The Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon has a large collection of cars from the “Golden Age of Transportation” – the period from the early 1920s through the 1940s. The Museum has a collection of over 130 vehicles from the 1900s to the 1960s. You can get more information on vehicles in the collection by year or manufacturer here.
Cars from the Golden Age and beyond
Artifacts from the time period are on display near many of the cars. Here’s a camping scene.
Storefronts around the perimeter of the building add visual interest to the collection.
The color and design of the cars make them great subjects for photographs.
Here’s a view of the car section from one of the entrances.
You will also see several vehicles displayed near the airplanes. This 1921 Ford Model T shows an example of a car converted into a pickup. Ford didn’t start making pickups until 1925.
The 1925 Ford Model T 1-Ton Truck pictured below represents one of their first pickup trucks . This model sold for $295 in 1925.
Right next to a yellow floatplane, you’ll see a 1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Business Coupe. Their lighted trunk and extra storage space appealed to traveling salesmen.
Learning something new…
I learned something new at this museum. Have you heard of micro cars or rat rods?
You’ll see cars you recognize plus some you probably never heard of, like this 1981 HMV Freeway micro car. The manufacturer guaranteed 100 MPG when traveling at 40 MPH in the High Mileage Vehicle (HMV).
The two cars below are “rat rods.” Wikipedia says rat rods are custom cars “with a deliberately worn-down, unfinished appearance, typically lacking paint, showing rust, and made from cheap or cast-off parts. These parts can include non-automotive items that have been repurposed, such as a rifle used as a gear shifter, wrenches as door handles, or hand saws as sun visors.” 😯
There’s a lot to see at this large museum. This post focuses on cars from the Golden Age and beyond. I’ll be featuring photographs of their airplane collection in the future.
In two visits to Oregon in the last two years, here’s a place I missed. Of course, it might have been closed during my visits because of the pandemic, but I’ll try to remember to check it out the next time I’m near Hood.
It’s definitely worth a stop, John! Lots of places to eat and drink nearby.
So glad to learn about this. My husband will love it.
It’s a big collection in a HUGE building!
There’s a similar, wonderful museum in Owl’s Head Maine where all of the cars and planes still work.
Hmm, hadn’t heard of that. Yes, they also work on the cars & planes at the Hood River one to make them drivable & flyable. 🙂
Bet they have a lot of volunteers!
🙂
Great photos and museum! Cars R Us!
Thanks, John! Yes, that’s a good name for that place.
This is a very interesting post . I’d like to see this exhibit. $295 for a new car!
Thanks, Mark! Lots of info on their website about the various cars.
So many photo opportunities in a place like this!
There certainly were, Sarah!
A wonderful subject for the challenge Siobhan. I saw a similar museum during a visit to California – this one is much more extensive! Terrific post.
Thanks, Tina! Lots of potential subjects for photographs in museums like this.
Thank you for the tour. I know little about cars. My husband would enjoy reading your post. 🙂
I love your choice!
Thanks, Amy! I was waiting for a good prompt to share those photos. Hope your husband enjoys the post!
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