My post about car museums in Michigan has been quite popular. Therefore, I decided to write another one on the subject, this time focusing on Ohio.
Ohio, at current time, is not a home to any car manufacturer. But in the past, the state had number of auto companies located within its borders. Some of the first automobile manufacturers were located in Ohio. Among them were: Baker Motor Vehicle Company, Packard Motor Company, Peerless Motor Vehicle Company, White Motor Company and Winton Motor Car Company.
Some of these companies became part of General Motors Corporation in the early twentieth century.
Also in Ohio, the Dayton resident, Charles F. Kettering, invented the electric starter, which revolutionized the early automotive industry.
General Motors and Ford Motor Company have been operating number of different manufacturing sites in the state.
So, Ohio, to some degree can be considered an automotive state, too.
Therefore, there is no surprise, that there are several museums dedicated to automotive history. From classic car museum, to motorcycle, to specific brand, like Packard, you find a variety worth checking.
They are located all over the state. So, if you are a car history buff, it might be worth going on a week-long trip to visit them all.
Cleveland Area
CANTON CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM
123 6th St SW, Canton, OH 44702, (330) 455-3603.
Canton, located little over 10 miles south of Akron, is a home to a classic car museum established by the late Marsh Belden Sr. The museum houses 45 unusual classic and special-interest automobiles.
“The museum currently exhibits forty rare and unusual classic and special interest automobiles. The gorgeous vehicles are complemented by the thousands of pieces of historical memorabilia displayed throughout the museum.”
Open daily from 10 am. to 5 pm. Admission fee. cantonclassiccar.org
Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum
10825 East Boulevard | Cleveland, Ohio 44106 | 216-721-5722.
The museum is part of Cleveland History Center located in Cleveland, OH.
“The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum of the Western Reserve Historical Society depicts the automobile at various stages of development, both on a national and regional level. Its automobiles and artifacts are the centerpieces of two major exhibits at the Cleveland History Center in University Circle: Setting the World in Motion and REVolution: The Automobile in America. “
The museum exhibits over 170 antique automobiles, 21 non-car transportation artifacts (motorcycles, bicycles, and boats), 12 aircraft, and 3 carriages and sleighs.
Open from Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Admission fee. https://www.wrhs.org/research/crawford/
NATIONAL PACKARD MUSEUM
1899 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, OH 44483, 330-394-1899.
Warren, OH is the town where the first Packard was built. The museum features models ranging from the 1903 Old Pacific to a 1958 Hawk.
“The museum houses a rotating display of original and restored Packard automobiles as well as original documents, photographs, artifacts, and interpretive materials that chronicle the illustrious history of the Packard family, the Packard Motor Car Company, and the Packard Electric Company.”
Some of the vehicles in permanent collection include: 1903 “Old Pacific”, 1911 Model 30 Detroit Fire Department Squad Car, 1936 Business Coupe, 1939 TWELVE Touring Sedan, 1950 Deluxe Sedan, 1951 Pan American Show Car.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday – noon to 5 pm, Sunday – 1 to 5 pm. Admission fee. http://packardmuseum.org/
Columbus Area
MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME
13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, Ohio 43147. (614) 856-2222.
Pickerington is located few miles east of Columbus.
The museum features 300 motorcycles, riding gear, and a lot of other related memorabilia.
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee. motorcyclemuseum.org
Toledo Area
SNOOK’S DREAM CARS
13920 County Home Road, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. (419) 353-8338.
The museum, housed in a replica of a 1940’s-era Texaco gas station, exhibits number of iconic cars from the 1930s to 1960s.
Open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission fee. snooksdreamcars.com
Dayton Area
America’s Packard Museum
420 South Ludlow St, Dayton, OH. 937-226-1710.
“America’s Packard Museum is the only restored Packard Dealership operating as a full-time museum. It houses the largest collection of Packard automobiles and memorabilia in the world, with cars from 1903 to 1958.”
Open 7 days a week noon to 5 pm. Admission fee. http://www.americaspackardmuseum.com/
British Transportation Museum
321 Hopeland St. Dayton, Ohio, 45417. 937-546-0039.
“The British Transportation Museum is an educational institution established to collect, preserve, and interpret through exhibits the history of British built transportation vehicles utilized in the United States.”
The BTM’s current collection includes 40+ vehicles and 15+ bicycles.
Open Mondays 10-4 p.m. https://www.britishtransportationmuseum.org/
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If you are interested in car museum in other states, you can read my post about places in Michigan here: Car Museums in Michigan
