{"id":2809,"date":"2008-09-10T02:23:00","date_gmt":"2008-09-10T06:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kitfoster.com\/carport\/2008\/09\/america-on-wheels\/"},"modified":"2010-12-30T12:00:57","modified_gmt":"2010-12-30T17:00:57","slug":"america-on-wheels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.kitfoster.com\/carport\/2008\/09\/america-on-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"America on Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"America<\/a><\/p>\n

The folks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, have been working for a long time to start an automotive museum. Their efforts are finally bearing fruit. Dennis David and I visited last year, and while they had a venerable old building<\/a> as a centerpiece, the rest<\/a> was very much a work in progress<\/a>. What a difference<\/a> a year makes!<\/p>\n

Dennis went back on his way to Macungie this August. The building is finished and America on Wheels, as the museum is named, is welcoming visitors<\/a> – big time. Their architects have done a marvelous job, placing museum displays<\/a> against the city’s industrial skyline as backdrop. The key word is “wheels.” American on Wheels is not a car museum. It encompasses also trucks<\/a>, bicycles<\/a>, motorcycles<\/a>, sports cars<\/a> and race cars<\/a>. The displays are artfully designed, with mannequins that tell the story<\/a> but which are not so detailed that they become the story themselves. Automobiles are shown in context<\/a>, but not overdone, as is sometimes the case.<\/p>\n

Allentown was home to Mack Trucks, so there are plenty of Macks on display: fire<\/a>, semi<\/a>, dump<\/a> and a Maxidyne diesel<\/a> – even a Bulldog monument<\/a>. No museum can survive without muscle cars, and AoW scores<\/a>. A big feature is the Car of the Future<\/a> exhibit, which of course explores alternative power, epitomized by GM’s EV-1<\/a>, a Sebring-Vanguard Citicar<\/a> (the best-selling postwar electric, by the way), a “first generation” Detroit Electric<\/a> and a Stanley Steamer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Small museums do a good job of telling their local stories, so in addition to Mack we learn about Pennslyvania’s first car, the circa 1891 Nadig<\/a> (there’s some controversy about the date). Yes, there’s lots to like about America on Wheels<\/a>, including a spic and span museum shop<\/a>. They’re open daily except Mondays. Go to Allentown and check them out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The folks in Allentown, Pennsylvania, have been working for a long time to start an automotive museum. Their efforts are finally bearing fruit. Dennis David and I visited last year, and while they had a venerable old building as a centerpiece, the rest was very much a work in progress. What a difference a year….<\/span>
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