About the KC Auto Museum

The Kansas City
Auto Museum Story

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The Kansas City area is home to major automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, racing, and a vibrant collector community. We have a long, storied, and proud automotive heritage that needs to be preserved and celebrated.

Our vision is to be one of the premier automotive museums in the country while sharing Kansas City’s contribution to the automotive industry.

The Kansas City Automotive Museum opened in May 2014 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable corporation. Currently located in Olathe, KS, our interim museum features more than 30 cars in a 10,000 square foot display space. Since opening, the Museum has become a recognized and popular establishment within the car community and has grown to be a meeting place for car enthusiasts, historians, club meetings, special events, and visitors to Kansas City.

The museum highlights significant Kansas City automotive history such as 1965 Le Mans winner Masten Gregory (the “Kansas City Flash”), the Ford Winchester Plant, and Greenlease Cadillac.

80,000+ Visitors

900+ Vehicle Rotations

65+ Curated Exhibits

400+ Events

1,100+ Annual Fund Contributors

60+ Volunteers

11 Staff Members

7 National Awards

Our Mission

To entertain and educate all generations through the preservation, promotion, and display of Kansas City’s rich automotive heritage.

We have partnered with organizations like The National WWI Museum and Memorial, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, American Royal, KC Royals, KC Museum, Union Station, Mecum Auctions, KC Auto Show, area car clubs, Scouts of America, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City and Minddrive, to name a few.

Upcoming Events

Meet the Team

Do you have a question about an exhibit or event or planning a visit? Contact us and our team will be happy to assist you.

Meet the Team

FAQ: New Building Updates

Our future location sits on a hill just off 31st street, between Broadway Boulevard and Southwest Trafficway in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Our Museum will share the same skyline with the iconic Kansas City Scout statue and the historic BMA Tower.

Locating to downtown Kansas City will allow the Museum to better attract tourists visiting Kansas City. The central location will also make our facility more accessible to auto enthusiasts from all over the city. Our new location is within 2 miles of Union Station, the World War I Museum and Crown Center. We will be located within 3 miles of The Country Club Plaza, the Nelson Atkins Museum, and the Power and Light District.

We anticipate opening in 3-4 years.

We are currently working with architects to develop a conceptual design for the building. We will share this information publicly when we feel we can communicate all the appropriate information.

Kansas City based firm, Helix Architecture + Design are the architects for the project. The Scenic Route is providing exhibit design and fabrication services. They are based in Los Angeles and were the design/build team for the Petersen Automotive Museum renovation and have designed numerous other automotive museum exhibits.

We are currently testing a fundraising goal through a campaign feasibility study process.

Like any major capital campaign, we will be reaching out to potential donors and foundations with an interest in supporting a new attraction for Kansas City. We are currently in the feasibility study phase, during which we will determine a realistic fundraising goal and a strategy for raising the money. Once we complete the feasibility study, we will move into “active fundraising.”

This will be determined during the design phase of architectural planning. We do not have a definitive answer at this time.

The total count of vehicles will depend on the final design of the building and size of the vehicles.

We will have a variety of curated vehicle displays that will rotate regularly. Displays may highlight historical vehicles, exotics, classics, etc. We will maintain an area of the Museum that is for local car clubs.

Yes, we plan to expand educational programs. We will preserve many of our existing programs like Junior Docent Program and programs for the Scouts of America. We will also have interactive opportunities throughout the Museum.

Yes! And many other events!

Absolutely! Contact events@kcautomuseum.com for more information.

Yes, the new Museum will feature an event space with a spectacular view of downtown Kansas City surrounded by automobiles!

The Museum will continue to assume the operational role. As with all museums, support will come from donors, members, events and earned income.

You can visit the site anytime. However, you may not access the garage without a Museum staff member. The garage is not open to the public. To schedule a tour email underground@kcautomuseum.com.

Yes, the Museum has a collections policy that is utilized for all physical donations.

Yes. The Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

If you are interested in volunteering, or would like to discuss donating to the campaign, contact Jan Huckleberry, Fundraising Coordinator at janh@kansascityautomuseum.com or 913-322-4227 ext 118.