California Automobile Museum, Sacramento

The California Automobile Museum, located in Sacramento, is a prominent institution dedicated to the history and cultural impact of the automobile. Originally opened to the public in 1987 as the Towe Ford Museum, it was founded in 1983 under the name California Vehicle Foundation. The museum initially showcased the world's largest collection of Fords, thanks to the contributions of Edward Towe, a Montana banker.

Over the years, the museum has undergone several transformations, including a name change in 1997 to the Towe Auto Museum, as it began to include a wider variety of vehicle makes and models. In 2009, the museum was renamed again to the California Automobile Museum, a change that reflects its broader mission to educate and entertain, while preserving and promoting the automobile’s significance in society.

The museum’s expansive exhibit space of 72,000 square feet houses over 160 vehicles including classic cars, race cars, muscle cars, hot rods, and early models. It stands out as the first automobile museum in the West established in perpetuity, dedicated to a dynamic and educational display. Most of the vehicles showcased are on loan from private exhibitors, with only about 25% owned by the California Vehicle Foundation. This lending model allows the museum to continually refresh its exhibits, varying from short-term displays of a month to long-term showcases of up to five years. This approach ensures a constantly evolving exhibition that effectively narrates the evolution of the automobile and its profound influence on modern life.