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March 19, 2010
America On Wheels Receives $200,000 State Grant for
Education, Expansion
Renovations Will Offer More Room For Community Events,
Rentals
Allentown, Pa. – America On Wheels (AOW), the museum of
over-the-road transportation that is the corner stone of
redevelopment plans on Allentown’s Lehigh River waterfront
area, has received a $200,000 state grant to renovate administrative
space into an educational center and an eatery for visitors.
The Economic Growth and Development Assistance grant awarded
by the Department of Community and Economic Development
in February will allow the museum to renovate the second
floor of the administrative building – the former Arbogast
& Bastian Inc. building at Front and Hamilton streets --
into a staging area for a growing number of school field
trips, clinics and a presentation area for community programs,
said Executive Director Linda Merkel.
“When not being utilized as an educational center, this
area will be available to rent for corporate meetings and
workshops, birthday, anniversary and business parties and
wedding receptions to provide another source of revenue
for the museum,” Merkel said. “In addition, we intend to
install a small dining area called The Hub Cap -- reminiscent
of a 1950s soda shop --that will offer sundaes, milk shakes
and ice cream floats to our visitors.”
AOW will celebrate its second anniversary on April 17
with a weekend full of fun and educational activities for
visitors who enjoy the highly popular changing exhibits,
numerous educational programs and the institution’s growing
reputation as a new hotspot for auto enthusiasts across
the nation.
“We have some exciting events planned for the celebration
and we look forward to continuing to provide an outstanding
museum experience for our visitors,” Merkel said. “The renovations
to the second floor will allow us to expand the educational
opportunities we offer. The additional meeting space and
The Hub Cap will enable us to offer desirable amenities
to our customers.” Easily accessible to a half-dozen other
renowned cultural institutions in Allentown, AOW celebrates
our nation’s love affair with motorized and non-motorized
over-the-road transportation and its permanent exhibits
range from the Nadig – one of America’s first automobiles,
produced in Allentown – to the massive Mack Trucks that
helped America become the most powerful nation in the world.
AOW also offers hands-on playtime exhibits and learning
centers for the children and a souvenir shop for race fans
and anyone with an affinity for our automotive legacy.
The museum of "over-the-road" transportation is celebrating
its second anniversary April 17 with a weekend of fun, educational
activities for visitors. For more information visit the
museum Web site or call 610-432-4200.
For More Information:
Linda Merkel - Executive Director
America On Wheels Museum
5 N. Front St. Allentown, PA
(610) 432-4200
director@americaonwheels.org
www.americaonwheels.org
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