It’s funny how often I get asked why I do the things I do. Why did I start Miles Through Time Automotive Museum? Why is the museum where it is? Why did I create the Automotive Museum Guide? Why do I send these emails every week?

The short answer is, I don’t know why, there may be something wrong with me. Just kidding, the answer is because I care.

Everything I do, automotive-related, all comes back to ensuring the long-term success of a museum I founded in 2017. Creating the Automotive Museum Guide and sending these weekly emails, helps other automotive museums, but it also helps mine, (hopefully.)

All the automotive museums are so different that it wouldn’t matter if every automotive museum in the world was located in one city. The museums don’t need to compete. People will visit, they just need to know, visiting is an option.

This is and will probably always be one of the biggest challenges, reaching new people. I know you know about The Petersen Automotive Museum, and it is easy to assume everyone else does, but I promise you, there are still people learning about the museum for the first time, every day.

I care about all this because I know firsthand how impressionable young minds are. We live in a different world now. For most of us, a driver’s license was our ticket to freedom. With the ability to drive came the rest of adulthood, for better or for worse.

The youngest generation of drivers are not experiencing what we did. They’ve grown up in a world with everything a click and doorbell away. The fact that they’ve even troubled themselves with the effort and expense of getting a license is at least a step in the right direction.

Without going down this rabbit hole, the point is, the youngest generation needs to create memories that will stick with them as they mature and help shape their automotive interests.

It would be great if everyone’s memory was working in the shop on an old car with their dad or grandpa, but not everyone is going to have the ability. 

I can still remember when my dad brought home the CJ7 when I was little. Working on my ’56 F100 at 14 years old with my dad made it so that I’ve wanted to replace that truck for the last 27 years. Walking into my grandpa’s shop and lifting the cover back to grab a glimpse of his ’59 Cadillac was always something I did growing up, when I went to visit.

When I see the younger generations visit Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, and I can tell it is the first time they’ve ever been exposed to vehicles like that, I hope that the memory sticks with them forever. My greatest achievement with the museum will be when I learn about the impact it made on even just one kid that grew up to do great things.

Museums should be more than just some old cars in a building. They should educate, trigger memories, and most importantly, inspire. Every museum is different and worthy of visiting, even if it’s just once.

Chances are you’ve heard the name Stanley, but have you been to the Stanley Museum? The museum is located in an old school, built in 1905. There is a lot more to the Stanley family than just Steanley Steamers.

Speaking of steam, the Antique Gas and Steam Museum will definitely take you back in time. At this point, I assume it’ll take you further back in history than we’ve all been alive. If you visit this museum during one of their special events, you’ll get to see a lot of the “exhibits” run.

Historic Auto Attractions is the final museum this week. This museum has some famous cars from history on display, and it’s big, like they added 50,000 square feet big. This museum would probably be able to house this Beatles-Inspired car collection with no issues at all.

I know, not all the museums I share will be in your wheelhouse of interest, or they may be too far for you to realistically be able to visit in person. However, I do encourage you to still click the name to learn more about the museum. 

Check out their websites to learn more and follow them on social media. You never know, maybe you’ll learn something, have a chance to visit or help them spread the word, which could lead to something much grander.

Spreading the word is one of the greatest things you can do to help every museum, and it won’t cost you anything. Let as many people as you can know about the Automotive Museum Guide. If they want to get these emails every week, have them subscribe HERE.

If you know anyone that shares the same automotive passion and wants to be a part of creating the generation of Miles Through Time Automotive Museum, show them this FUTURE.

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.