallery, which focuses on some of the remarkable features of the world’s most advanced aircraft, the F-22 Raptor, and offers the opportunity to climb into the cockpit of our half-scale mockup! We look forward to welcoming you soon! EAA Aviation Museum is located at, 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, WI -  https://www.eaa.org/eaa-museum  

In early 1959, the Gates Memorial Library in Port Arthur, TX acquired important historical items, including the first American flag to fly over Port Arthur.  At that time the need for a Museum was evident to many people.  In 1964, the State of Texas chartered the Port Arthur Museum.  The Museum soon outgrew its location and was moved to the Merchant’s National Bank. In 1980, it was relocated again to a wing of the Gates Memorial Library, but that space quickly filled as well. So, in 1987, the Board of Directors adopted a plan to broaden the scope of the Museum to encompass the entire Gulf Coast region. By 1990, the Society had acquired the present Museum building.  Built in 1963, it had formerly served as the First National Bank.  Permanent Exhibits occupy the first two floors, The Museum houses its collections in the bank’s formidable vaults. Between 1991 and 1994, the bank was renovated and Southwest Museum Services began installing exhibits. The Museum of the Gulf Coast opened its doors on July 2, 1994. ​Today - with an increasing emphasis on educational outreach, the Museum hosts thousands of children for school tours, programs, and a summer camp focusing on environmental stewardship.  The Museum also offers “Family Fun Days."  In addition, the Museum serves as a resource for archival documents and photographs for academic researchers as well as local, national, and international media (link to collections). ​The Scope of Exhibits cover 39,000 square feet, containing many exhibits which capture the essence of life along the Upper Gulf Coast. Visitors marvel at the 125-foot mural depicting the area's history from the prehistoric era to the discovery of oil at Spindletop.  ​The Hall of Fame galleries highlight local musicians, athletes, and notable people who have achieved national or international recognition such as Janis Joplin, the Big Bopper, Jimmy Johnson, Karen Silkwood, actress Evelyn Keyes, and artist Robert Rauschenberg.  The museum also includes a wide variety of temporary exhibitions in the Dunn Gallery. https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/halls-of-fame To learn about the Museum of the Gulf Coast and the coast’s rich history visit us soon and check us out online:  https://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/ Address: 700 Procter St., Port Arthur, TX 77640  (Parking & Entrance in back) ​ ​    

Since 1906, the Northern Nevada Railway, in Ely, Nevada has been a logistics hub. Today a vibrant museum experience that takes you inside the inner workings of a railyard. The Museum, is the last of its kind, the sole survivor of a grand era in the Silver State. Now a National Historic Landmark, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum takes you back to a time when the iron horse ruled the rails. It is America’s best-preserved standard-gauge short line and a complete rail facility. In 1983 the railroad ran its last train. Citizens of the town concerned with the economic impacts of the loss of mining and the railroad approached Kennecott with the intent to acquire the railroad and open it as a tourist operation. Though a series of donations the Nevada Northern Railway Museum was formed. When visiting, see the first steam powered passenger excursion left the East Ely Depot Memorial Day weekend 1987 pulled by locomotive #40. You can actually take the Nevada Northern Railway's restored Fairmont Hy-Rail car out on the original Mainline track. This vehicle began life as a very cool 1956 Pontiac Chieftain station wagon. Fairmont converted many of these American family cars into utility vehicles... At the museum experience the thrill of operating a historic Doodlebug railcar with our Be the Engineer program! Take the controls and feel the power of this vintage self-propelled train as you navigate the rails of the Nevada Northern Railway. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for rail enthusiasts of all ages! You’ve heard the stories, read about it, or you’ve seen television programs like Hell on Wheels. But what was it really like to work on the railroad? Here’s your chance to spend a week and find out for yourself what Workin' on the Railroad really means. It’s Hands On... Looking for a unique place to hold your next event? School field trip coming up? Are you looking for a movie location with an authentic 1920's backdrop? Do you want to hold a family reunion aboard a moving train? Need a destination for a very memorable historic automobile rally? A fly-in location for a airplane owners club?Look no further. We can help you with all of this and more. So come and check us online and visit us soon! https://nnry.com/ - 775-289-2085  

The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, is a fascinating institution dedicated to preserving the history and educating visitors about the petroleum industry in the Permian Basin region. A visit to the Museum is an amazing journey through over 230 million years of history. Located in the heart of the Permian Basin, the Petroleum Museum offers interactive education and entertainment for adventurers of all ages. It showcases exhibits on the geology of the area, the technology used in oil exploration and extraction, the impact of the industry on the local economy and culture, and the individuals who have shaped its history. Visitors can explore interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and artifacts that highlight the development of the oil industry in the Permian Basin, which has been a significant contributor to the energy sector in the United States for over a century. From the early wildcatters to the modern innovations in drilling techniques, the museum provides an exciting and comprehensive look at the evolution of the industry and its influence on the region and beyond. In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum often hosts special events, educational programs, and temporary exhibitions that go deeper into various aspects of petroleum exploration, production, and its impact on society and the environment. We are also proud to be a Blue Star Museum! The Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history of the oil industry or seeking to understand the role of energy in shaping the modern world. Please go to our website to see all our upcoming summer exhibits and more! https://petroleummuseum.org/