Blackhawk Museum

Blackhawk Museums

The Blackhawk Museums (founded 1988) is a group of museums in Danville, California, best known for its significant collection of classic, rare and unique automobiles. The Museum is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 private operating foundation.

The museum houses about ninety classic cars. It also houses a display showcasing the work of the Wheelchair Foundation.[1] The facility is located within the Blackhawk Plaza shopping center, and is an affiliate through the Smithsonian Affiliations program.[2]

Founded by a partnership between benefactor Ken Behring and Don Williams that began in 1982, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum first opened its doors in August 1988.[3] The Museum, a not for profit 501(c)3 private operating foundation, was established to ensure that significant automotive treasures would be exhibited for public enjoyment and educational enrichment.

One of the museum's most unusual features is a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C with a body paneled with tulipwood.[4] Over the years, the museum has also housed a 1962 John F. Kennedy limousine and a Chinese Hongqi, the first Chinese-made automobile to be imported to the United States.

Several changing exhibitions, representative of topics in transportation, culture and science as they relate to our society have been hosted in the various galleries and reception areas throughout the Museum. Current exhibitions include selections of American jukeboxes from the golden age of the juke box and a display of antique gas pumps. Since 2000 the Blackhawk Automotive Museum has been an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and together they have partnered to bring a variety of cultural exhibitions, historical artifacts and significant automobiles from across the US.

The museum is a partner in organizing the local Concours d'Elegance event,[5] which showcases some of the museum's collection among the usual entrants.

In February 2015, the Blackhawk Museum added a permanent collection of 19th century North American artifacts called The Spirit of the Old West, showcasing both the settler and Native American stories of the European expansion of North America in the 1800s.[6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Wheelchair Foundation Gallery at Blackhawk Museum" Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Alison Goldstein (2010). "Area museums open their doors... free". Tri-City Voice. Retrieved 15 Jul 2011.
  3. ↑ Bomstead, Carl (December 2013). "Blackhawk Celebrates 25 Years". Sports Car Market. 25 (12): 44.
  4. ↑ "See photo four.". Blackhawkmuseum.org. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  5. ↑ "Concours d’Elegance | Danville d'Elegance Foundation". Danville-delegance.org. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. ↑ February 20, 2015 at 9:02 am (2015-02-20). "Kenneth Behring brings new museum exhibit home to Blackhawk Museum – The Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  7. ↑ "The Spirit of the old West". thespiritoftheoldwest.org. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
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