Q: Where will the new museum be located?
A: The new LeMay – AMERICA'S CAR MUSEUM® will be located in Tacoma, Washington. The new museum campus will be nine (9) acres in size and located adjacent to the Tacoma Dome alongside Interstate 5.
Q: Why Tacoma?
A: Tacoma is home to the LeMay family and the amazing LeMay Collection. It was Harold and Nancy LeMay who, with help from family and many friends, assembled the LeMay Collection over a 40-year period.
Q: How many vehicles were in the LeMay Collection?
A: In 1997, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the LeMay Collection as the largest private collection in the world with 2,200 vehicles. However, at one time after that, the LeMay Collection actually exceeded 3,400 vehicles!
Q: How many vehicles will be in the new museum?
A: The new museum will ultimately house approximately 1,000 vehicles.
Q: What types of vehicles will be on display in the new museum?
A: Classic, contemporary and even futuristic cars with brand names spanning the breadth of the American auto industry, as well as trucks, fire engines, buses, tanks, motorcycles, tractors, horse-drawn wagons, and related “automobilia” will be displayed .
Q: When will the new museum open?
A: The new LeMay Museum will open to the public about two years after construction begins. The campus will be built in two stages. Stage 1 will include the new 145,000 sq. ft. Museum, including numerous galleries, Administration and Education areas, a Showfield and the Entry Plaza. Stage 2 of the project will include the iconic Pavilion.
Q: How much will the new museum cost to build?
A: The cost to build the entire museum campus - including the Pavilion, Collector Car Center, Administration and Education Center, Show Field and Retail Concourse - is projected to be $100M “build cost” and $143M “project” costs.
Q: What will this new museum campus look like?
A: The 198,000 sq. ft. Pavilion and Display Tower will house more than 250 vehicles in displays, galleries, interactive exhibits and experiential activities. It will also include a theater, classrooms, restaurant, retail store and banquet space for 400 to 500.
The 15,000 sq. ft. Administration and Education Center will house the museum’s educational and administrative offices, classroom space and the museum library and research archives. This building will contain Club Rooms for member car clubs to use for their events, meeting areas and the Concours Club.
The Collector Car Center will be approximately 180,000 sq. ft. and will house the “Showcase Galleries”, the “Innovation and Technology Experience”, in addition to the State Farm “Theatre-in-the-Round” and an interactive zone which will include a variety of vehicle simulators and hands-on activities. It also will house the Hot Rod Grille, a Museum store and a Banquet room for 350 people.
The Collector Car Center will also house the Car Care Center - a multi-bay garage area where museum vehicles will be preserved and prepared for displays, exhibits or events. It will also house storage for nearly 700 vehicles in “The Vaults.” Although not in active displays, these vehicles will be viewable by the public.
The 3.5 acre Show Field will be a multipurpose, outdoor venue for car shows, auctions and swap meets, car club events, new car launches, concerts and a even a “world-class” concours d’elegance. There are also plans for a summertime drive-in movie theater!
A Retail Concourse of approximately 50,000 sq. ft. will provide retail shopping, services, and dining experiences for visitors.
Q: I understand the design of the museum’s Pavilion will be striking! What makes it so special?
A: The look and feel of the Pavilion will be very reminiscent of automotive contours. The freestanding, outer glass structure will stand 75 ft. tall and include 2,100 pieces of glass and will change its look from transparent during the day to a soft glow in the evening. The unique design of the shell - because it minimizes internal support columns - will create an expansive indoor space permitting visitors to experience an unrivaled openness and comfort as they circulate through the building.
Inside the Pavilion, the double helix Display Tower will reach from four stories below ground to four stories above and permit a smooth and comfortable journey for guests. In total, the Display Tower will require 11,000 cubic yards of concrete to construct and will form an atrium 90 feet in height.
Exiting the sides of the Display Tower, the guest can visit numerous exhibit areas which will be refreshed at regular intervals so the museum can remain a vibrant, changing environment. Other special features of the Pavilion include a large entry plaza, an experiential wind tunnel, the State Farm “Theater-in-the-Round” and an interactive zone which will include a variety of vehicle simulators and hands-on activities.
Q: I understand that the Pavilion has been designed to be environmentally friendly. How?
A: The Pavilion will utilize state-of-the-art materials in its outer shell, permitting maximum natural lighting without the buildup of excessive radiant heat and UV light which could damage the vehicles and artifacts on display. By using this "smart wall" technology, the museum will keep its operating costs at a minimum and maintain a very comfortable environment even on the sunniest day.
Q: Will the entire museum campus be built at one time?
A: The campus will be built in two stages. Stage 1 will include the Collector Car Center (180,000 sq ft); Administration and Education Center (15,000 sq ft); and Showfield and Plaza (180,000 sq ft). Stage 2 of the project will include the Pavilion and will be nearly (198,000 sq ft).
Q: Will education be an important part of the museum?
A: Absolutely! Education will be a cornerstone of the museum. Programs offering educational activities and experiences will be provided for visitors of all ages. Engaging curricula for school-age students will be developed with input from local educators. The museum anticipates a significant portion of its annual attendance will be school-age visitors and, as such, technologically advanced, interactive displays and exhibits will be designed with them in mind.
For non-school-age visitors, the museum expects to utilize state-of-the-art, customer-directed, wireless technology in educating and informing its guests. Such devices permit a completely customized learning experience for each visitor who can access as little or as much information as they choose. Further, the information can be presented as text, audio, video or in combination.
Q: Will traditional museum tours be available?
A: Yes! Docent-led tours will be available throughout the day for those visitors who prefer this type of museum experience. Two-hour tours are available at the museum’s current Marymount location (325 152nd St. E. Tacoma, WA 98445) by reservation Tuesday through Saturday starting at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.
Q: How many days of the week will the new museum be open, and for how long each day?
A: The exact schedule for the museum has not yet been established, however, it will likely be open seven days per week for eight to nine hours per day. The museum will likely be closed on major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.
Q: How many visitors do you expect to come to the museum each year?
A: We anticipate that more than 500,000 guests will visit the museum each year!
Q: Will volunteer opportunities be available at the new museum?
A: Absolutely! The museum will continue to value highly the involvement of volunteers! Opportunities are available for volunteers as docents, retail assistants, administrative assistants, collection management assistants and in many other roles. Please, come join us as a volunteer! For more information, please contact volunteer@lemaymuseum.org or call 253.779.8179.
Q: Will the museum host other types of events?
A: The museum will be an exciting gathering place for car enthusiasts, leisure and vacation travelers, tour groups as well as local and regional visitors. We expect visitors will want to come many times during the year because of the range of events hosted at the museum.
Indoor events will include community activities, meetings and banquets; corporate shows, exhibits, training and banquets; car club meetings; film festivals and symposia for car enthusiasts; and many other exciting events.
Outdoor events will include local, regional and national car club events; car shows and swap meets; outdoor concerts; road rallies and tours; product launches of new automobiles; a concours d’elegance and an annual major auction.
Q: If I want to hold an event at the museum now, who should I contact?
A: For more information about hosting an event at the museum’s Marymount location, please contact events@lemaymuseum.org or call 253.779.8179.
Q: Can I become a member of Americas Car Museum?
A: Yes! Join today and you can become a member of the museum. Drivers Club memberships can be purchased at many giving levels for individuals, couples, and families. Contact our Membership Department by phone at 253.779.8490 or go to the museum website for more information.
Q: What are the individual donor membership levels?
A: In addition to the many Drivers Club levels, the Collectors Club membership represents a commitment to sustain support for the museum. Members at this level enjoy permanent recognition, member-only events and other exclusive benefits. Concours Club represents the most prestigious membership level and is represented by significant permanent recognition.
Q: I belong to a local car club. Can our club become a member too?
A: Definitely! We have a variety of membership levels for car clubs. To find out more, contact our Membership Department by phone at 253.779.8490 or go to the museum website for more information.
Q: If I own a collector car, is it possible that I can have it stored in the new Collector Car Center?
A: Yes, we intend to make a limited number of spaces available to collectors who want their "prize" to be seen, but not touched, by others. There will be a fee associated with the storage, which will be determined at a later date, and the exact number of spaces to be made available is under review.
Q: If I have a vehicle that I would like to donate to the museum - either to be sold by the museum or to become a part of the collection - who can I contact?
A: To donate a vehicle to the museum, please contact our Collection Manager at 253.779.8179 and they would be happy to explain how the procedure works. Please be aware that the museum will not generally accept vehicle donations with any type of restrictions or conditions.
Q: Who is behind the museum?
A: If you’re referring to our supporters, they include the LeMay family, other individual members, donors, foundations, corporations, the City of Tacoma and the State of Washington. Members and sponsors are listed by name in our annual report. If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact our Development office at 253.779.8490.
Q: I think that this is an amazing collection and I would really like to see this organization grow. I would be interested in participating now – how can I learn more about volunteering?
A: To find out more about volunteer opportunities, please contact our please contact volunteer@lemaymuseum.org or call 253-779-8179. Thanks for your interest!
