The car collection of hotel magnate William F. Harrah has a new home. The National Automobile Museum, located at the corner of Mill and Lake Streets in downtown Reno, opened its doors to the public last November.
One-hundred and seventy-five cars spanning the turn-of-the-century to modern-day are on display. They include antique, vintage, classic and special interest automobiles.Among the new museum's features: an exterior metal skin with rounded walls and chrome trim similar to automotive styling; a theater featuring a film that traces the impact of the automobile on society; four period street scenes each depicting a quarter of the 20th century; a timeline chronicling the history of the automobile; a research library; and a restoration area open for public viewing.
Hundreds of signs featuring auto manufacturers and auto-related brand name products decorate the entrance. Hood ornaments, insignias, trophies and other items are on display, too. A pre-1930s clothing collection is exhibited periodically.
The museum's 10 most popular cars are the 1949 Mercury that was featured in the movie "Rebel Without A Cause" with James Dean; a 1948 Tucker whose manufacturer (along with the car) was immortalized in a movie of the same name; a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K, considered one of the finest classics ever built; Al Jolson's 1933 Cadillac All-Weather Phaeton; an 1890 Philion steam carriage, one of the oldest existing American-built cars and the oldest car in the museum; Elvis Presley's 1973 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe, a gift from his father on his 38th birthday; a 1938 Phantom Corsair, a six-passenger car with four V-shaped seats in front and two in back facing the rear; a 1960 Beatnik Bandit that looks like the car of Tomorrow; a 1960 Flying Caduceus, a jet propulsion land speed car; a 1943 Dymaxion, which looks like a submarine on three wheels.
Harrah's obsession with collectible cars began in 1948 when he purchased a 1911 Maxwell and a 1911 Ford. The collection grew to 1,400 cars that for years were on display in a building in Sparks.
Following Harrah's death in 1978, Holiday Corp. (i.e. Holiday Inns) purchased Harrah's Hotels and Casinos and the 1,400 cars. The corporation auctioned off a majority of the cars (for what must have been an astounding amount of money) but donated the research library valued at $3 million and 175 cars valued at $18 million to the William F. Harrah Foundation. The Foundation, established to preserve the car collection, assumed operation of the museum in Sparks in Jan. 1988, and later opened the National Automobile Museum in Reno.
Admission is $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors 62 and over, $2.50 for children 6-15. Children 5 and under are admitted free. The museum is open every day except Christmas from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For information call (702) 333-9300.