I’m sure we’re all familiar with the phrase from the adventurous Indiana Jones Movie, “That belongs in a Museum!’. In this Treasures of the Museum series, MW reaches out to museums across the world and asks them Six Questions. It’s inspiring to learn more about these hidden treasures.
I was so excited to catch up to Katie from the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. My husband, Mahlon, and I visited the museum about a year ago and enjoyed it very much. We had driven our corvette down and snapped a shot of it and us in front of the museum. (a ‘to do’ on Mahlon’s bucket list….now checked off :))
The museum is an impressive collection of cars (and MORE)….with such an interesting history. These Treasures are part of what makes America great!
Let’s learn more about them from Katie of the National Corvette Museum! Enjoy!
- 1Q) When did you start working with the National Corvette Museum?
I joined the National Corvette Museum team in July of 2009 – right before the Museum’s 15th Anniversary. Previously I had worked at the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, marketing the Museum and other area attractions, so I was very familiar with NCM. Prior to working at the CVB I’d worked at a couple automotive suppliers – so that gave me a little more “car” background.
- 2Q) What do you enjoy most about working at the museum?
We don’t say we are in the Museum business – we are in the people business. You come for the cars but stay for the people. So the networking and getting to know Corvette enthusiasts from all over the world is the best part of the job. The Museum has a Corvette Store that not only sells items on-site, but also online and travels to car shows all over the country selling merchandise. Working those shows is another great way to connect with enthusiasts, see some awesome cars, and travel. Being a membership-based 501c3 nonprofit, people are our most valuable asset.
- 3Q) Do you feel there is one exhibit or artifact that the museum is most known for? Can you share some interesting facts about it?
If you’d asked me this question 11 years ago when I started working here, I’d say the 1983 Corvette, as it is the only one still remaining. It’s the only model year there was not a saleable Corvette manufactured and all the test cars, except this one, were crushed. But… since 2014 I’d have to say the most popular Corvettes are the “sinkhole” Corvettes. February 12, 2014 the roof of a then unknown cave collapsed under our Skydome building, creating a 40’x60’ sinkhole that was over 30 feet deep. Eight Corvettes fell in – two on loan from GM and the other six owned by NCM. The next few month was spent recovering the cars. At first we thought we would immediately restore the cars and put things back to normal – but the world was intrigued by our story – so we decided to pivot and display the cars, also telling the story of what happened. Since then three of the Corvettes have been restored, but the others were too heavily damaged to be repaired. We had a 67% increase in visitation in 2014 and have stayed pretty close to that annual attendance number ever since. Click image for more:
- 4Q) Is there some often forgotten item that shouldn’t be missed when visiting?
It’s a relatively new exhibit but the story could be easily overlooked… the 1954 ‘Entombed’ Corvette. The car was purchased new in ’54 for a grocery store owner’s wife – she hated the car, so he bricked it up in a small room in the basement of one of his stores. He passed away but wanted the car to stay there. Nearly 30 years later the building sold and the new owners wanted the car out. The guy’s daughter took the car for awhile but then sold it. It eventually was donated to us. We have recreated the ‘tomb’ that it was in, including the tiny viewing window it had. It really is a fascinating story once you start reading more about it! READ MORE (click on image)
- 5Q) What do you feel is the most valuable ‘treasure’ of the museum? It might not be a monetary value, but of a historical value or even sentimental?
As odd as it may sound I’d have to go with Zora Arkus-Duntov’s ashes. Zora was the first Chief Engineer for Corvette, and who wrote a letter to GM early on giving them suggestions on ways to improve the Corvette. Zora is also who pushed GM to design a mid-engine car… which finally became a reality more than 60 years later as the 2020 Corvette is Zora’s dream – a mid-engine. Zora and his wife Elfi wanted their ashes housed at the Museum, and they are. We like to say they keep an eye on the cars each night.
- 6Q) Is there any advice you would have for those wanting to visit?
Consider planning the complete Corvette experience by booking some touring laps in a Corvette at the NCM Motorsports Park. Also, make plans to grab a bite in the Corvette Café (the homemade Chaney’s Dairy Barn ice cream is the best). Click for more:
– Are there best times of the day, or days of the week to come?
Weekdays are less busy, and before 10am or after 3pm are slower times. However, the facility is quite large so there really isn’t a bad day or time to visit.
– How long should visitors allow on their schedules to explore the fascinating exhibits?
Some guests spend about an hour and a half at the Museum while others will spend 3-4 hours. It really depends on if you are a ‘streaker’, a ‘stroller’, or a ‘studier’.
- Bonus Q: ‘Is there an item, a ‘lost treasure’ so to speak, that the Museum is on the lookout for? Might it be out there to find?’
We are more than just a Corvette Museum – we have other models on display that tell stories about the Corvette – whether it is an MG – the European Sports Car that inspired America to create its own; the Ford Thunderbird – the ‘competition’ that encouraged GM to drop a V8 in the Corvette, etc. We have a ‘wish list’ of cars we’d like to have to complete our collection: https://www.corvettemuseum.org/corvette-museum-seeking-to-expand-collection/.
