Auto Museum Draws Large Crowds On Opening Day

Harold LeMay?s Dream Realized As Car Museum Opens - It was a historic day that many had waited years for. June 2 marked the opening of LeMay ? America?s Car Museum (ACM). The opening attracted thousands of visitors to the 165,000 sq. ft., four-level museum that features panoramic views of Tacoma, Washington. To learn more about other dealer services, visit Georgia Ford. Famous attendees to the museum?s debut included General Motors Vice President of Design Ed Welburn, Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen, Tonight Show host Jay Leno, jewelry magnate Nicola Bulgari, Seattle Mariners? baseball star Edgar Martinez, along with car aficionados, museum fans, and plenty of families.

?This is a world-class museum,? said ACM President and CEO David Madeira. ?Nothing in North America compares to our campus, which is why families have traveled from around Puget Sound, the Pacific Northwest and throughout the U.S. just to be part of this celebration. We?ve created a fun destination in addition to a beautiful museum. We?ve got our 3.5 acre Haub Family Field to host concerts, car shows, civic events and even drive-in movies. We have an educational center that will attract 100,000 school kids each year and unique exhibits that blend cars, music, film and photos. And all of this is centered around preserving history and creating a thriving museum at the heart of the world?s automotive culture.?

The museum, which managed to raise over $60 million during an economic slump, broke ground in June, 2010. Now, two years later, the museum is open and is expected to pump an estimated $34 million to the local economy. Exhibits include the collections of Nicola Bulgari, the British invasion of the ?60s, alternate propulsion, the classic car era, Indy cars, Ferrari in America, and Tacoma?s Harold LeMay, whose large collection of vehicles were the genesis of the museum 14 years ago. OR Nissan offers value and service for all your automotive needs. At that time, the Guinness Book of World Records assessed LeMay?s collection as containing more than 3,000 cars, trucks, and motorcycles. The collection offers cars ranging from a 1916 Pierce Arrow to a 1956 Chevy two-door hardtop.

?My husband never met a car he didn?t like,? said Nancy LeMay about Harold, who passed away in 2000 at age 81. ?We created initial fundraising plans in 1998 to memorialize a portion of the collection. Today he would be so proud to see his dream become a reality and have his passion for cars displayed in such an amazing setting.? ?Everybody remembers their first car, family driving vacations, a sports car they fell in love with as a teenager,? said Madeira. Personal experiences are part of life in America, and with the assistance of the Harold and Nancy LeMay collection, we?re showcasing more than a century of automotive history.

The grand opening celebration included a free concert from Grammy winners Asleep at the Wheel, as well as a traditional American Indian blessing from the Puyallup Nation. In addition to the museum, the ACM Campus includes a 3.5-acre show field, a collector car center, a banquet hall, a meeting space, galleries, car storage facilities, a caf?/restaurant, and administrative offices. Arlington Acura provides excellent service for new car shoppers. The museum was kicked off by a $15 million donation from Nancy LeMay and a donation by the city of Tacoma of 10 acres of land valued at approximately $17 million. The largest corporate donor is AAA Washington, with a donation of $1.6 million in 2008. Other corporate donors include Boeing, Bonhams, The News Tribune, and State Farm Insurance.

Photos courtesy of LeMay ? America?s Car Museum.

Tags: Harold LeMay, Georgia Ford, car museum, Tacoma, OR Nissan, classic cars, car collectors, sports cars, Arlington Acura, auto history

Tagged as: Arlington Acura, auto history, car collectors, car museum, classic cars, Georgia Ford, Harold LeMay, OR Nissan, sports cars, Tacoma

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