The Gilmore Car Museum - Michigan USA
History
To accommodate Donald Gilmore's collection, he acquired 90 acres of land in southwestern Michigan in a small town known as Hickory Corners. It was his wife, Genevieve, who had the idea of turning the collection into a museum, providing future generations access to Donald’s one-of-a-kind collection. They established a non-profit foundation and opened the museum to the public for the first time on Sunday, July 31, 1966.
Today, the Gilmore Car Museum is North America’s largest auto museum with over 400 vehicles on display and over 190,000 square feet of exhibit space. The Museum’s 90 acre Historic Campus features numerous vintage structures, including a restored and fully-functioning 1941 Silk City Diner, a recreated 1930s Shell Station, six onsite Partner Museums, and so much more.
The Gilmore Car Museum is a founding member of the National Association of Automobile Museums, as well as a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, the Michigan Museums Association, and the MotorCities National Heritage Area - and affiliate of the National Park Service.
Opened in 1966 with 35 cars on display
The Gilmore Car Museum started in 1963 as the hobby of Kalamazoo businessman Donald Gilmore, and opened to the public as a non-profit museum in July 31, 1966 with 35 cars on display. Gilmore was the Chairman of the Upjohn Company at the time. The Gilmore Car Museum is a public, 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the automobile in America.
The Museum is open year round and the Historic Campus and outer buildings are open from April 1 through to November 30. Daily admission is required. Pre-registered educational school groups are free, as well as active military members. To get the most of a visit, it is suggested to allow a minimum of 4 to 6 hours for exploring. There are two dining options, the Blue Moon Diner, or during the winter months, the Heritage Cafe. See below.
The museum is handicap accessible, including two personal elevators allowing access to second floors. A limited number of wheelchairs (free) and mobility scooters (a daily rental fee) are available for those who may need assistance. Please ask one of our Museum Store attendants upon your arrival for assistance. The Gilmore Car Museum is just twenty minutes from I-94 and US-131, located midway between Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Lansing, Michigan. More than 112,000 guests, from all over the world, visit the Museum annually.
To accommodate Donald Gilmore's collection, he acquired 90 acres of land in southwestern Michigan in a small town known as Hickory Corners. It was his wife, Genevieve, who had the idea of turning the collection into a museum, providing future generations access to Donald’s one-of-a-kind collection. They established a non-profit foundation and opened the museum to the public for the first time on Sunday, July 31, 1966.
Today, the Gilmore Car Museum is North America’s largest auto museum with over 400 vehicles on display and over 190,000 square feet of exhibit space. The Museum’s 90 acre Historic Campus features numerous vintage structures, including a restored and fully-functioning 1941 Silk City Diner, a recreated 1930s Shell Station, six onsite Partner Museums, and so much more.
The Gilmore Car Museum is a founding member of the National Association of Automobile Museums, as well as a member of the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association for State and Local History, the Michigan Museums Association, and the MotorCities National Heritage Area - and affiliate of the National Park Service.
Opened in 1966 with 35 cars on display
The Gilmore Car Museum started in 1963 as the hobby of Kalamazoo businessman Donald Gilmore, and opened to the public as a non-profit museum in July 31, 1966 with 35 cars on display. Gilmore was the Chairman of the Upjohn Company at the time. The Gilmore Car Museum is a public, 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of the automobile in America.
The Museum is open year round and the Historic Campus and outer buildings are open from April 1 through to November 30. Daily admission is required. Pre-registered educational school groups are free, as well as active military members. To get the most of a visit, it is suggested to allow a minimum of 4 to 6 hours for exploring. There are two dining options, the Blue Moon Diner, or during the winter months, the Heritage Cafe. See below.
The museum is handicap accessible, including two personal elevators allowing access to second floors. A limited number of wheelchairs (free) and mobility scooters (a daily rental fee) are available for those who may need assistance. Please ask one of our Museum Store attendants upon your arrival for assistance. The Gilmore Car Museum is just twenty minutes from I-94 and US-131, located midway between Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Lansing, Michigan. More than 112,000 guests, from all over the world, visit the Museum annually.
The Blue Moon Diner & Heritage Cafe
Step back in time in our authentic 1941 Diner and is open from April to November. Here you’ll find amazing Chicago and Coney-style hot dogs, soups and sandwiches, Blue Plate specials, and typical diner fare from a bygone era. Make sure you leave room for a slice of decadent homemade pie or a cone of rich, creamy old-fashioned frozen custard! The Heritage Cafe is open from December to March each year, and you can order sandwiches, salads, wraps and a coffee.
Grounds
The museum is situated on 90 landscaped acres in rural southwest Michigan. The collection is housed in a recreated factory building from the turn of the century, and within a campus of several historic buildings, which include eight restored 19th century barns, an authentic operating 1940s diner, a recreated 1930s Shell gas station, and a train depot from the 1890s. There are also recreated auto dealerships include a Franklin dealership from around 1918, a Model A Ford dealership from 1928, a 1930s Lincoln, and a 1948 Cadillac dealership.
There are nearly three miles of paved roadways, on which antique cars, as well as the Museum’s London Taxi, Checker Cab, Model T, or the London Double Decker bus can often be seen traveling. Since 2004, the Museum has invested over $15 million toward infrastructure and expanding its campus by nine new structures, bringing the museum total to nearly 200,000 square feet. It also added a highly regarded high school mentoring program, and created an automotive research library / archive open to the public. George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner, an authentic 1941 diner, opened for business on site in 2005. In total, the Museum features over 190,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Exhibits
Approximately 400 automobiles from all eras are displayed with a total combined collection of over 500 vehicles. The oldest car on exhibit is an 1899 Locomobile Steam Car. The one of-a-kind enlarged movie set from the 1967 Disney feature film, “The Gnome-mobile”, and a 1930 Rolls Royce were personal gifts from Walt Disney. There are over 100 vintage pedal cars on display. The Museum houses one of the largest displays of automotive mascots and name badges in North America, with more than 1,500 items on display.
Eight collections on site
Classic Car Club of America Museum, Pierce-Arrow Foundation Museum, Midwest Miniatures Museum, The H.H. Franklin Collection, Model A Ford Museum, Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum, Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum, Checker Motors Historical Records and Archives.
Step back in time in our authentic 1941 Diner and is open from April to November. Here you’ll find amazing Chicago and Coney-style hot dogs, soups and sandwiches, Blue Plate specials, and typical diner fare from a bygone era. Make sure you leave room for a slice of decadent homemade pie or a cone of rich, creamy old-fashioned frozen custard! The Heritage Cafe is open from December to March each year, and you can order sandwiches, salads, wraps and a coffee.
Grounds
The museum is situated on 90 landscaped acres in rural southwest Michigan. The collection is housed in a recreated factory building from the turn of the century, and within a campus of several historic buildings, which include eight restored 19th century barns, an authentic operating 1940s diner, a recreated 1930s Shell gas station, and a train depot from the 1890s. There are also recreated auto dealerships include a Franklin dealership from around 1918, a Model A Ford dealership from 1928, a 1930s Lincoln, and a 1948 Cadillac dealership.
There are nearly three miles of paved roadways, on which antique cars, as well as the Museum’s London Taxi, Checker Cab, Model T, or the London Double Decker bus can often be seen traveling. Since 2004, the Museum has invested over $15 million toward infrastructure and expanding its campus by nine new structures, bringing the museum total to nearly 200,000 square feet. It also added a highly regarded high school mentoring program, and created an automotive research library / archive open to the public. George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner, an authentic 1941 diner, opened for business on site in 2005. In total, the Museum features over 190,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Exhibits
Approximately 400 automobiles from all eras are displayed with a total combined collection of over 500 vehicles. The oldest car on exhibit is an 1899 Locomobile Steam Car. The one of-a-kind enlarged movie set from the 1967 Disney feature film, “The Gnome-mobile”, and a 1930 Rolls Royce were personal gifts from Walt Disney. There are over 100 vintage pedal cars on display. The Museum houses one of the largest displays of automotive mascots and name badges in North America, with more than 1,500 items on display.
Eight collections on site
Classic Car Club of America Museum, Pierce-Arrow Foundation Museum, Midwest Miniatures Museum, The H.H. Franklin Collection, Model A Ford Museum, Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum, Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum, Checker Motors Historical Records and Archives.
Volunteer
The Gilmore Car Museum offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for volunteers. This is the place to share our love of cars and history with people from all over the nation. Volunteer with us and you’ll join a fun team—as a non-profit we rely on a lot of great volunteers—and you’ll spend your time helping care for our incredible collection, exclusive venues, and beautiful 90-acre campus. To become part of this critical program, as a mentor, student, or as a financial supporter, please contact Fred Colgren in our Education Office or call 269-671-5089 Ext. 21.
Gilmore Garage Works
Backed by generous donors and fueled by the passions of a team of mentors, the museum launched the Gilmore Garage Works after-school enrichment program in the Fall of 2009. Today our mentors provide insight-filled instruction in automotive technology, giving students skills in welding, painting, and fabrication. The goal: guide students down career paths while developing in them an appreciation for automotive history, as well as the soft skills of personal responsibility, consistent attendance, and the importance of personal presentation. Students leave the Gilmore Garage Works program with a resume, a portfolio, and personal letters of recommendation—as well as self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Phone: +1 269-671-5089 Address: 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners MI 49060 United States.
www.gilmorecarmuseum.admission fees
www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/events-calendar
www.youtube.com-gilmore car museum adds some muscle
www.youtube.com-gilmore car museum hickory corners michigan
www.google.com-gilmore museum reviews www.gilmorecarmuseum.org
Note: Photos were provided by Jay Follis, Marketing Director, Gilmore Museum in May 2020.
The Gilmore Car Museum offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for volunteers. This is the place to share our love of cars and history with people from all over the nation. Volunteer with us and you’ll join a fun team—as a non-profit we rely on a lot of great volunteers—and you’ll spend your time helping care for our incredible collection, exclusive venues, and beautiful 90-acre campus. To become part of this critical program, as a mentor, student, or as a financial supporter, please contact Fred Colgren in our Education Office or call 269-671-5089 Ext. 21.
Gilmore Garage Works
Backed by generous donors and fueled by the passions of a team of mentors, the museum launched the Gilmore Garage Works after-school enrichment program in the Fall of 2009. Today our mentors provide insight-filled instruction in automotive technology, giving students skills in welding, painting, and fabrication. The goal: guide students down career paths while developing in them an appreciation for automotive history, as well as the soft skills of personal responsibility, consistent attendance, and the importance of personal presentation. Students leave the Gilmore Garage Works program with a resume, a portfolio, and personal letters of recommendation—as well as self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Phone: +1 269-671-5089 Address: 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners MI 49060 United States.
www.gilmorecarmuseum.admission fees
www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/events-calendar
www.youtube.com-gilmore car museum adds some muscle
www.youtube.com-gilmore car museum hickory corners michigan
www.google.com-gilmore museum reviews www.gilmorecarmuseum.org
Note: Photos were provided by Jay Follis, Marketing Director, Gilmore Museum in May 2020.