Can you imagine being 105 years old?

I still remember it like yesterday. It was the end of 2016, and I was forced to decide whether to start the museum I had talked about or walk away. Ultimately, I decided to go for it, despite every logical reason screaming at me to not do it.

Miles Through Time Automotive Museum officially opened in 2017. I spent three years trying to create some sort of worthy museum. I will admit, it was very difficult and many times discouraging.

Nevertheless, I pushed on and time continued to pass. Before I knew it, the museum had been open for three years. Then I had to start over and create an entire museum again. This time, the difference was, I already had a brand, and now I wasn’t alone.

Also, instead of opening a museum with only one car, we had 5. Very quickly, we had as many that could fit in the original location, just because more people were willing to be a part of the museum.

Time continues to pass so quickly. This was 5 years ago and yet my body still hurts from building an entire town inside the museum. Within the last 3.5 years, Miles Through Time expanded two more times.

Eight years have gone by since I first stepped foot in an old Ford dealership blabbing about how cool of a museum I could create without really understanding what it would take. 

I’m extremely grateful Miles Through Time Automotive Museum has been able to exist for as long as it has, and I will do everything in my power to ensure it will join the ranks of the well-established American museums.

When it comes to time, 8 years is nothing. My friends at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum are celebrating 20 years and their museum is fantastic. I can’t wait to see where Miles Through Time will be in 20 years, which is only 12 years away.

Even 20 years is nothing compared to The Henry Ford, which started planning in 1929. The museum officially opened to the public June 22, 1933. 100 years is right around the country for The Henry Ford.

The Swigart Museum is even older than The Henry Ford. The Swigart Museum is the oldest car museum in the USA. The museum opened in 1920, just 25 years after the first patented combustion engine automobile.

For many businesses, being open for 5 years is an impressive feat many don’t achieve, but to remain open for 105 years is incredible.

Many automotive museums start as private collections. The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is known as America’s oldest car collection, which started with an 1899 Winton 4-hp Runabout and grew to include 32 motorcars and horse-drawn carriages. After Isabel Anderson’s death in 1948, the collection became the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.

No matter how much we may want to stop time, go back in time, or fast-forward in time, we can’t. Time just keeps going and doesn’t wait for any of us. Making the best of the time we have is all any of us can do.

Have a great week!

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

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