Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum
 Main entrance | |
  Location within Michigan  Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum (the United States) | |
| Location | 100 East Cross Street Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°14′45″N 83°36′29″W / 42.24579°N 83.60808°W |
| Type | Automotive museum |
| President | Ron Bluhm |
| Website | www.ypsiautoheritage.org |
The Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in
Miller Motors
In 1916, Joseph H. Thompson opened a Dodge Brothers Motor Company dealership, possibly the first outside Detroit, in the north end of the Thompson Block.[3] Soon after, Thompson moved his dealership across Cross Street, to the site of the museum.[4]
In 1927, Carl Miller opened a Hudson Sales and Service franchise on the site, and in 1955 the dealership was renamed Miller Motors, reflecting expanded product offerings. From 1927 until the Hudson Motor Car Company merged with the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation on May 1, 1954 to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), the dealership sold 1,969 new cars,[5] and has retained and preserved all dealership records since opening.[6] For about 20 years, Miller Motors continued as a used car and parts dealer specializing in Hudsons and Hudson parts. Before Miller Motors was bought and included as a feature of the museum, Miller Motors was "the place to go when [Hudson owners] needed clutch oil or touch-up paint, or wanted to buy or sell a Hudson."[5] Former Museum Curator, Jack Miller, was known as an authority on restoring Hudson cars and the history of Hudson cars.[7]
Museum
In the mid-1990s, Jack Miller, Paul "Skip" Ungrodt Jr, and Peter B. Fletcher opened the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum that included the Miller Motors building.[6]
The museum displays 30 cars.
The museum is open to visitors six days a week (closed Mondays), year-round, and sponsors Cruise Nights during the summer in Depot Town and their annual Orphan Car Show held in nearby Riverside Park.
Gallery
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1951 Henry J -
1953 Kaiser Traveler -
The "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" -
1960 Chevrolet Corvair
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See also
References
- ^ Museums and Historic Homes, MotorCities National Heritage Area, retrieved 2011-05-13
- ^ MotorCities National Heritage Area, MotorCities National Heritage Area, retrieved 2011-05-13
- ^ Mann, James (Winter 2009), "The Thompson Block - Then and Now!", Ypsilanti Gleanings, Ypsilanti Historical Society, retrieved 2022-05-16 – via Ann Arbor District Library
- ^ Mann, James (2009-09-24), "The Thompson Block's place in Ypsilanti's history", AnnArbor.com, retrieved 2022-05-16,
In 1916, Joseph H. Thompson, grandson of Oliver, opened a Dodge dealership in the north end of the building. He operated here only a short time, before moving across the street to where Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum is today.
- ^ a b Blumberg, George (2003-04-11). "Driving; Hudsons Survive. The Dealer Does, Too". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
- ^ a b c d Learn more, Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, archived from the original on 2011-07-22, retrieved 2011-05-13
- ^ Slagter, Martin (December 31, 2020). "Community remembers 'Mr. Hudson,' curator of Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum". mlive.com. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ "In Michigan, Homage to the Auto's Heritage". The New York Times. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
- . Retrieved May 16, 2022.
External links
