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A Message
From The Executive Director, Linda Merkel
Museums serve as a special place of knowledge. Keeping
that in mind, operating a museum requires the generous
support of many individuals and businesses. Please
take the time to visit our website at www.americaonwheels.org
to view the various ways you can become a partner
and help support our ongoing endeavors to deliver
an exciting, entertaining and educational museum experience.
Our journey is continuing and we hope you'll come
along for the ride. Please read on to see where our
travels have taken us this year. It's been exciting
and we're revving up for more great experiences down
the road.
Starting Off the New Year
America On Wheels raced into 2011 with an exhibit
of dragsters and funny cars in the Changing Gallery.
The collection featured cars either owned or driven
by residents of the Lehigh Valley and surrounding
towns. Many of these gentlemen joined us on a beautiful
spring Saturday to interact with our visitors, offering
racing stories, taking pictures and signing autographs.
It was a wonderful day and once again highlighted
the contributions to competitive auto racing of so
many "homegrown" individuals. The museum is grateful
for their generosity in sharing their time and treasures.
Jumping Into Summer with Disney
In May, America On Wheels' parking lot took on the
feel of a Hollywood back lot, as Disney-Pixar showcased
the famed character cars that headlined the film,
Cars 2 Agents On A Mission. Over 3000 parents and
children waited for the opportunity to view and have
their pictures taken with the three main characters,
Lightning McQueen, Tag Mater and Finn McMissle. The
Disney representative informed us this was their largest
attendance to date and they had previously visited
New York and Philadelphia.
Celebrating Chevrolet's Centennial
Currently in the Changing Gallery is an exceptional
display of Chevrolet Firsts, in celebration of Chevrolet's
100 Year Anniversary. The vehicles showcased are either
the first of a particular model or incorporate a new
design or engineering endeavor. This is a "must see"
exhibit not only for Chevy enthusiasts but also for
anyone interested in the influence Chevrolet has had
on the automotive industry. In July, America On Wheels
organized a "100 Years of Chevrolet" cruise with a
caravan of Chevrolets from the museum to SteelStacks
in Bethlehem. We were hoping for 100 vehicles but
were thrilled to actually parade 195 cars, trucks,
customs and rods through the streets of Allentown
and Bethlehem. It was a tremendous show of support
for the museum and we're grateful for all who participated.
A Museum for Learning
As education is one of the main tenets of America
On Wheels, we are pleased to offer an outstanding
venue to schools, children's summer programs and the
general public to learn about the transportation industry
and the impact it has had on the social and economic
culture in America. Our educational programs allow
visitors of all ages to test their skills with family
fun activities designed to educate and entertain.
We will be partnering with the Allentown School District
Foundation to provide a location for students to learn
about the science and creativity involved in the automotive
industry. Our library continues to be a wonderful
resource for visitors to learn in a comfortable and
relaxed setting. We look forward to seeing you and
encourage you to spread the word that….America On
Wheels is truly a trip worth taking!
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