Here are some of our favorite places to see vintage trailers…
RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum. Elkhart, IN
More trailers than cars, the RV Founders Hall displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia reaching back to the 1920s and 1930s. The museum presents chronological and technological advancements in the industry from before WW I to the present. It is a must-see for anyone who appreciates the history of the RV industry in America. Here’s the website.
The Volo Museum. Volo, IL
A family-owned and operated museum that is also home to Volo Auto Sales, one of the most respected names in the industry. Many of the displays feature vehicles that are for sale, so the collection is always changing.
Well-organized, labeled, and displayed, this collection is a “must-see”! There are iconic classic and muscle cars, and original cars from movies and TV. There are at least half a dozen Duesenberg cars, a self-playing orchestra, a Disney gallery, and a vast collection of pop culture and Americana artifacts.
From boats and scooters to jukeboxes and bicycles, there is something for everyone. Eight vintage trailers and RVs are on display, and two were featured in the Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine. Visit the website.
Pioneer Village. Minden, NE
Founded in 1953 by Harold Warp, a Chicago manufacturer, the museum is a complex of 28 buildings on 20 acres with a total collection of more than 50,000 items including 100 antique tractors, the world’s oldest Buick, a 1902 Cadillac and a 1903 Ford, both designed by Henry Ford. There are 350 other antique cars, all displayed in their order of development. Many look like time stood still in the mid-’60s.
The sheer quantity of items at this attraction takes a full day to walk through. Only one pre-war Masonite Vagabond trailer on display. Visit their website.
The Henry Ford. Dearborn, MI
Experience firsthand the sights, sounds and sensations of America’s formation. More than 80 acres showcasing 300 years of American perseverance serve as a living reminder that anything is possible.
See the building where Thomas Edison had his lightbulb moment, or the workshop where the Wright brothers repaired bikes and pioneered flight. Take a ride in a real Model T, or a walk through four working farms. The museum has some fantastic cars but also showcases many other aspects of American ingenuity. Here’s the official website.
Of course, you can always see hundreds of vintage trailers at a Trailerfest Rally!
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Another one, and it is excellent, is the Owls Head Transportation Museum in
Owls Head, Maine.
We’ve been to Pioneer Village a couple of times and hopefully we’ll go back again. But, allow yourself at least two days to see everything, not just a full day. It’s all about vintage LIFE not just vintage cars.
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, IN. It is about an hour from Elkhart.
That one’s on my bucket list of things to see. Among other things, they have the prototype of what would have been the 3rd generation of the International Harvester Scout SUV (which ended production in October of 1980… 🙁 )
Jack Sisemore RV Museum in Amarillo, TX is wonderful. Closed for the season though, opening back up in March 2025. https://www.rvmuseum.net/
Tallahassee Automobile Museum, Tallahassee FL. And it’s a Harvest Host site!
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI is a great vintage car museum. Well worth the trip!
Midwestern RVers who snowbird in AZ-NM should not miss the Jack Sisemore Travelland Museum in Amarillo, TX. This private collection has many unique antique and classic trailers and motorhomes from the 1920s through the 1970s.
Been to the Henry Ford a couple of times, and it’s great! You pretty much need two days to see everything: one day to see Greenfield Village, and a second day to see the museum itself!
Thank you, Paul! We have visited the RV hall of fame and museum. Vintage RVs are interesting. Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂