This week I’m in Dayton, Ohio, for the National Association of Automobile Museums’ (NAAM) annual conference. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend every year for the last 6 years, despite being a member since 2017.

When I started Miles Through Time Automotive Museum in 2017, NAAM was the only organization I could find that had anything to do with car museums. Eventually, I also discovered the World Forum For Motor Museums WFFMM as well.

For three years, I was a member of NAAM, but I couldn’t really do much with the membership. I operated the museum alone, and the expense and time it took to go to the conference just wasn’t an option for me at the time.

I joined NAAM because I wanted Miles Through Time to be a real museum, and I thought being a part of a “museum” organization would somehow validate my museum’s status.

When I reminisce, nine years later, it is easy to recognize my membership meant nothing, until I actually got involved. Once I was able to start going to the annual conference and meet people from various museums all over the country, things began to change.

Today, Miles Through Time has had vehicles donated by 5 different automotive museums throughout the country. Some of the museums have donated multiple vehicles and only one museum donated because they were closing. 

Getting involved and going all in has been what has made all of this possible. Nine years ago, it would have been hard for me to comprehend how we’d get to where we are today. Now, I have a clear vision of where we need to go to ensure the museum outlasts me. You can see the vision HERE.

This week I’ll be spending most of my time at America’s Packard Museum. I had an opportunity to visit this museum a few years ago and I was impressed. The building is super cool, which is always a bonus for me, and there were more than Packards on display. There was a DeLorean which was cool, especially when you discover why.

The National Museum of the Air Force is another I got to go to a few years ago and will go back to this week. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. It is HUGE, plus it’s free to visit. There are multiple military vehicles on display. There were even some themed, customized cars when I was there last. Plus, the aircraft are cool.

Collection 21 is a museum I have not been able to visit yet. I’ll be driving right by it, but the private collection of over 200 vehicles is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.  

Visit as many museums as possible and try to get involved where you can. You will help make a difference, I promise. The volunteers at Miles Through Time have made a major impact on the museum and our visitors.

If you want to see more, visit the Weekly 3.

Plan your next trip, discover your new favorite, or find the nearest museum

 Sean Mathis
Creator of Automotive Museum Guide
Founder of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum

P.S. Make sure you follow AMG on Facebook and join the FB Group to see what’s going on at all the museums.