One thing I’ve noticed and have been saying for a while now is, “It’s easy for the older generation to visit an automotive museum and reminisce, but it’s especially important to capture the interest of the younger generations.”

The reality is, we are all just temporary caretakers of the things we love. I constantly hear about people’s kids and grandkids not caring about the vehicles that mean so much to the person I’m speaking with.

It’s a bummer, and I feel for those people, but I also hear just as often from people that their kids and grandkids are excited about their cars. 

An interesting observation I’ve noticed is that it is very common for the passion to skip a generation. I don’t have any scientific proof, but it does seem like the grandkids have a greater opportunity to connect with the grandparents’ automotive passion.

For example, my grandpa’s ’59 Cadillac means the world to me, and led to the creation of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, but to my dad, it was just the family car when he was younger.

These youngest generations will experience a completely different way of life than my generation and back. However, that does not mean they won’t find 80-year-old cars cool, and keep the automotive passion going.

If you want to see this theory in action, just look at how many people are still passionate about Model Ts. The Model T has been out of production for 99 years, and yet I personally know fanatics in their 40s. 

There is no one alive today that has driven a brand-new Model T, and yet the passion for these vehicles is still strong. There’s even a Model T Museum. 

Yes, there is less interest in a Model T than in muscle cars of the 70s. Soon, there will be more interest in the rad era and less interest in ’70s muscles. None of it will disappear, especially if we all do our part to share our passions.

It doesn’t matter what your vehicle is. If you think it’s cool, give others an opportunity to think it’s cool too. Take it to a show, cruise in, share it in a museum, DRIVE IT!

One of the cool things about Miles Through Time Automotive Museum is that I have no idea what will come in next. Someone could donate a vehicle I’ve never seen before, or someone could loan a very special car. Either way, the museum provides a platform for visitors to at least see the car in-person.

Some of the very niche automotive museums you can visit may have it a little more difficult to capture a broader interest. Or perhaps because they are so niche, they have the ability to be hyper-focused on what they specialize in. 

My interests are way to all over the place to create this kind of museum, but there are some really great ones you can visit. The Pierce Arrow Museum is completely dedicated to Pierce Arrows.

Since you’re reading this, I’m sure you’ve heard of Pierce Arrows, but there are a lot of people out there that have never heard of this orphan brand. This museum is one of the many on the Gilmore campus, a place I’ve wanted to visit for years.

There is another museum that has been dedicated to Pierce Arrows, the Buffalo Transportation — Pierce Arrow Museum. This museum features the collection of James & Mary Ann Sandoro, which focuses on Buffalo’s transportation history, highlighting Pierce-Arrow, the Thomas Flyer, electric vehicles and a ton of automotive memorabilia, and more. 

Another niche orphan branded museum is the Pontiac Oakland Museum. Most people have probably heard of Pontiac, but the same probably can’t be said about Oakland. Visiting a museum like this will ensure you learn a lot about both brands.

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

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