{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}{{Self-published|date=August 2020}}}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox museum |name = National Automobile Museum |native_name = |native_name_lang = |image = National Automobile Museum Reno.jpg |image_size = 200 |caption = |alt = Entrance on Lake St |map_type = |map_caption = |map_alt = |coordinates = {{Coord|39.52586|N|119.80960|W|source:placeopedia|display=inline,title}} |established = {{Start date and age|1989|11|5}} |dissolved = |location = Reno, Nevada, U.S. |type = Automobile museum |collection_size = 200+ cars<br> Automotive Research Library |visitors = |director = |president = |curator = |public_transit = |network = |website = {{URL|automuseum.org}} }} The '''National Automobile Museum''' is a museum in Reno, Nevada. Most of the vehicles displayed are from the collection of William F. Harrah. The museum opened on November 5, 1989.<ref name=SF>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Michael|title=The Last of Harrah / Enough of Reno tycoon's car collection is left to fill a museum|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cars/article/THE-LAST-OF-HARRAH-Enough-of-Reno-tycoon-s-car-2615491.php|website=SFGate|accessdate=December 25, 2016|date=February 25, 2007}}</ref>
==History== William F. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles, which he stored inside warehouses in Sparks, Nevada. It was the world's largest collection of historic automobiles, and was open to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Automobile Museum {{!}} History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places Smithsonian Magazine|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/museum/national-automobile-museum-EIQ/|access-date=2021-12-30|website=www.smithsonianmag.com}}</ref> When Harrah died in 1978, Holiday Inn acquired his hotel-casino company and the automobile collection.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} In 1981, Holiday Inn announced that it would sell the entire collection, a decision that received some opposition. Nevada governor Robert List attempted to delay the sale while working on a plan to have the state enact legislation that would save the collection. Businessman Thomas Perkins led a group that was interested in purchasing the collection.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} Both efforts to save the collection failed. However, a nonprofit organization was formed that ultimately built the museum. Holiday Inn donated 175 of Harrah's automobiles to the group and sold the rest of the collection through three auctions in the mid-1980s. Private owners donated another 60 vehicles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} The museum opened on November 5, 1989 in downtown Reno, Nevada.<ref name=SF/>
==Collection== The museum has over 200 cars<ref>[http://www.automuseum.org/about.html History tab] at www.automuseum.org</ref> spread over four galleries.<ref name="map" >[http://www.automuseum.org/downloads/MuseumMap.pdf Museum Map] at www.automuseum.org</ref> Gallery 1 showcases cars built during the 1890s & 1900s, Gallery 2 features cars from the 1910s to 1930s, Gallery 3 the 1930s through to the 1950s, and Gallery 4 displays cars from 1950 onward.<ref name="map"/> Gallery 4 also includes race cars. Each gallery is linked by a themed "street", featuring vehicles as well as faux shop fronts.
Celebrity owned cars include:<ref>[http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html Modern Street tab] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325063855/http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html |date=2010-03-25 }} at www.automuseum.org</ref> * Elvis Presley's 1973 Cadillac Eldorado, * Frank Sinatra's 1961 Ghia L6.4, * John F. Kennedy assigned 1962 Lincoln Continental, * John Wayne's 1953 Chevrolet Corvette.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.docrebuild.com/archive/archive53wayne.html|title=John Wayne's 1953 Corvette #51}}</ref>
Movie featured cars include:<ref>[http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html Film Noir tab] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325063855/http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html |date=2010-03-25 }} at www.automuseum.org</ref> * 1892 Philion Road Carriage, from ''The Magnificent Ambersons'', * 1912 Rambler 73-400 Cross-Country, from the 1997 version of ''Titanic'', * 1949 Mercury Eight, driven by James Dean in ''Rebel Without a Cause''.
[[File:Gold-D.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Golden DeLorean at the National Automobile Museum]]
The collection includes examples from marques such as: Auburn, Bugatti, Cord, Duesenberg, Ferrari, Franklin, Jaguar, K-R-I-T, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Pierce-Arrow, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Stutz.<ref>[http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html Auto/Vehicle collection tab] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325063855/http://www.automuseum.org/exhibits.html |date=2010-03-25 }} at www.automuseum.org</ref>
Also on display is one of three 24kt gold plated DeLoreans built for American Express, a "Jerrari", a Jeep Wagoneer fitted with a V-12 Ferrari engine and formerly used for winter driving by William F. Harrah, and the only surviving prototype of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion car. The one-of-a-kind Phantom Corsair is also displayed at the museum.
In addition, the prototype of the '''Aero Car''', which was planned to use a two-cycle engine to drive a propeller, is on display.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025|reason=No mention of any 'Aero Car' on the official website, nor any other site or source regarding the museum.}}
The museum has been named in the 'Top Ten Museums' by ''Car Collector'' magazine, one of "America's Five Greatest Automobile Museums" and one of the top sixteen auto museums in the world by ''AutoWeek'', and has been repeatedly selected as the best museum in Northern Nevada by ''Nevada Magazine'''s annual reader's poll.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{Commons category|National Automobile Museum}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1989 establishments in Nevada Category:Automobile museums in Nevada Category:Museums established in 1989 Category:Museums in Reno, Nevada