AACA Museum explained

AACA Museum
Coordinates:40.2983°N -76.69°W
Location:161 Museum Drive
Hershey, PA
Type:Transportation museum
Collection Size:130
Director:Jeffrey Bliemeister
President:Richard Sills[1]

The AACA Museum is a transportation museum located in Hershey, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum dedicated to the preservation of American automobile history. Despite its name the museum is not affiliated with the Antique Automobile Club of America.

The 71000square feet museum displays over 130 cars, buses, motorcycles, and automobile collectibles in themed settings from the 1890s–1980s. It is an affiliate museum of the Smithsonian Institution,[2] and the American Alliance of Museums.[3] Its major collections include the Cammack Tucker Collection, the world's most extensive collection of Tucker automobiles, and the Museum of Bus Transportation collection.[4] [5]

In 2014, the museum won the NAAMY Award of Excellence from the National Association of Automobile Museums.[6]

Collections

Cammack Tucker Collection

The AACA Museum holds the largest permanent collection of Tucker 48 automobiles in the world. Named for David Cammack, a historian and collector of Tucker automobiles, the entire collection was donated to the AACA Museum from Cammack's personal collection upon his death in 2013.[7]

Museum of Bus Transportation Collection

Alongside the AACA grand opening in 2003, the Museum of Bus Transportation leased space in the museum's lower level to showcase their collection of 22 classic buses.[8] [9] [10] As of 2020, the Museum of Bus Transportation owns roughly 33 buses, most of which are on display in the AACA Museum.

History

AACA Museum, Inc. was formed in 1993 as a public charitable organization with a mission to construct a museum to preserve all forms of historical motor vehicles.[11] In 1996, the incorporation purchased 25 acres of land in Hershey, Pennsylvania to be used as the site for the future museum building. Initial costs for the building were estimated at $11 million, and in 2000, the William J. Cammack Supporting Organization Trust pledged a multi-million dollar testamentary commitment, along with three 1947 Tucker Torpedo automobiles.[12] Much of the rest of the fundraising was accomplished during the AACA annual car shows hosted in Hershey, PA.[13]

The museum opened on June 26, 2003 with roughly 70 cars donated, or on loan from, the club's members. Rather than display their cars in long rows, the AACA Museum incorporated an educational approach in its displays by adding scenery and set designs that complement the period in which each car was built.[14]

In 2013, the museum was named as one of the 12 car museums in the USA worth a detour by MSNBC.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: AACA Museum, Inc. Elects Richard Sills as its New President . 21 May 2020 . AACA Museum . 21 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Affiliate Profile . Smithsonian Affiliations . 21 May 2020.
  3. Web site: Accredited Museums . American Alliance of Museums . 21 May 2020 . en.
  4. News: Perkins . Chris . 12 of the Best Automotive Museums In the US . 21 May 2020 . Road & Track . 2 January 2018.
  5. News: 12 car museums worth a detour . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220110904/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/38344806/ns/travel-destination_travel/t/car-museums-worth-detour#.VXxqgEb0c8I . dead . February 20, 2013 . 21 May 2020 . msnbc.com . 22 July 2010 . en.
  6. Web site: NAAMY Awards 2014 National Association of Automobile Museums . 16 May 2014 . 21 May 2020.
  7. News: Holahan . Jane . Tucker exhibit revs up in Hershey . 21 May 2020 . Intelligencer Journal . 2 Oct 2014.
  8. News: AACA Museum to host opening display in June . 21 May 2020 . The Evening Sun . 29 May 2003 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: McMahon . Thomas . Museum Boasts Variety of Vintage Buses - Management - School Bus Fleet . 21 May 2020 . www.schoolbusfleet.com . 30 Jan 2017.
  10. News: Kolus . Howard . Museum Delivers Tour of Bus History . 21 May 2020 . The Daily News . 3 Nov 2005 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Koons . Chuck . AACA Museum opening caps 10 years of work . 21 May 2020 . The Daily Item . 3 Jul 2003 . Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Kolus . Howard . Car show to benefit planned museum . The Daily News . 21 May 2020 . 16 . 19 July 2001 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: Kolus . Howard . Auto Show Cruises Into Town . 21 May 2020 . The Daily News . 18 Jul 2002 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Stirkey . James . Scenery, sets bring antique cars to life . 21 May 2020 . The Sentinel . 5 Jul 2003 . Newspapers.com.