The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

Home of the Classics Since 1974

When the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum first opened its doors to the public at 12 o’clock noon on July 6, 1974, an era of exciting automotive history came brilliantly to life. That summer Saturday was the culmination of dreams, held by many, that a permanent institution would be created as a lasting tribute to Auburn’s rich motorcar heritage. Never before had there been proposed an automobile museum inhabiting the auto builder’s original factory showroom building.

But such was the historical context conceived by a band of visionaries – local citizens believing passionately in the possibility of a museum – who would not give up their goal of rescuing the 1930 administration building of Auburn Automobile Company.

Concerned community leaders formed a not-for-profit corporation in 1973 called Auburn Automotive Heritage Inc., with the intention of preserving this emblem of Auburn’s distinguished past. E.E. Rogers, M.D., was the charter president. Led by historian John Martin Smith, a local attorney, the group organized an ambitious fund drive to purchase the building. The emergence of the Kruse car auction at the 1971 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Reunion had finally brought revenue to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival. This, combined with generous gifts from industries, civic groups and inspired individuals, gave Auburn Automotive Heritage both the hope and the mission to forge ahead.

Today the museum has grown to be the leading auto repository of its kind, with 140 vintage, antique, classic and special interest cars occupying the galleries once roamed by E.L. Cord, Roy Faulkner, Alan Leamy and Gordon Buehrig. Thousands of visitors come to Auburn each year to learn the museum’s story.