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Museums

Gilmore Car Museum

4.9 · 4,957 reviews
Spacious, educational, and nostalgic
Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, United States
Interesting facts
1

The museum grounds include a fully restored 1930s Shell gas station relocated from its original site.

2

The campus features an authentic 1941 diner, the Blue Moon, which was moved to the site from its original location in Connecticut.

3

The collection is housed within multiple historic barns and purpose-built galleries, designed to simulate different eras of automotive retail.

4

The museum is home to the Pierce-Arrow Museum, showcasing one of the most comprehensive collections of the brand in the world.

5

It hosts a dedicated gallery for the Franklin Automobile Company, which specialized in air-cooled engines.

6

The museum campus includes a replica of a 1920s train depot to complement its vintage vehicle exhibits.

7

The site hosts an annual vintage bicycle show in addition to its motorized vehicle events.

8

The museum maintains a specialized collection of hood ornaments and automotive mascots dating back to the early 1900s.

Overview

The Gilmore Car Museum is North America's largest auto museum, sprawling across a 90-acre historic campus in Hickory Corners, Michigan. It houses a collection of over 400 vintage, classic, and collector vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history. The campus features several relocated historic structures, including an authentic 1941 Blue Moon Diner and various period-correct dealership buildings. The collection is organized into multiple independent exhibition galleries, each focusing on specific marques, eras, or vehicle types. Visitors can explore displays ranging from rare steam-powered automobiles to muscle cars and luxury carriages. The facility serves as an active site for car shows and automotive-related events throughout the year. It holds an extensive library and archive dedicated to automotive research and history.

Photo spot

Inside the 1941 Blue Moon Diner or in front of the restored 1930s Shell station.

Insider tips

Wear comfortable walking shoes as the museum campus spans 90 acres with significant walking between individual gallery buildings.

Check the museum's events calendar before visiting, as car shows often include driving demonstrations of rare vehicles.

Utilize the shuttle service provided on-site if mobility is an issue, as the campus layout is extensive.

What to avoid

Trying to see the entire 90-acre campus in under two hours, as you will likely miss several of the smaller, specialized gallery buildings.

Good to know

The museum is open daily throughout the year but observes closures on major holidays.

Plan your visit
Typical visit
3-5 hours
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings during the summer season to avoid weekend event crowds and high traffic.
Address
Gilmore Car Museum, 6865 Hickory Rd, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, United States
42.440, -85.420
Get directions
Details
Key exhibits1941 Blue Moon Diner, Pierce-Arrow collection, Franklin Automobile collection, and the 1930s Shell gas station.

Frequently asked

Plan for about 3-5 hours to see the highlights.

The best time to visit is Weekday mornings during the summer season to avoid weekend event crowds and high traffic..

Inside the 1941 Blue Moon Diner or in front of the restored 1930s Shell station.

Close by you'll find Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum - Gilmore, Cadwallader Park, Fort Custer Recreation Area.