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.
Planning Your Trip assumes uniquely local dimensions wherever
you go; the activities that you, the visitor – local, or global – select
and irrespective of the length of your stay, are unique of the community you
are visiting and rooted into the local economy, history and traditions.
Knowledge Tourism develops
personalized travel itineraries based on client interests by
leveraging an in-depth knowledge of your
destination, superior client service in the planning stages and throughout the
trip or event as well as logistics expertise to reduce accommodations and transport
costs and transfer times.
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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