National Automobile Museum: A Huge Classic Car Collection in Reno
Situated in Downtown Reno and just a stone’s throw from the Riverwalk, the National Automobile Museum showcases a massive collection of over 200 classic vehicles, most of which were once owned by Bill Harah (Founder of the former Harrah’s Casino).
We recently visited during a rainy, gloomy day in Reno. A lot of local businesses took a beating during the 2020 pandemic (and continue to) so we wanted to support them and showcase this awesome museum on our website.
You don’t have to be a car person to enjoy yourself here. On top of Harrah’s massive collection, the museum also showcases many cars that were used in movies and TV shows such as; Titanic, Batman & Robin, Back to the Future, and more!
Additionally, you’ll also see the vehicles that celebrities drove such as; Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and John F. Kennedy! Whether you’re a local with an appreciation for the classics or a family on a Reno vacation, the National Automobile Museum is the perfect activity for you.
Let’s get into it!
Visitor Information
Directions
The National Automobile Museum is conveniently located near Downtown Reno. It’s just an 11-minute walk (or 4-minute drive) from the Reno Arch and is literally down the street from the Truckee River Walk. To get there from the Reno Arch (walking):
Head south away from the arch.
Go left on E. 2nd Street
Go right on Lake Street
Go left on the Tahoe - Pyramid Bikeway (you’ll see the old Reno Archway ahead of you and the Renaissance Hotel on your right).
Go right on Museum Drive and look for the entrance on your right.
Driving from the Reno Arch has similar directions with just two minor differences:
Instead of turning left at the old archway, you’ll go straight through it and turn left on Mill Street.
Shortly thereafter, you’ll turn left on Museum Drive and pull into the parking lot.
For those of you who just want your GPS to do the work for you, the museum’s is as follows:
10 South Lake Street. Reno, NV 89501
There’s also the option of taking a Taxi or Uber from your hotel. Most drivers know exactly where this popular attraction is so you won’t have to worry about it.
Parking & Admission
The parking lot can accommodate quite a few vehicles and the best part? Parking is included in your admission! Just select any available space and head towards the entrance (pictured above).
Admission prices for the museum are as follows:
Adult: $15
Senior: $13
Active Military: $10
Youth (6 - 15): $10
Children (5 or younger): Free
Admission tickets can be purchased upon arrival. Online tickets are not yet available. Your ticket comes with in and out privileges for the day of purchase. So if you get board later and want to go back, just show them your ticket and you’re good.
Tours
Guided Tour
Guided tours of the museum are offered daily (based on volunteer availability) at 1:30pm and are 90-minutes in length. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you unique stories about some of the amazing antiques you’ll be seeing and learn little-known facts along the way as well.
The guided tours are included in the price of admission, so no worries there. If you have your heart set on one of these, you can call the museum and ask if they have volunteer availability for that day.
Self-Guided Tour
If you’d rather go it yourself (like us) you can take part in the self-guided tour and go at your own pace. There are a total of four rooms to explore, each featuring unique vehicles in specific eras. To start the tour, simply head down the hallway to the left of the ticket counter.
The first exhibit at the end of the hall is where they put their temporary, special exhibits. On display through December 31st, 2021 is the, “America and the Motorcycle: 1900 - 1990”, exhibit. You get real-life examples, in order, how motorcycles have evolved throughout the century.
Special Note - If you’re an AMCA member, show your membership at the ticket counter for a $3 discount on your admission.
Gallery #1 - Turn of the Century (1890’s - 1910’s)
This is where it can get a little hard to follow the correct path. My first time here, I was all over the place. I was going through doors I wasn’t supposed to and doing the tour out of order. This time around, I actually looked at the map, which made it much easier to navigate.
We highly recommend downloading the app to your phone. There’s a QR code you can scan with your phone at the ticket counter and on sporadic signs throughout the tour. Once you reach the end of the hallway, you’ll see the Blacksmith Building (pictured above). This is the first gallery and features cars from the years 1900 to around 1912 or so.
You’re in for quite a treat in this room. A few examples of classics you’ll find here are a 1908 Franklin, 1912 Rambler, and a 1910 Rolls-Royce. Each vehicle has an informative display in front of it describing its history, its original price, and interesting facts.
Our favorite was seeing the 1907 Thomas Flyer. It’s registered as a National Historic Vehicle for being the winner of the 1908 New York - Paris Race. The Rolls-Royce, our other favorite, was originally sold for $7500 in 1910. That would be north of $250,000 today.
You’ll also see the very vehicle that was used in one of the first scenes of the blockbuster movie, Titanic. It’s truly an awesome mix of classic vehicles….and you still have three more rooms to go! Once you’re ready for the next room, exit out onto 1930’s Street.
1930’s Street
1930’s street serves as a buffer between rooms one and two and has a 1932 Lincoln and a 1938 Packard on display, among other vehicles. They’re parked outside a recreated movie theatre facade with Gone with the Wind as the feature film.
The theming of this exhibit was awesome to me. For me, it was the most photogenic of any exhibit in the museum and the cars were beautiful.
Once you feel ready to move onto room two, walk down the street and hang a left on Main Street. Here, you will see the one and only vehicle you’re allowed to get into for a photo opportunity (I was asked to take pictures for a couple and by the time I was done, I completely forgot to get one for myself. You can’t miss it, though).
Gallery #2 - The Roaring Twenties (1920’s - 1930’s)
To find the entrance to the second gallery, look out for the Hardware Store. Immediately to the right of it (pictured above) is the entrance. By the way, you can and should go inside the store. The theming and detail inside is very reminiscent of old time Mom & Pop shops.
After checking out the hardware store, head through the short hallway into the next gallery which showcases cars made during the 1920’s (that said, we did see quite a few cars on display that were made prior to the 20’s).
A few examples of vehicles you’ll see here are a:
1920 Ford converted to an RV (considered to be the first iteration of the RV)
1921 Sheridan
1921 Rolls-Royce
1924 Wills St. Claire
You’ll also see an exhibit of an early day used-car dealership towards the back of the room cheekily titled, “Honest John’s”. Pictured below is the (very expensive) 1921 Rolls-Royce fully decked out in copper.
As you head away from the dealership you’ll see the first interactive displays. There’s two display cases with working motors inside. If you press the button, the motor runs. Showing you up close how motors worked back then (and largely still do today).
Once you’ve finished looking around, head out the exit ahead of you (you’ll know you’ve gone the right way if you’ve made a horseshoe lap around the room). Exit back onto Main Street by the Hardware Store and head left towards the next gallery.
Gallery #3 - The Classic Collection (1930’s - 1950’s)
As you exit Gallery #2, turn left and you’ll see the entrance to Gallery #3. The facade is made to look like you’re walking into a mechanic’s garage. You’ll see a light blue 1954 Buick with white wall tires on your right. As you enter the gallery proper, you’ll notice a miniature NASA Mission Control exhibit on your left (NASA was founded in 1958).
This gallery is the final one featuring a permanent collection and is named after Ranson & Norma Webster (the former sits as the Chairmen on the Board of Trustees for the museum). A few examples of cars you’ll see in this room are a:
1933 Auburn
1938 Phantom Corsair
1939 Ford
The 1938 Phantom Corsair is the only one of its kind and is the creation of Rust Heinz (Heinz Ketchup). The car was praised for being ahead of its time due to its futuristic design aesthetics but due to Rust’s death in 1939, it never entered mass-production. Making this prototype the only one in existence.
Much like the other rooms, you’ll do a half circle around the room at your leisure. At the end of the loop, you’ll end up near where you entered at the NASA exhibit. Here, there are multiple interactive elements for kids (or you) to enjoy. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of these are closed right now.
When you’re done, simply walk through the NASA exhibit and out through the same way you came in (through the garage). To find the fourth and final gallery, take a right turn out of the exit and walk past the Speedway exhibit. You’ll see a facade of a home garage with a Basketball hoop above it (pictured below). Just walk on through.
Gallery #4 - Cars of the Stars (1950’s & Beyond)
Gallery four is the room that doesn’t have a full, permanent collection inside. It’s essentially a revolving door of themed exhibits (much like the Motorcycle exhibit at the beginning). It does feature cars that were driven by a variety of celebrities that are always there, but the other part of the room displays special exhibits.
The first car you’ll see as you walk through the garage is the infamous 1981 Delorean from the Back to the Future move franchise. If you’re a fan of the films, you’ll certainly appreciate this. Immediately afterwards on your right is a 1973 Cadillac driven by Elvis Presley.
To your left, there’s more examples of celebrity classic cars. You’ll see a 1953 Chevrolet driven by John Wayne, a 1961 Ghia driven by Frank Sinatra, and a 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean, among others.
This room is also an event space. Meaning you could rent it out for a variety of reasons. Due to this, the gallery may not be open during your visit but in all the times we’ve been here, it has never been an issue. You could always call ahead to confirm.
Unlike the prior three galleries, there’s no clear-cut path. It’s all open floor. So feel free to bounce back and forth between vehicles before making your exit. During our most recent visit, there was a first model Tesla on loan to the museum. It is right next to the exit. If you’re done, simply turn right out of the exit and head down “Speed Ally”. On display is a variety of race cars and their evolution throughout the years.
Conclusion
From here, you’re welcome to go back to any one of the galleries or streets to check out the cars again or you can call it a day. To find the exit, head back towards to gallery #3 (the one with the mechanic’s garage). Facing the entrance, the door to the museum lobby is on your right (look for the bathroom sign).
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Thanks for reading and safe travels!
