America's Packard Museum, Dayton (must see)

America's Packard Museum is a unique automotive museum housed in a restored Packard dealership. Originally home to The Citizens Motorcar Company, which began selling Packard automobiles in Dayton in 1908, the dealership moved into the current museum building in 1917. The museum owes its existence to Robert Signom II, the founder and curator, who acquired the building in 1991 and meticulously restored it to its original Art Deco elegance. The museum's grand opening in 1992 featured the reinstallation of the iconic 20-foot-tall porcelain and neon Packard sign, which had been removed in the early 1940s, back to its prominent position at the corner of Ludlow and Franklin Streets.

America's Packard Museum has gained significant recognition and acclaim since its opening. It won the James Bradley Award from the Society of Automotive Historians in 2004, highlighting its contribution to preserving automotive history. Car Collector magazine has also included the museum in its list of "Top Ten" automotive museums, underscoring its status as a premier destination for car enthusiasts and historians alike.

The museum's collection features over 50 Packard automobiles, ranging from the early 1900s Brass Era cars to the streamlined classics of the 1930s and 1940s, as well as the modern Packards of the 1950s. In addition to the cars, the museum showcases war machines, parts, accessories, and original sales and service literature. A standout exhibit is the original Articles of Incorporation of the Ohio Automobile Company, the entity that eventually became Packard, providing visitors with a deep dive into the brand's storied history.