National Corvette Museum
File:National Corvette Museum logo.jpg | |
Established | September 1994 |
---|---|
Location | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
Type | Museum of the Chevrolet, Corvette |
Website | http://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.
Honorees[7] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Name | Name | Name | Name | Name | Name |
1998 | Bill Mitchell | Harley Earl | Larry Shinoda | Joe Pike | Ed Cole | Zora Duntov |
1999 | James C. Perkins | Dave McLellan | Dick Guldstrand | |||
2000 | John Fitch | Dick Thompson | Jerry Palmer | |||
2001 | Gibson Hufstader | Joseph Spielman | Betty Skelton | |||
2002 | John Cafaro | Jim Jeffords | Myron Scott | |||
2003 | Noland Adams | Robert Morrison | ||||
2004 | Ray Battaglini | Darrel Bowlin | Jon Brookmyer | Dan Gale | Terry McManmon | |
2005 | Chip Miller | Randy Wittine | Don Yenko | |||
2006 | Dave Hill | John Lingenfelter | Gary Mortimer | |||
2007 | Doug Hooper | Gordon Killebrew | Carl Renner | |||
2008 | Allan Barker | Don Barker | Reeves Callaway | Maurice Olley | ||
2009 | Duane Bohnstedt | Tony De Lorenzo | Gerald Thompson | John Hinckley | ||
2010 | Grady Davis | Fred Gallasch | Jim Ingle | |||
2011 | Clare "Mac" MacKichan | Ray Quinlan | Ron Fellows | |||
2012 | Andy Pilgrim |
Visiting
The museum is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, except on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas (December 24–25), and New Year's Day (January 1).[8]
References
- ^ Antonick, Mike (2006). Corvette Black Books 1953-2007. MotorBooks International. p. 106.
- ^ "National Corvette Museum Delivery (Option R8C)". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
- ^ http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/local-contractor-will-help-remove-reported-million-in-corvettes-from/article_773f14c0-d55e-5925-9361-29635b40349f.html?mode=jqm
- ^ Jeffries, Adrianne (February 12, 2014). "Eight vintage Corvettes swallowed by 40-foot sinkhole inside National Corvette Museum". The Verge. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
- ^ Jones, Matthew (February 13, 2014). "Corvettes disappear into massive hole". BBC TopGear. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ Everson, Zach (February 13, 2014). "Corvette Museum Sinkhole Swallows Eight 'Vettes: Watch Them Sink". Aol Travel. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ "Corvette Hall Of Fame Inductees". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
- ^ "Planning Your Visit". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
External links
37°00′15″N 86°22′30″W / 37.00417°N 86.37500°W
- Museums in Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Automobile museums in Kentucky
- Chevrolet Corvette
- American national museums in Kentucky
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
- Non-profit organizations based in Kentucky
- Museums established in 1994
- 1994 establishments in Kentucky
- Southern United States museum stubs
- Kentucky building and structure stubs