Tacoma, WA to get an awesome car museum Options

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http://www.lemaymuseum.org/index_story.php?cdx=2



The Drive for America’s Car Museum launched, we’ve taken the on ramp...

The Harold E. LeMay Museum has officially launched its capital fund drive, “The Great American Road Trip – The Drive for America’s Car Museum”, to build the world’s foremost automobile museum in downtown Tacoma, Washington. “The response from Tacoma, greater Puget Sound, and the collector car hobby has been an astounding affirmation to build America’s Car Museum”, announced David L. Madeira, CEO of the Museum at a recent launch ceremony. “The value of this collection and its ability to best tell the story of America’s love affair with the automobile in the 20th century has been confirmed by voices all across the country and from every segment of the collector car hobby. I’ve been told repeatedly, “this collection must stay together and America’s Car Museum must be built”!

With a total campus build cost of $167,000,000, the Drive for America’s Car Museum already has commitments representing 20% of the total campaign.

Nancy LeMay received a standing ovation at the launch ceremony after Board Chairman John Barline announced a family pledge of $15,000,000. “I ask the community and collectors from around the country to join with me in preserving this national treasure”, said Nancy LeMay. “You now have the opportunity to be permanently recognized for your support”, she continued. This pledge will be used specifically to support the capital fund drive, on track to break ground in early 2006 for phase one of the main Museum pavilion, followed by grand opening ceremonies in early 2008.

Representing the City of Tacoma, Mayor Bill Baarsma made the city’s pledge of land official. “The 9-acre grounds directly across C Street from the Tacoma Dome are an excellent location for the permanent home of the LeMay Museum and I believe it will become the jewel of downtown Tacoma”. The city’s pledge represents a gift valued at $17,500,000. The land, currently a parking lot, will be divided between 3 acres for the Museum pavilion and a 6-acre Show Field with a retail and dining complex.

At the launch ceremony, Andy Cohen, Managing Principal and Alan Grant, Lead Architect from Gensler & Associates presented Board Chairman John Barline with the completed design related materials to officially close out their contract. A scale model of the Museum and Show Field was unveiled, complete with removable top to show the “Tower of Horsepower”. There was an 8-minute video to tell the story of the Museum’s future home. This video, now included with campaign materials, presented the vision of the Museum project and served as a virtual tour of the various car display galleries, entertainment complex, Museum and member storage “Vaults” and restoration shop along with beautiful images of the collection’s cars, trucks, motorcycles, and memorabilia that will have a permanent home in the new Harold E. LeMay Museum. Alan Grant, whose vision and talent has created a beautiful and highly representative building concept is being retained by the Museum to continue the detail design work, beginning in January, 2005.