Hours and Admission to the place where history happened

Hours

  • Winter Hours (October-April): Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm.

  • Summer Hours (May-September) Tuesday-Sunday 12-5pm.

  • Please call (937) 226-1710 for groups of ten or more

Admission

  • Adults: $15

  • Seniors (65+): $10

  • Youths (18 and under)/students with photo ID: $5

  • Pay at the museum, and no advance tickets are needed.

plan your visit. 360 view

Looking for a perfect souvenir or gift, but don’t want to carry it home? Look through our extensive online Museum store and ship it!

Learning to Drive.

Today, we take learning to drive for granted. Usually a young person takes classes at school, gets a learner’s permit, drives a certain number of hours, and eventually gets a license (all while terrifying mom and dad in the process). It was not always that way. Simply starting a car was far more difficult and took lots or practice. The hand cranks on the front of cars were extremely dangerous! Kettering, Ohio is named for Charles Kettering who invented the electric starter. Which pedal does what? That varied between manufacturers.

Even licenses and exams were not standardized. 14-year-olds could once drive in California. Michigan required drivers licenses in 1919, and Henry Ford was 56 years old when he received his.

Fun Questions to Ask!

  • Why do some cars have spokes, like bicycles?

  • Why are the trucks built out of wood?

  • Why do some cars have so many lights?

  • How do engines work?

  • Where are the seatbelts?

  • Why do some cars have spare tires on the side?

  • Are any of the cars EVs?

  • Where is the Apple CarPlay?

  • Where is the push button start?

  • What reminds you of your car?