Main Street Rides

The news of late is filled with gloom and doom when it comes to nearly everything economy-related.  The American dream seems unobtainable, and without that who can imagine ever owning an enthusiasts’ car?  Thoughts like these are downright discouraging, yet one mans amazing success story and love affair for automobiles has brought me hope.

Several years ago I stumbled upon a little known jewel of our great nation.  The LeMay car museum, a must see for any automotive enthusiast houses the worlds largest collection of automobiles.  Tucked away in a corner of Pierce County Washington amid the towering evergreens sits Marymount, 100 acres that was at one time a boy’s military school.  The school was purchased in the 1990’s by Harold LeMay, a local businessman.  If Harold’s story is not the perfect example of the American dream, I don’t know what is.  Born in 1919 Harold lived through the Great Depression, but his entrepreneurial spirit kept him afloat in uncertain times.  During WWII, Harold drove a victory bus, transporting workers to and from the shipping yards. Harold also started a garbage collection company that built the foundation for what is LeMay Enterprises today.

Harold LeMay not only had a passion for building relationships and business, but also a passion for the automobile.  As a successful businessman, Harold began to collect cars, trucks, motorcycles, and almost anything else with an engine or wheels.  Harold passed away at the age of 81 in the year 2000 and by that time he had amassed the largest private collection of automobiles in the world.  Today the museum is still run by the family, and the collection of cars continues to grow; at one point the collection reached more than 3,000 vehicles.  The LeMay collection is impressive to say the least.  I’ve visited the museum twice in the past two years. The rows upon rows of gleaming cars are among the most impressive sights that I have ever seen.  I have visited many car museums and car shows throughout my life and none have been as impressive. The LeMay car museum is America’s car museum.

The current facility at Marymount is nostalgic, yet its location and size is ill-fitting for a collection of such magnitude.  A new facility is currently under construction in downtown Tacoma, just across from the Tacoma dome.  The new facility will be state of the art and built in phases.  The new museum will feature several different buildings that will be built around a compound, which will be used for car shows, drive-in-movies, and various other events.  Cars will be inside and outside, and the collection of 3,000 cars will be rotated on a regular basis.  The rotating of the cars will allow a different experience every time you visit.  Interactive exhibits and displays will allow patrons to experience firsthand the history of the automobile, how it became America’s love affair, and virtual driving in race car simulators.

It may be true that our economy is down in the dumps, but it was the same when Harold LeMay was living his dreams.  The LeMay museum is a testament to all that no matter the situation a person can follow his or her dreams and be successful.  The automobile wasn’t just America’s love affair, it was also Harold’s.  Harold and his family have made it possible for millions of others to experience that passion with their collection and generosity.  The next time you are in “The Great Northwest,” be sure to take time to visit LeMay: America’s Car Museum.