LeMay – America’s Car Museum is a museum in Tacoma, Washington. The museum is adjacent to the Tacoma Dome and opened on June 2, 2012. Many of the cars on display were donated to the museum by the family of Harold LeMay.
Harold LeMay owned a successful refuse company, Harold LeMay Enterprises, within the Tacoma metro area and amassed the world’s most extensive private car collection. After his death, the city of Tacoma donated 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land next to the Tacoma Dome for the museum containing some of his car collection. Most of the collection remains at the LeMay Family Collection at Marymount in nearby Spanaway. The museum has 165,000 square feet (1.53 ha) of exhibit space and a 350-car gallery showing cars notable for their speed, technology, and design, as well as their importance to car culture. The building also contains gift shops, restoration shops, lecture halls, galleries, a banquet room, and a café.
From the mezzanine level, main level, and outside patio, there are views of Downtown Tacoma, Thea Foss Waterway, Commencement Bay, and the Olympic Mountains. Outside the museum is a 3-acre (1.2 ha) courtyard and clubhouse for car clubs. The outdoor area is suitable for hosting car shows, auctions, swap meets, car club events, new car launches, and a Concours d’Elegance.
Sponsors and Donors
The projected cost of the museum is $100 million. Harold LeMay’s wife, Nancy LeMay, donated $15 million to the museum. The land donated to the museum by the City of Tacoma is estimated to be worth $17 million.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) of Washington made the largest corporate donation with its 2008 commitment of $1.6 million. Other major museum sponsors are Bonhams, Boeing, The News Tribune, and State Farm Insurance. Other donors include various car collectors, auto clubs, and citizens worldwide.
The architect for the museum is the Los Angeles-based firm LARGE architecture. JTM Construction of Seattle was the general contractor for the museum. Alpha Electrician Tacoma
Collection
The ACM Collection consists of automotive artifacts and 250 automobiles spanning over 100 years of automotive history, plus approximately another 100 vehicles on exhibit loan from private collections. Our open storage galleries for collection vehicles not on active display are unique to ACM, allowing our visitors to see the majority of our group.
- 1953 Citroen 2CV
- 1913 Daimler Type
- 1925 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup
- 1928 Ford Model A
- 1929 Cadillac
- 1930 Duesenberg
- 1930 Lincoln
- 1930 Packard 740
- 1931 Ford Model A Panel
- 1930 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine
- 1940 Lincoln Zephyr
- 1953 Willys Overland Model 475
Address: 2702 E D St, Tacoma, WA
Check out other attractions like Bridge of Glass