Welcome to 2026! I’m on the road again already and have been since Sunday. Unfortunately, on this trip there is no time for automotive museums, which happens. I’d love to have the time to visit automotive museums every time I go somewhere, but it just isn’t always possible.

I live in the Atlanta metro, and I’m taking a 1932 Ford Roadster to Troy, Missouri. Then straight south to Mobile, Alabama to pick up a 1956 F100 for myself. 

I started Miles Through Time Automotive Museum because of how sentimental I was about my grandpa’s 1959 Cadillac. My sentimental attachment to vehicles started with a 1956 F100 my dad bought to be my first vehicle.

Unfortunately, I never got to actually drive that truck and have been wanting another one because of it for 27 years. The truck I’m getting is far from perfect, and I did have to sell my Roadster to buy it, but now the process of making my forever truck my truck begins.

I find it fascinating to realize how much a piece of machinery can mean to someone. Whether it be myself as an example, a visitor reminiscing about a car on display in the museum or someone having an emotional experience while donating their beloved vehicle to the museum.

I honestly do not care how much some of these cars are worth. Everything is worth what someone is willing to pay when it matches up with what someone is willing to accept to sell. None of that matters unless the vehicle is actually sold.

The story and the history behind the car is way more important to me.  It is possible for me not to even be that big of a fan of a specific car, but then the owner’s passion can change my perspective. 

That’s a powerful thing and something museums have the ability to do. They can share and create passion for all kinds of things in the automotive world. No one is going to be passionate about something they’ve never been introduced to. How could they? 

Automotive museums can help fill in the gaps. As well as car shows, meet-ups, automotive TV shows, video games with cars, and passionate owners who share their stories every chance they get.  I know a few of these types of people and they are my favorite.

The first three automotive museums I want to share with you in 2026 are museums I have not updated for about 4 years. That gives you an idea of how many museums I am constantly updating in the Automotive Museum Guide.

Motorama Auto Museum is huge. You’re going to see over 500 vehicles at this museum both inside and outside. This is a seasonal museum though, so put in on your calendar to visit between May and October.

Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum is a free museum you can visit that dives deep into the history and lore of Route 66, which is arguably the most famous road in the world.

The Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum is another free museum you can visit, although donations are appreciated. This museum is in the old Seaba Station that was built in 1921, so the 100+ year-old building is just about as fascinating as the motorcycles on display.

I hope you have a wonderful 2026 and have an opportunity to visit a bunch of automotive museums. If you have an opportunity to get involved with your local museum, I highly recommend it. Docents can make all the difference for visitors and the museum.

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.