We are deeply grateful for car museums and the invaluable role they play in preserving automotive history and culture. How else would we see the 1963 Split-Window Corvette up close and in person, which currently resides in the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky? Or the Rudolph Uhlenhaut-designed Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé, one of two prototypes the Mercedes-Benz chief engineer built in 1955 as a road-legal version of the legendary 300 SLR race car?
This is the one with the hallowed title of the world’s most expensive car ever sold, after fetching approximately $143 million at auction in 2022. The truth is the closest most of us will ever get to experiencing these pieces of automotive history is behind the computer and smartphone screens. Thankfully, the other Uhlenhaut Coupe lives at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. You just need a plane ticket – and, maybe, a visa.
We’re also thankful for folks like Manny Balale from Wichita Kansas, who understood that some cars do not belong in a private garage, which is why he donated his beloved Split-Window to the National Corvette Museum where history can be preserved and appreciated by many. Aficionado or just curious? Here are 24 must-see car museums stateside – no visa required.
Henry Ford Museum
- Where: Dearborn, Michigan
The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan celebrates American innovation with a diverse collection of historical vehicles, aviation artifacts, and American memorabilia. The museum hosts a spectacular collection of classic artifacts that provide nothing less than teachable moments from America’s industrial, technological, and cultural advancements…