Groundbreaking moment for new LeMay museum
A major milestone for LeMay - America's Car Museum was reached Monday when the Museum announced that it will break ground on the long anticipated automotive museum in Tacoma, Washington on June 10.
After nearly a decade in development, this significant milestone was reached when the Board of Directors unanimously voted to commence construction on the largest automotive museum in North America. This follows crucial votes by the Tacoma City Council approving the final agreement with the Museum and successful closing on financing this week bringing more than $5 million in new support to the Museum.
President & CEO, David Madeira, commented, “This is an enormous step forward in our efforts to establish America's Car Museum. Building this contemporary home for our institution will act as a centering point for like-minded enthusiasts and complement experiences provided through our Club Auto facilities and the lemaymuseum.org."
Chairman of the LeMay - America's Car Museum Board of Directors, Michael Phillips, noted “This is a significant moment in the Museum’s history. It’s the result of relentless efforts and contributions by our Board of Directors, Steering Committee, generous donors and sponsors. To achieve this important milestone in the current economic environment is a tribute to the creativity and dedication of all those who have tirelessly worked to see the LeMay vision become a reality.”
With the beginning of construction, the Museum will now concentrate on a “Race to the Finish” campaign which will focus on exhibit and educational program development in preparation for the Museum’s Grand Opening in summer 2011.
America's Car Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the LeMay Collection of automobiles and memorabilia, along with vehicles and artifacts it may acquire. The LeMay Collection was recognized in the Guinness Book of World records as the largest privately held car collection in the world. At its peak, the collection was in excess of 3,000 automobiles, motorcycles, trucks and other vehicles, plus more than 30,000 pieces of related 20th century Americana.
Plans are under way to build a brand-new museum campus in Tacoma to feature 1,000 cars and memorabilia. More information is available online at www.lemaymuseum.org.
May we also suggest:
1. Standard Catalog of American Cars, 1805-1942 by Beverly Rae Kimes and Henry Austin Clark, Jr.
2. American Car Spotter's Bible, 1940-1980 by Tad Burness
3. Best of Old Cars Preward CD
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