AACA Museum (AACA)

The principal program service of the Aaca Museum consists of operating an automotive/transportation Museum, open to the public 362 days per year. It is dedicated to the preservation, education, and display of motor vehicle history, and it hosted approximately 55,000 visitors this year. The displays in the Museum are educational in nature, and there are specific educational programs conducted as well. In recognition of the quality of its display, the Aaca Museum has qualified for affiliate Museum status with the smithsonian institution. The Aaca Museum has also been recognized by a wide variety of automotive journals and news periodicals as one of the top automotive museums in the world. In recent years, including 2022, the Museum received the harrisburg magazine's reader's choice award for best museum.1. The displays comprise approximately 70,000 square feet of space with a feature exhibition that takes visitors on a cross-country journey beginning in new york city and ending in California at san francisco's golden gate bridge. Each "decade" is in a different geographic area and features a distinctive painted background and built, three-dimensional, period correct scene to showcase our collection of donated antique vehicles. Some examples include art deco miami beach in the 1930s, a drive-in movie theater for the 1950s and "route 66" for the 1960s. The Museum also has a wide variety of additional semi-permanent and changing exhibitions, including a major 20 to 40 vehicle themed exhibition that is switched seasonally (spring/fall) to keep content fresh for our visitors. Additionally, the Museum has a growing collection of automotive art and general automobilia, including one of the best collections of hood ornaments (mascots) in the nation, which is beautifully displayed in our third floor rotunda. The Museum changes its temporary feature display twice per year in an attempt to interpret multiple vehicular themes and continually attract a diverse audience. One of the year's feature displays was entitled, "racing to the finish line: competition card, trucks, & motorcyles. This area also received a new interactive exhibition called "driving after sundown," which provides visitors with a hands-on history of the evolution of the autmotive headlight.2. The cammack gallery on the main floor was re-purposed in october of 2014 to house the world's largest collection of tucker automobiles and related artifacts. This collection, amassed by david cammack of alexandria, Virginia, is supported by the cammack family foundation, who also funded the 5,000 square foot space that now houses it. This area, which previously served as our changing exhibition gallery, was completely transformed to accept the key components of this world-class collection that documents the life and career of preston tucker and the visionary automobile he produced, the tucker '48. The permanent display includes three of the 51 tucker automobiles built, one being the only existing example to feature an automatic transmission. Tucker was focused on building a truly revolutionary automobile, one that was powerful, fast, well-mannered, fuel efficient, attractive and safe. He experimented with multiple engines and progressive suspension and brake technologies, incorporating many advances into his design. His efforts documented by the numerous drawings, blueprints, advertising materials, film clips and three-dimensional artifacts assembled and interpreted for public display. Recently, the tucker automobile club of america (taca) was merged into the Museum. The club, which was founded in the 1970s to document and research the existing automobiles and bring tucker owners together for an exchange of information, had essentially completed its original mission. The club transferred its assets and members to the Museum. Taca brought additional documentary materials that enhanced what was already the world's greatest archive of tucker information. In addition, the merged assets included a fiberglass reproduction tucker automobile shell that was made for the francis ford coppola movie on tucker that was produced in the late 1980s. This new "tucker" gave us a vehicle we could take to external shows and events and now sits side by side with our original factory built test chassis and across from a row of prototype tucker engines. The taca membership also brings us new car owners, historians and hobbyists who have enhanced our database of information on the subject. All of these components and pieces, new and old, collectively give us international recognition as the "center of the tucker universe." Small enhancements were made to this exhibit area during the year, including new interactive materials, and hundreds of documentary materials were scanned and incorporated into our online database. The Museum also spent much time planning for the tucker's 75th anniversary which will be celebrated in the summer of 2023 with a major event designed to bring together as many of these iconic cars as possible, along with a narrated screening of the movie, "tucker: the main & his dream, and a series of workships and seminars. 3. Another fairly recent expansion saw the Museum of bus transportation (mobt) also transfer its assets to the Museum with the group's membership also joining the Museum ranks. The mobt was previousy a tenant and partner, occupying a larger portion of the lower-level gallery where it displayed part of its collection of historic buses. The group had secured a 20-year lease with the Museum and had been part of the organization since opening day in june of 2003. With the dissoution of the mobt, the Museum now has two sub-groups with members dedicated to a specific part aspect of transportation history. The mobt brought approximately 35 buses to the Museum's collection as well as an annex building used for storage and vehicle maintenance. The Museum is continuing the mobt's main programs and trying to grow support for this important part of our nation's transportation history. Several additional buses were added to the collection this year and our annual "spring fling" bus gatherin took place in june.

Public education is an integral component of the Museum's mission and linked to its activities. The educational program begins with the wide variety of cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles displayed (approximately 150 in the main building) that range from the late 1800s through the 1990s. It is supported by historically accurate backdrops that populate each decade scene in the main gallery. Additionally, smaller themed exhibitions may be found throughout all three floors, including two wheeled vehicles, a world class display of approximately 500 radiator caps and hood ornaments arranged chronologically and geographically by country of origin, license plate collections, themed and grouped two-dimensional artwork and stand-alone interactive units placed throughout our space.all exhibited items are supported by research labels and other interpretive devices. The Museum is also staffed by trained volunteer gallery guides or docents who enhance the visitors' experience and protect the collections. Recently, the Museum added two new changing galleries, which will be discussed below and collaborated with several collector organizations to produce temporary and semi-permanent displays on specific automotive subject matter. A current focus is an extremely informative case and wall exhibit mounted by the roadmap collectors' association. This year. This display also includes an audio-visual component; the entire display is updated approximately twice per year and also received a cosmetic upgrade in 2022, with new graphic panels and signange.some additional current educational features include:1. Williams-clyne gateway gallery: this newly converted space serves as the public entrance for the Museum. It was redesigned to resemble the interior of a car dealership from the mid-twentieth century. We make it available to national automobile clubs free of charge for a six-month period where they can use the space to promote the Museum's educational mission while showcasing members' vehicles and relevant promotional materials. The space is well received by our visitors and very popular with clubs; it is currently booked for the next two to three years. Two nationally based car clubs produced displays in this space over the course of 2023.2. Lower level gallery children's' interactive area: the Museum maintains a hands-on educational activity area where younger visitors may engage in a variety of projects that will teach them about transportation history, vehicle design and related topics. A photo op with an historic vehicle is inclded. The Museum updates this area annually.3. Valentine diner: the lower level gallery houses an authentic and fully restored 1941 valentine diner that was originally operated in wichita, Kansas before being transported east by a collector who donated it to the Museum. Volunteers restored this artifact and it is now filled with original equipment and interpretive signs and hands-on materials that will transport visitors back to the 1950s. The granddaughter of the diner's original proprietor visited the Museum in 2022 and provided first-hand accounts of its operation in Kansas, which were added to the building's interpetation.4. Behind the scenes vehicle storage building tour: the Museum recently initiated a new program that takes visitors on an optional guided "behind the scenes" tour of our vehicle storage building. Located behind the main Museum building, this structure is not readily visible and up until recently had not been open to the public. We now conduct seasonal guided "behind the scenes" tours of this annex that houses approximately 70 to 80 vehicles. A trained guide brings the area to life, while providing a background on the Museum and explaining its plans for the future. The program was continued through much of 2022 with an expanded season, thanks to an h-vac system made possible by a significant gift combined with partial grant funding. Approximately 500 guests participated in this program over the year.5. Electric charging stations: in the early days of the automobile, the internal combustion engine competed with steam and electric power for buyers in a new market. While internal combustion was the winner, both steam and electric power had their share of early success. The Museum highlights these and other forms of propulsion throughout its displays. In keeping with current market trends, three self-serve electric vehicle charging stations are located at the front of the building. They are free of charge and available for visitor use at any time. These units were deactivated during the height of the covid epidemic and have not been returned to service. Plans are underway to revamp them to meet current electric vehicle needs.6. Lebanon valley college partnership: the Aaca Museum continues to partner with lebanon valley college and their student-teachers to create an ongoing series of specific online learning modules focused on the automobile and how it relates to various courses. These learning modules are available to all at no charge via the Museum's website. The Museum also has a partnership program with the daupin county vo-tech that brings students to the Museum for hands on experience working on vintage vehicles.7. Tours available for all age groups: the Museum offers a wide range of tours for groups ranging from pre-kindergarten through seniors. School aged tours support state curriculum standards in history, english, math, economics, and science, and are presented by trained staff and volunteers and are specific to the age level of the group. Students visit the Museum and learn by seeing and doing, the Museum's specifically tailored programs make learning fun and active. These tours began to ramp up again in 2021 after a pause in 2020 and continue strong through the current year.8. Talks, lectures and demonstrations: as part of its adult education program and general public outreach, the Museum sponsors talks with the Museum curator and director, car collectors, and other experts throughout the year. Focused workshops, rallies, and programs augment changing exhibitions seasonally. Public programs include special vehicle displays, movies, music, gallery demonstrations, and other forms of special interpretation. Recently, the Museum continues to focus on tucker automotive themed programs but has also begun a general automotive lecture series available roughly every other month that takes place both in person at the mueum and also online with advance registration. Topics in 2022 included the history of the drive-in movie theater and a presentation by the author of the book, "driving while black," which also served as the basis for a pbs documentary of the same name.9. Cooperative program with the Pennsylvania college of technology. The Museum has a long-standing partnership with the Pennsylvania college of technology in williamsport, pa. The college has one of only a handful of two-year degree programs in automotive restoration offered nationally. The Museum assisted with the development of the program's initial curriculum many years ago and has since maintained a bond with the school, frequently working on mutually beneficial projects, such as hosting students for internships and providing vehicles for demonstrations and educational events. In return, the college has provided the restoration labor for a series of donated vehicles, which have offered valuable experience for the students. The college is currently restoring a custom bodied "stretch" chevrolet station wagon from the 1960s that was used at the milton hershey school in hershey, pa to transport students back and forth from their dorms to their classrooms and also around town. This partnership between all three non-profit organizations will result in the restoration of this extremely unique vehicle, which will then be displayed by the Museum and used by the school periodically for special events. This relationship continued in 2022 and our chevrolet wagon remains at their facility.

The Aaca Museum, Inc. is a public non-profit organization that offers a diverse membership program. The membership program is intended to grow our "Museum family" across all categories, from individuals and families to corporate members. Accordingly, some of the current categories include: individual, family, supporting, lifetime and 161 society, our highest level of membership whose members periodically have the opportunity to participate in automotive based travels locally, domestically and sometimes internationally. Several years ago, the Museum has expanded its membership levels to include a tucker membership, focused on our world class collection, and offering special educational programs, newsletters and other subject related benefits as well as a similar membership for those interested in buses. We also now have a corporate membership level that appeals to local businesses who want to become part of the Museum's family but are not yet in a position to become a sustained sponsor of our regular programs or events. Membership is also offered to volunteers who have contributed a specific number of hours, and to those who "adopt a car" from the Museum's collection. Additionally, anyone who donated a vehicle receives a base lifetime membership/admission to the Museum. In 2022, a reciprocal arrangement was reached with the classic auto mall in morganton, Pennsylvania, that provides Museum membership to their customers. Museum members enjoy many diverse benefits, but do not have voting rights. The Museum currently has approximately 3,500 members across all of its membership levels.