National Corvette Museum

National Corvette Museum

Established September 1994
Location 350 Corvette Drive
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Type Automobile
Website www.corvettemuseum.org

The National Corvette Museum showcases the Chevrolet Corvette, an American sports car that has been in production since 1953. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65's Exit 28. It was constructed in 1994, and opened to the public in September of that year.[1]

The museum is located only a quarter mile from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where Corvettes have been made since 1981. Public tours of the assembly plant are available. In addition, Chevrolet allows Corvette buyers to take delivery of their new vehicles at the museum, with a VIP tour of the plant and museum included for the buyer and up to three guests.[2]

2014 damage

On February 12, 2014, a sinkhole opened under the floor of the Skydome area of the museum at around 5:44 AM local time, causing a portion of the floor to collapse. Eight rare and one-of-a-kind Corvettes, portions of the display stands and rails, large concrete floor slabs and dirt fell into the sinkhole, causing serious damage to some of the Corvettes. The Corvettes involved have an estimated value of a million dollars.[3][4] The remaining 20 cars in the Skydome were immediately removed from that area. Starting March 3, 2014 through March 6, 2014, 5 of the 8 Corvettes were recovered from the sinkhole. The spire area of the Skydome is being reinforced before work starts on removing the final three buried cars.[5] The museum reopened the day after the sinkhole appeared,[6]

Hall of Fame

The museum also sponsors the Corvette Hall of Fame for individuals who have been involved with the Corvette automobile and made significant contributions in their respective fields. Each year, between two and four persons are inducted into this select group.

References

  1. ↑ Antonick, Mike (2006). Corvette Black Books 1953-2007. MotorBooks International. p. 106.
  2. ↑ "National Corvette Museum Delivery (Option R8C)". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local-contractor-will-help-remove-reported-million-in-corvettes-from/article_773f14c0-d55e-5925-9361-29635b40349f.html?mode=jqm
  4. ↑ Jeffries, Adrianne (February 12, 2014). "Eight vintage Corvettes swallowed by 40-foot sinkhole inside National Corvette Museum". The Verge. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ Jones, Matthew (February 13, 2014). "Corvettes disappear into massive hole". BBC TopGear. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ Everson, Zach (February 13, 2014). "Corvette Museum Sinkhole Swallows Eight 'Vettes: Watch Them Sink". Aol Travel. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Corvette Hall Of Fame Inductees". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved February 13, 2014.

External links

Chevrolet Corvette timeline, 1953–present
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
3456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 012345
3-box coupe C2 C3 C5
Fastback coupe C3 C4 C5 C6 C7
Convertible C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
Performance Fuel Injection Z06 Big Block ZR-1 LT4 Z06 Z06 Z06
L84 Big Block LT1 ZR1
Motorsports: Grand Sport • GTP • C5-R • C6.R • C7.R

Coordinates: 37°00′15″N 86°22′30″W / 37.00417°N 86.37500°W