NJFS... Everyone Welcome to Come Along
Where: The Gilmore Car Museum
Date: September 23rd, 2010
Depart: From Heritage Parking Lot: 8:00 am
Admission per person: $15.00
Lunch: George & Sally's Blue Moon Cafe: (each person pays for their own lunch)
Arrival back to Heritage: approx: 7:00pm-7:30pm
Dreams of finding an “old car in a barn” are a daily reality here.
Nestled on 90 landscaped acres in restored historic barns are over 200 extraordinary vehicles spanning more than 100 years of automotive heritage. Here you will find exhibits ranging from a 1899 Locomobile, to the classic Duesenberg or the elusive Tucker '48, and from the Model T to the muscle cars of the 60s and 70s.
The Gilmore Car Museum began in 1963 as the hobby of Donald S. Gilmore when his wife, Genevieve, gave him an antique car for his birthday —a 1920 Pierce-Arrow “project car.” With the help of some friends, the auto was placed under a tent and a full restoration followed. The hobby soon grew into a collection of over 30 automobiles. Mr. Gilmore purchased 90 acres of farm property and had several historic barns dismantled piece by piece and moved to the site. It was Mr. Gilmore’s wife who suggested the idea of turning the collection into a museum where future generations could enjoy the restored cars for years to come. The Gilmores established a non-profit foundation, and opened the museum to the public for the first time on Sunday, July 31, 1966. Donald Gilmore passed away in 1979, and Mrs. Gilmore in 1990, but the legacy they began continues to grow.
Today, the site includes eight historic barns, a re-created 1930s service station, a small town train station, and nearly three miles of paved roads. It isn’t uncommon for guest to catch a glimpse of one of the vintage cars or the authentic London double-decker bus in motion. And if you visit on a weekend or special show, don’t be surprised if the driver asks you to hop in for a nostalgic road trip! Besides experiencing the wonderful collection of automobiles, you might find yourself reliving (or even making a few) childhood memories viewing the nearly 75 vintage pedal cars on exhibit. One of North America’s largest displays of automotive hood ornaments and name badges can also be found in the combined collections of The Gilmore and CCCA museums.
The Museum is a founding member of the National Association of Automobile Museums, a member of the World Forum of Motor Museums, the Michigan Association of Museums, and the American Association of Museums.
We recommend that you allow at least 2.5 - 3 hours for your visit. You'll want to also allow extra time to visit the Miniature's Museum and have a snack or lunch in our authentic 1941 Blue Moon Diner.
Whether you only have an hour to spend or the better part of a day you will certainly enjoy a remarkable experience here at the Gilmore Car Museum, considered one of the TOP FIVE car museums in the nation. Cameras encouraged!
All buildings are wheelchair accessible with only two upper levels accessed by large ramps. A limited number of wheelchairs are available in the Museum Store for guest use on a first come - first serve basis.
Lunch will be at George & Sally’s BLUE MOON DINER Enjoy our famous Chicago Style Hot Dogs, treat yourself to the best pecan pie around, or indulge in frozen custard. Some people travel several miles for a really good cup of coffee. In 2005 the Gilmore Car Museum brought that really good coffee over 790 miles! The Museum added to its collection a piece of Historic Roadside Americana, a 1941 Silk City Diner formerly known as the "Blue Moon Diner."
For nearly 60 years and countless cups of coffee, this eatery was a roadside landmark in Meridan, CT, serving locals and weary travelers alike. This remarkably well-preserved diner was located by the Museum in the fall of 2003 and has traveled 790 miles from its original location in Connecticut to Cleveland, OH to undergo a partial restoration, then continued on to the Gilmore Car Museum. It arrived amongst great fanfare June 3, 2004.
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