7 Car Museums in Virginia (Antique Cars, History & More)

If you like classic cars, with a history, there are amazing auto museums in Virginia.

As a car enthusiast, if you want to see some amazing vintage vehicles, then you should visit these 7 car museums in Virginia.

The state of Virginia has a rich automotive heritage. In addition to being home to the National Corvette Museum, the city of Richmond boasts the largest collection of classic automobiles in North America.

#1 Virginia Museum of Transportation

7500 West Broad Street in Richmond, VA 23220 | Website

The Virginia Museum of Transportation was established in 1989 by the Commonwealth of Virginia and has been operating ever since.

This museum is dedicated to preserving the history of transportation in Virginia.

The automobile museum features a collection of over 100 vehicles, including and electric locomotives:

  • permanent displays of antique cars,
  • trucks
  • buses
  • modern trains
  • streetcars
  • trolleys
  • and even an airplane!

The Virginia Museum of Transportation also hosts many special events throughout the year including:

  • Virginia’s Great Train Days
  • Virginia’s Great Steamboat Days
  • Virginia Railway Express Holiday Train Show
  • Virginia Railway Express Christmas Train Show

Virginia Museum of Transportation has a Gift Shop with many interesting items for visitors of all ages.

It is possible to find souvenirs in every price range, which will be great memorabilia of this visit to the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

#2 Carriage Caravan Museum

970 US-211, Luray, VA 22835 | Website

The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum is one of the many interesting things to do in Luray Virginia. So if you’re coming to visit Luray Caverns, this is another great place to stop while you’re in this small town.

Image Source: Carriage Caravan Museum website

This museum has been operating since 1878 and was originally built by John W. Luray. It is located at 1201 Main Street, Luray, Virginia.

RELATED: 15+ Best Beaches in Northern Virginia (& Within 2 Hours)

The museum houses more than 2,000 vehicles including

  • carriages
  • buggies
  • wagons
  • motorcycles
  • tractors
  • fire engines
  • ambulances
  • police cars
  • military vehicles
  • and other motorized vehicles.

The absolute star of the museum’s collection Carriage Caravan Museum is the 1897 Mercedes – Benz, a beautiful car still able to go on the road.

Visitors of the Carriage Caravan Museum will be overwhelmed with the beauty of the 1908 Baker Electric Chevy Volt and 1925 Rolls Royce.

The museum’s collection also features antique farm equipment, including threshing machines, corn shellers, cotton gins, hay balers, and horse-drawn plows.

Image Source: Carriage Caravan Museum website

There are also exhibits on the history of the county and its people.

Working time is on every day of the year, but check the first working hours.

The entrance fee for adults is $32, for seniors $29, and the kids (6 – 12) $16. Tickets are offered online also.

For visitors with cars, parking is free at the parking lot. Also, there is free space near the entrance door always.

#3 Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum

880 W Roslyn Rd, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 | Website 

The Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum has many antique farm tractors on 125,000 square feet.

All visitors who are interested in agricultural heritage offer well-preserved farm tractors and equipment from the last century.

The permanent exhibition of this museum includes old-time cars, vintage gas pumps, oil cans, and many more interesting items.

Vintage cars at Keystone Tractor Works
Image Source: Keystone Tractor Works website

The founder of Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum, Keith Jones is still there every day, at the service of visitors.

The museum collection was established in 1917.

At the Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum, visitors can see UDLX Minneapolis Moline, Sampson Jumbo, Silver King, and a Graham Bradley tractor.

The attraction of the Museum is the tractors Massey Harris, Massey Ferguson, Farmall, Case, and Oliver farm tractors, as well as the Cockshut farm tractor models 30, 40, 50, and 70.

Visitors are offered to see the restorations that are now underway. Visitors can see on the spot how tractors and various machinery are being restored, as well as equipment that is necessary for agriculture.

Image Source: Keystone Tractor Works website

New to the Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Museum is a Gift Shop. Souvenirs and collectible items can be found in the store.

The whole family can find something interesting that was a wonderful experience when visiting this museum. In addition to souvenirs, the Gift shop also sells books.

Contributors are offered a wide range of books to complete their library.

Keystone Antique Truck & Tractor Gift Shop is the place to find toy tractors that are faithful replicas of big tractors.

In addition to tractor replicas, you can also find remote-controlled toys of various sizes.

#4 Old Cranks Museum

407 S Railroad Ave, Galax, VA 24333 | Website

Old Cranks Museum and Ice Cream Shop have displayed 1906 Orient, 1917 Detroit Electric, and 1919 Stanley Steamer cars.

These are among the first car models made in the world. In addition to oldest cars, the museum has old models of bicycles, gas pumps, horse-drawn carriages, car parts, and other small things related to motoring.

Car models made in the fifties and sixties of the last century are available to visitors.

vintage car at Old Cranks
Image Source: Tripadvisor

There are over 70 models of cars. Two models on display were manufactured in 1914, 1914 Metz and 1914 Saxon.

The stars of these fantastic collections are a

  • 1957 T – Bird
  • 1950 Studebaker
  • 1959 Austin – Healy
  • 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1
  • and 1952 Hudson Hornet.

Old Cranks Museum has an Ice Cream Shop with the best Ice cream in the area, and RV Park & ​​Campground.

RV Park & Campground has a place for 15 RV-s. Museum working hours are on Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm.

The entrance fee is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for kids from 6 to 12.

#5 Bruce A. Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles

114 S New St, Staunton, VA 24401 | Website

Bruce A. Elder Antique and Classic Automobiles are located in the Beverly Garage Building, built over a hundred years ago.

The oldest exhibited car models were made at the beginning of the last century.

Image Source: Bruce A website

The museum used to be open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays, but not anymore. Now it only works for sales, appraisals, or limited visitation.

It is possible to schedule sales and appraisals during working days. Organized groups of visitors can visit the museum by appointment only.

#6 US Army Transportation Museum

300 Washington Blvd, Fort Eustis, VA 23604 | Website

The US Army Transportation Museum presents modes of military transportation throughout history.

The exhibition “The Transportation Officer Candidate School During the Vietnam Era 1966 to 1968” talks about the ways of transporting the army during the war with Vietnam and the introduction of helicopters as a means of transporting people and weapons in Vietnam.

In February 1968 the Army enrolled the first generation of 2459 candidates in the Officers Candidate School Program.

They were all attached to the Transportations Corps and participated in the Vietnam War. A great source of knowledge for history buffs and car enthusiasts.

The military aviation museum contains pictures and artifacts from that era and shows how the military was transported during the Vietnam War.

The US Army Transportation Museum “Stem program” is a program for students that helps them gain knowledge about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

STEM skills are very important for many professions, so the student will be able to get valuable lessons from the displays in the museum.

The museum store also houses artifacts, antique automobiles, model trains that will help students gain knowledge about these precious topics at the US Army Transportation Museum.

Most important artifacts in the automobile museum are:

  • Decades-old steam Locomotives Railway Crane build in 1952, 75-ton crane.
  • M872A1, Trailer flatbed, wait for 34 tone
  • ARTFT – 6, Forklift, Rough Terrain, 3 ton, 4×4
  • M561, Gama Goat
  • Marine Pavilion Project
  • Barge, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, ‘BARC’ 3-X

#7 The Wood Brothers Racing Museum

21 Performance Drive, Stuart, VA 24171 | Website

The story of the Wood Brothers Racing Museum began in 1950 when Glen Wood first raced at Morris Speedway.

After a crash in his debut, Glenn Wood became a great driver, winning many races and entering the top 50 NASCAR drivers. In 1965, Glen Wood became the owner of Wood Brothers Racing.

Glenn was succeeded by his sons, Eddie and Len. Wood Brothers Racing set a Guinness record as the longest-active NASCAR team.

An interesting artifact in The Wood Brothers Racing Museum is Glen’s lawn movers, built by Leo Wood.

He built two lawn movers, one for Glen and one for himself. Leo’s lawn mover is visible in Stuart when Leo works on his grass.

Visitors of The Wood Brothers Racing Museum can find displayed Charlotte Paint Scheme Honors Glen Wood’s last winning ride.

In 2011, the Wood Brothers celebrated victory in the Daytona 500 and the election of the team into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The Wood Brother’s cars will carry the same color scheme as the ’63 version.

Virginia Car Museums That Have Permanently Closed

  • Roaring Twenties Antique Car Museum
  • Unfortunately, this museum has now been permanently closed.
  • A roaring twenties antique car museum was one of the best places to spend some time with family or friends as there are also a lot of options for outdoor adventures. It was also a good way to learn more about how cars were made back then.
Photo of author

Michaela Lee

Michaela lives in Northern Virginia and is a mom of 2 young kids. She enjoys writing, reading and going new places with her family.