Last of the private steam locomotive collections? Even had a Big Boy... the Blount collection

looks like a Big Boy http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/12/big-boy-used-coal-so-fast-that-shovels.html

In the late 50's a seafood company founder began collecting steam locomotives... can a guy collect anything bigger? Has anyone? I doubt it.

Anyway, he made a small tourist attraction and called it Steamtown, moved it a couple times but didn't get very close to any major cities... he stuck it in Vermont.

Anyway, he died in 1967, at the age of 47 and without setting up a modicum of management to keep the trains in good condition, so they were sold off, neglected, and falling apart. The company that ran the collection moved from Vermont to Scranton, PA in 1984 after about 20 years of barely surviving, and went bankrupt in 1986

Congress was quick to make it a national park, and the park service now runs the train attraction as a learning center about 1850 to 1950 steam locomotives.

Read a bit more about it from the souce of my info: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6160936&postcount=20825

A quick look at the Wally Parks motorsports museum

I've got no idea what a mini dualie tractor is doing here.

the famous TV Tommy Ivo t bucket with the one of a kind Von Dutch signature, I don't believe he signed anything else this way with the feet

Billy Gibbons Mexican Blackbird , last year in the GNRS http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/mexican-blackbird-t-bird-that-finally.html

If you are looking to visit car museums in the USA, here a list not to miss

here is a list of the top 10 in the world: http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-automobile-museums.html?articleid=122959 which completely agrees with http://smashingusa.com/12-definitely-worth-a-detour-car-museums-of-america/ and they agree that the Henry Ford, the National Corvette, and the Petersen are not to be missed and they suprised me with the Studebaker and the Natl. Auto museum in Reno (formerly the Harrah).

Some others: the Gilmore in Michigan (doesn't open til May http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org )
and if you get into Michigan see the Motorsports Hall of Fame http://www.mshf.com/ ,
the AACA in Hershey Pennsylvania http://www.aacamuseum.org/ ,
and if you got to Penn stop by Allentown and see http://www.americaonwheels.org/
you might try the Swigart in Huntingdon, PA http://www.swigartmuseum.com/index.html
and the Punta Gorda muscle car in Florida, the Indianapolis Speedway museum, and a must is Speedy Bill's!

The Lane museum is quirky and full of micro cars, it's in Nashville, and the Crawford in Cleveland are both in this top 10 list http://www.journeyetc.com/travel-guide/top-10-best-automobile-museums-to-visit-in-the-us/ While in the neighborhood of Illinois / Ohio, see the Packard in Dayton Ohio http://www.wrsol.com/usatravelguide/2009/12/bestcarmuseums-americaspackardmuseum/ .. ..

Ya gotta see Speedy Bill's! It's the museum of American Speed http://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/default.dlp

In Pheonix Arizona is the Penske Auto museum: http://www.automotto.org/entry/jaunt-across-the-car-museums-of-america/

Here in So Cal, which you'll probably not consider during the trip, but sometime afterward... I still haven't gotten to these myself: The Nethercutt, Justice Brothers, Blackhawk, and you ought to see Galpin Ford's display

Here's a list of museums by state: http://www.team.net/www/museums/us.html but it's 5 years old, and might not be 100% accurate anymore

Here is a link to a list of lots of US auto museums http://www.digital-librarian.com/car_museums.html

Mullins museum info, it's not open often, and you must buy tickets in advance

805.385.5400

Info@mullinautomotivemuseum.com

VISITING HOURS
Visiting hours are 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM on days the museum is scheduled to be open.

DATES
The Museum will be open on the following dates:

Saturday, February 12, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011

Tickets must be purchased in advance.
http://www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com/tickets--information.html
Tickets are not refundable and cannot be exchanged.
Third-party convenience charges will apply.

TICKETS PRICES

Adults $10
Seniors (62+) $7
Children (5-12) $5
Children under 5 FREE

For more about the Mullin Museum: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/10/peter-mullin-auto-museum-not-open-yet.html and
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/08/mullin-museum-is-finally-open-but-only.html

LeMay museum finally had it's groundbreaking (2 years since I posted that it would happen)

http://hagertyblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/lemay-museum-groundbreaking-june-2010.html for the story and photo gallery. My first post didn't say much, just informative that it's supposed to become the largest in the world
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/03/if-you-live-near-seattle-you-might-want.html