Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn Indiana is one of the premiere locations for antique car enthusiasts. In 2007, MSNBC named the museum one of the "Top Ten Gear-head Destinations in the U.S.'' Antique car enthusiasts that have reviewed the museum having nothing but great things to say. The museum works hard to send visitors away with new knowledge and tales of a unique experience. Located at 1600 South Wayne Street, the museum was built on the site of the original headquarters of Auburn Automotive Company. The first level of the museum offers restored Cords and Duesenbergs. The second level features other automobiles dating from the 1900's-1950's.
The museum boasts a collection of over 120 cars. There are a total of three floors, and they are the proud owners of the largest collection of Duesenbergs on display in the world. The museum has the distinct honor of being accredited by the American Association of Museums. A select few museums in the country have this honor, so they are in good company sharing the award. Museums must be re-evaluated in order to maintain the standing in the AAM, so the folks at Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum work hard to keep their collection in good shape and their information educational and interesting.
Memberships are available to the museum and they offer members free admission, a free subscription to The Accelerator, the museums newsletter, an invitation to their Gala Ball, and a 10% discount in their gift shop. Memberships are in denominations of individual, senior, and a variety of other types.
Those wishing to volunteer at the museum are invited to share their enthusiasm and knowledge of old cars. There is a comprehensive training that will help volunteers learn all the information they need to know to educate visitors, as well as becoming familiar with the high level of customer service the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum expects of their employees and volunteers.
The gift shop features museum collectibles, clothing, models, reference materials, art, and educational manuals. Many of these items can be ordered online. Adult tours are offered to visitors of the museum for those that wish to learn even more than self-guided tours offer. Memorabilia includes coffee mugs, posters, magnets,
The town holds an annual Labor Day festival, when the museum gets their most traffic. Most of the cars on display are operational, and it is acceptable to take photos inside of the museum. Many visitors choose to begin their tour of the museum with a 13-minutes orientation video. The museum is also the site of a variety of annual events. This includes a wine and chocolate tasting, the Classic City Bridal Show, and Connecting Rods. Connecting Rods is an event held for former employees and those with direct connections to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg factory. Trunk or Treat is a great chance for the kids to get out on Halloween, enjoy safe trick-or-treating, and enjoy the fun and education of the museum.
Nearby is the Hoosier Air Museum, the National Military History Center, and the National Automotive and Truck Museum. Auburn offers a variety of hotels, restaurants and other accommodations to make your stay convenient, pleasant and affordable.
Jack