MotorCities National Heritage Area
In searching the web a few months ago, we learned about National Heritage Areas. According to nps.gov, National Heritage Area is not actually units of the National Park Service. Heritage Areas are not owned or managed by the National Park Service and the NPS’s involvement is always advisory in nature. In our opinion so far, these seem to be hit-and-miss locations of interest and the employees at the two we have visited have not been very familiar with the National Park passport stamp system. As such, our stamp here is not in it’s “official” orange Midwest color and it took the fellow awhile to actually locate it.
In any regard, this is the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, which is located a few miles away from where I grew up. Admission is $8 for adults and coupons are often available on their website. This three-story museum details the history of the Chrysler company and has many interesting antique and concept cars for viewing. I enjoyed the displays detailing changes in the auto industry across time, such as the invention of power steering and the creation of the minivan. Many of these exhibits were interactive and/or included the advertisements that were used at the time to market these developments. My dad always enjoys seeing the Chrysler turbine engine cars, two of which are housed at this museum. Of course, the museum also highlights how the auto companies have been integral to the American way of life, particularly during World War II.
For people with interest in automobiles and machinery or for those from the area, the Chrysler museum is a must-see.
National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/auto/
