Seeing the Gilmore Car Museum, Other Car Shows are Disappointing

WOW. It doesn’t matter if you are a car enthusiast or not, you will be impressed by the Gilmore Car Museum. This awesome collection of classic cars can be found in Hickory Corners, between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.

It started in 1963 with the impressive car collection of Donald Gilmore. His collection included a 1927 Ford Model T, a 1913 Rolls Royce, and a 1920 Pierce Arrow (Pierce Arrows were a favorite automobile of the Hollywood crowd back in the 1920s).

He kept adding to his collection – so much so, that he needed more space. So Don bought 90 acres in Hickory Corners to store them. “Why not turn this place into a museum?” asked his wife Genevieve...so he did.

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The Gilmore Car Museum had its opening on Sunday, July 31, 1966, featuring 35 automobiles. Over the decades, the museum has turned into the largest auto museum in North America. Currently, there are 500 vehicles displayed in approximately 210,000 square feet of space. The oldest car here is an 1899 Locomobile Steam Car. 112,000 visitors from around the world visit annually.

The Museum’s 90 acres also features a 1941 Silk City Diner, a facsimile of a 1930s Shell Gas Station, seven other museums and more. Among some of the other treasures here are recreations of old auto dealers: a 1918 Franklin dealer, a 1928 Model A Ford dealer, a 1930s Lincoln dealer and a 1948 Cadillac dealer. But it doesn’t stop with just classic cars.

You’ll also see a couple of classics that were donated by admirer Walt Disney. You may have heard of him. His contributions were the auto from his 1967 film, The Gnome-mobile, and a 1930 Rolls Royce.

See the gallery below for some photos inside the museum, then maybe plan a visit. The museum is open from April 1 – November 30. You can also grab a bite to eat at the 1941 Blue Moon Diner or the Heritage Cafe.