The AACA Museum in Hershey Pennsylvania

An American Industry & Commerce Travel Itinerary

Cruising through Time with Eighty Years of Vintage Vehicles

The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania opened its doors in June 2003, with over 100 cars, motorcycles plus memorabilia, collectibles, and special exhibits.

Preserving America’s Antique Automobiles

Vehicles of all types 25 years or older are welcome in the AACA.  In 1993, the AACA started a nonprofit organization to further preserve these antique automobiles and educate the public.

AACA One of Only Two US Automotive Museums Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution

American History unfolds as decade after decade of car models, memorabilia, and collectibles come to life.  Over eight decades of cars are displayed in themed settings such as the Golden Gate Bridge, an Art Deco hotel, a gas service station, a covered bridge, Battery Park in New York, and more. From the timeless beauty and classic elegance of Model T’s and Thunderbirds, to the rough and tumble of muscle cars and motorcycles, to the romance of rumble seats, visitors are transported through time in sections that represent the decades.  America’s love affair with the automobile is constant and ever growing. 

Late 1800s the Benton Harbor Motorcycle is a rare survivor from the pioneer period of American automobile development.  Restoration research revealed that this may be the first vehicle in America built from scratch as an automobile as opposed to construction on a modified horse-drawn carriage. 

A replica of the1896 Ford Quadricycle is on display on the Museum’s Lower Level; Ford’s first self-propelled vehicle received its name from its use of four standard bicycle wheels.   

Early 1900s The Alphabet Ford Collection Henry Ford changed the world when he introduced the model T in 1909.  This remarkable vehicle was standardized and mass-produced.  At one time, over half the cars on the road were Model T’s. Some of these Fords were produced in limited numbers and are quite rare. On display on the lower level of the Museum are: 1903 Model A, 1904 Model B, 1905 Model C, 1906 Model F, 1907 Model R, 1908 Model K, 1908 Model S, 1909 Model T.    

1920s during this decade automobile production levels reached a high that would not be seen again until the 1950’s.  Lower priced cars such as the Whippet, Model A, and Plymouth helped keep many manufacturers stay in business during the Depression.  At the AACA Museum visitors can see a 1928 Oldsmobile Model F28 Roadster, a Stearns Knight Five Passenger Sports Sedan, and a 1926 Packard Five Passenger Touring.  Other areas of the Museum feature a 1924 Graham Brothers 1 ½-ton truck and a 1929 Stearns-Knight J-8-90 Seven Passenger Sedan.

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1930s a decade that represents the highpoint of American automotive design with decorative bodies and flashy interiors.  Car design followed the Art Deco inspired architecture of the period.  Autos on display include the 1930 Dupont Model G Convertible, 1930 Cord L-29 Convertible, a 1936 Chrysler C-9 Airflow and a 1935 Brewster four door sedan.  In other areas of the Museum, visitors can see a 1930 Buick Special, Series 40, and a 1935 Autocar 1200 gallon Fuel Tanker.      

1940s a decade divided by pre-war, war production, and post war.  Vehicle production stopped in 1942 as manufacturers converted to support the war effort.  After the war, most manufacturers re-introduced their old models to the market that would by any new car available.  AACA displays a gas station with the interior open for viewing.  Also on display: a 1940 Ford Deluxe Convertible Coupe and a 1941 Packard Clipper Nineteenth Series.   

1950s America emerges from World War II economically strengthened and automobile production sets new records.  Power, size and luxury dictate the auto’s development for this decade.  While large cars mark the era, the domestic compact car begins with the Nash Rambler. The Drive-In was a popular place for people to congregate in their cars to watch movies on an outdoors big screen.  Part of the fun was the late night adventure.  AACA’s Drive-In scene has a variety of 50’s vehicles including a 1954 Corvette Convertible and a 1956 Chevrolet step-side pick-up truck.   

1960s Manufacturers focus on internal brand identity, building new types of vehicles: personal luxury, muscle cars, pony cars, and cars with special packaging.  Consumer demands and government regulations dictate changes in the industry.  On display: the 1969 AMC AMX muscle car, a 1965 Chevy Corvair Convertible, a 1968 Cadillac El Dorado and more.  

1970s a decade of reaction and change for the auto industry.  The muscle car was eliminated by the threat of rising insurance rates, government regulations, and oil shortages.  Imported cars become serious competition for Detroit. A variety of different vehicles are featured for this decade.

From Roads to Rails travel back in time as O-gauge trains chug through the idyllic Pennsylvania countryside and multiple scenes reminiscent of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.      

The Museum of Bus Transportation has partnered with the Antique Auto Club of America Museum to provide museum quality displays of the bus industry - intercity, transit, and school - for the public.  It also serves to showcase the industry’s growth and development in the United States and celebrate the role that the bus industry continues to play in mobility and progress of the American public. 

The Motorbus Industry Occupies a Vital Place in America’s Everyday Life

In rural areas and in the thousands of towns and cities across the nation buses provide personal transport, carrying more persons daily than all other public modes of transportation put together. Until recently there was no national showplace for this industry to show and tell its story. The building and evolution of this industry provides a fascinating story of invention, entrepreneurship and the effort of thousands of people risking their time and capital in the hope of creating a profitable business. 

The Flo Inn Café’ diners were a place where you could get the best breakfast for the best price and could be assured a full plate of whatever you ordered, straight from the kitchen, made to order.  Coffee was always available fresh from the pot, hot, and served with a smile.  The chef and waitresses were a part of the atmosphere and “regulars” were known by their first names.  Here is where you caught up with local news, learned of the latest gossip, and started the day with friendly camaraderie. The Flo Inn Café, owned and operated by Florence Fortnoy, is an actual diner that operated from 1948 to 1983 at 2305 East Central, Wichita, Kansas.  A small wall safe located just inside the door identifies this as a Valentine Diner, Aristocrat model, made in Kansas in 1940.  This model was designed to be easy to operate, sold fully equipped, and was moveable, if need be, to a new location if business dropped. Outside the diner is a parked car of the era, a 1941 Plymouth P12, Convertible Coupe.  

Special AACA Museum Features

The World’s Largest Collection of Tucker Automobiles the enthusiasm and creativity that propelled Preston Tucker and his vision for the Tucker automobile is something that has captured the hearts of many. The AACA Museum is home to the David Cammack Collection which includes three 1948 Tucker '48 vehicles, the factory Tucker test chassis, thousands of engineering drawings and blueprints, original Tucker parts, several engines and many other artifacts and displays.

Of the 51 original Tuckers produced, on 49 have survived and remain in existence.   Of these, 3 are on display at the AACA Museum including Tucker #1001 the very first production Tucker and the ONLY surviving Tucker with automatic transmission.

Connect for Industry and Commerce Itineraries

 in Hershey and Pennsylvania

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US Mid-Atlantic Destinations

Philadelphia Hershey Harrisburg Washington DC Maryland and the Brandywine Valley

Philadelphia Among the many sights to take in when visiting the first capital of the United States: The Liberty Bell Center which houses the American Revolution’s defining symbol, the site of the meetings of Congress and the Constitutional Convention at the City Tavern in the Old City as well as Carpenters Hall. In Declaration House, visitors can see where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and Independence Hall where it was eventually signed.

Where History is Still Being Made

The Arts in 1805 an art collector, believing Philadelphia the best place for the encouragement of artistic taste, offered the city numerous paintings, sculptures, engravings and other art work. To accept the gift the city formed the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art school and museum in the United States. The Philadelphia Museum of Art was founded in 1876 to maintain the art exhibits from the Centennial Exposition. It holds over 225,000 pieces of artwork including work by van Gogh, Picasso, and Marcel Duchamp. Nearby is the Rodin Museum, founded in 1929, with the largest collection of Rodin works outside of France.

Philadelphia has more public art than any other American city

The inclusion of decorative art in city structures goes back to the 19th century. In 1872, the Fairmount Park Art Association became the first private association in the United States dedicated to integrating public art and urban planning. With more murals than any other U.S. city, the Mural Arts Program has funded over 2,300 murals created by professional, staff and volunteer artists.

Food the city’s culinary tradition was shaped by several ethnic groups. Cheese stake and soft pretzels are well known icons of the city. The 1970s saw a restaurant renaissance that is continuing into the 21st century. Other Philadelphia food traditions include:

The hoagie a sandwich made of meat and cheese with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions

Pepper Pot, a soup of tripe, meat and vegetables dating from the Revolutionary War era

Snapper Soup a thick brown turtle soup served with sherry.

Sustainability In the city of Philadelphia, the waterfront is now a 6-mile walking and biking destination. Trail features include streetscape improvements along the entire waterfront trail, a bi-directional bikeway, pedestrian walkway and rain gardens that collect the first inch of storm water, relieving the city sewer system during major weather events, as well as benches, bike racks, decorative street pavers and innovative solar trail lighting. Center City offers a thriving culture and entertainment scene as well as contemporary arts museum with training programs and study tours for students, aspiring artists and family traveling. 

Hershey Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River Valley

The Susquehanna River is 464 miles (747 km) long and is the longest river on the US East Coast. With its watershed, it is the 16th-largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United States without commercial boat traffic today. In the Canal Era, navigation improvements were made to enhance the river for barge shipping of bulk goods by water on the Pennsylvania Canal.

Harrisburg, the Capital of Pennsylvania, was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 3000 BC. Known as Peixtin, the area was an important trading post for Native American traders, as trails leading from the Delaware to the Ohio Rivers, and from the Potomac to the Upper Susquehanna intersected there.

Hershey is a year-round, world class travel destination with an amusement park, exclusive resorts and family attractions. In 1906, Milton Hershey opened Hershey Park as a place where his chocolate factory’s workers and their families could relax and be entertained. Surrounded by some of America’s most productive dairy farms, the world’s first modern chocolate factory and model town is a real community.

The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania opened its doors in June 2003, with over 100 cars, motorcycles plus memorabilia, collectibles, and special exhibits.

Preserving America’s Antique Automobiles

Vehicles of all types 25 years or older are welcome in the AACA.  In 1993, the AACA started a nonprofit organization to further preserve these antique automobiles and educate the public.

The Wineries and Breweries of the Hershey Harrisburg Region invite guests to go beyond just tasting the wines. Learn more about the process and walk away with a deeper appreciation of wine making and Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage. Experience the rich tastes of each winery’s blends, ciders and specialty collections. The region is also home to many small batch brewers who are following their dreams and creating trendy, welcoming spaces for beer-lovers to appreciate their favorite brews. 

                                           Washington DC and Maryland

The Washington, DC area, both in the US capital city and its suburban communities, has a unique local economy driven by government spending that has also fueled the development of downtown and neighborhood construction. This in turn has spawned a demand for nightlife and weekend amenities for both a highly educated and environmentally conscious local population and out of town visitors.

Washington, DC

Historic sites and museums The National Mall is a large, open park area in the center of the city. Located in the center of the Mall are the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Pier. Also, located on the mall are the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial at the east end of the Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Located directly south of the mall, the Tidal Basin features rows of Japanese Cherry Blossoms blossom trees that were presented as gifts from the nation of Japan. The FDR Memorial and Jefferson Memorial are located around the Tidal Basin.

The U Street Corridor in Northwest D.C., known as "Washington's Black Broadway", is home to institutions like Bohemian Caverns and the Lincoln Theatre. Other jazz venues feature modern blues such as Madam's Organ in Adams Morgan and Blues Alley in Georgetown. D.C.

Potomac River Trails

The Lower Potomac, Anacostia, Patuxent and Wicomico rivers are among the major waterways in the region, but hundreds of smaller streams, creeks and rivers abound providing numerous opportunities for recreational boating.

Anacostia River Watershed 176 square mile area of land encompasses most of the eastern half of the District of Columbia and large portions of Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland. The Anacostia has 13 major tributary creeks and streams - many with their own sub-watershed citizen advocacy groups; it starts near Bladensburg, MD, and runs for 8.5 miles before meeting the Potomac River at Hains Point in Washington, DC.

Anacostia River Trails and Port Towns The word Anacostia is derived from the Nacotchtank Indian word anaquash; it means village trading center. In the 18th century the port at Bladensburg, Maryland, was 40 feet deep and served as a major center for colonial shipping fleets. Today, at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, site of the old port, the water often measures 3 feet deep or less. In the 18th century, the Anacostia River flowed through 2,500 acres of tidal wetlands. Today, less than 150 acres of wetland remain.

Annapolis Hammond-Harwood House an 18^th Century Arts & Architecture Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. The gentleman planter Matthias Hammond began work in 1774 with renowned architect William Buckland on plans for a new, elegant townhouse in the most fashionable area of Annapolis.

An Anglo-Palladian Mansion Featuring Woodcarving and Plasterwork 

Reading and Writing History Designed to give high school students a hands-on lesson about Colonial American history. The program is divided up into three mini-sessions each with its own goals: a colonial house tour, an introduction to history resources, and a session of hands-on group study. The program covers topics which include common and indentured laborers, slave life, the life of craftsmen, gentry activities and leisure time, decorative arts, and architecture. Other topics may be added on request. 

Historic Ships in Baltimore

half-day programs provide an immersive hands-on historic experience with a twenty-first century applicability that encourages team-work, problem solving, and learning. Each program provides introductory ship tours, after which students focus on two of areas of the ship and begin to develop a more specialized vocabulary and skill set.  At the end of their 2 ½-hour program, learning is reinforced in a written exercise and assessment.  Assessment results are forwarded to the teacher.  Each program provides a uniquely different approach toward reading, listening, development and reinforcement, involve hands-on activities and are fun, including a live-firing of one of the USS Constellation’s cannons.

The Brandywine Valley

Development & Conservancy Issues In the 1960s, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in the historic Brandywine Valley, faced a possible massive industrial development that would impact a largely rural community.  Also, development plans in floodplain areas threatened to devastate water supplies for numerous communities in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. In 1971, the Conservancy opened a museum in the renovated Hoffman’s Mill, a former gristmill built in 1864, part of the Conservancy’s first preservation efforts.  It contains an unparalleled collection of American art with emphasis on the art of the Brandywine region, illustration, still life and landscape painting, and the work of the Wyeth family.