Preserving America’s automotive heritage: Inside the Museum of American Speed
Nestled in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Museum of American Speed is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the people, machines, and innovations that shaped America’s rich automotive and racing history. Whether visitors are lifelong racing enthusiasts or simply curious about American ingenuity, the museum offers an unforgettable journey through more than a century of speed, engineering, popular culture, and innovation.
Founded in 1992 by racing enthusiasts and collectors “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith, the Museum of American Speed grew out of a lifelong passion for hot rodding, motorsports, and preserving automotive history. What began as a private collection has evolved into one of the nation’s premier automotive museums. Today, the museum encompasses nearly 300,000 square feet of exhibit space across three floors and houses an extraordinary collection of race cars, engines, pedal cars, toys, signs, memorabilia, and historic artifacts that tell the story of America’s love affair with speed.
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The museum’s mission is simple yet powerful: to honor and preserve American hot rod and racing history while inspiring future generations through automotive innovation, creativity, and achievement.
Through its exhibits, educational fundraisers, and signature events, the museum is dedicated to preserving these stories and introducing new generations to the inventors, racers, builders, and visionaries who shaped automotive culture. From May through October, the museum hosts its popular Cars and Coffee series, a free community event open to the public. Other annual highlights include Wheel Hub Live, LEGO Pit Stop, Hall of Fame ceremonies, and a variety of special programs that celebrate the people and history of American motorsports.
The museum, located at 599 Oak Creek Drive in Lincoln, Nebraska, welcomes visitors from around the world. Hours vary by season: it is open Monday through Saturday from May through September, with reduced hours from October through April. Visitors should check the museum’s website for current hours and tour information before planning a visit.
The Museum of American Speed operates with a dedicated staff supported by nearly 60 volunteers, gracious donors, and automotive enthusiasts who share a commitment to preserving history. Together, they care for one of the world’s most significant collections of racing and automotive artifacts while creating educational experiences for guests of all ages.
Although the museum’s collections span the entire history of American racing and performance, it also represents an important part of Nebraska history. The museum celebrates the legacy of Nebraska entrepreneur and racing advocate Speedy Bill Smith, the growth of Speedway Motors in Lincoln, and the state’s long-standing contributions to automotive innovation and motorsports culture. It serves as both a regional landmark and a nationally recognized destination.
The museum continues to expand and enhance its exhibits. Recent projects include the addition of the Unser Racing Collection, which preserves the remarkable history of one of America’s most successful racing families, as well as ongoing efforts to digitize historical photographs, preserve historic vehicles, and create new interactive displays that bring racing history to life for future generations.
Choosing the most significant artifact in the museum is impossible. The collection includes over 400 historic vehicles and more than 600 racing engines. However, one of the museum’s standout features is its unparalleled gallery of land speed race cars, which spans from jet-powered cars such as Craig Breedlove’s Spirit of America, to countless record-setting race cars that helped define America’s quest for speed during the twentieth century.
The most compelling part of the museum is the human stories behind the artifacts. Visitors can discover the innovations that emerged from small garages, learn how determined racers and home builders overcame incredible odds, and explore the dreams and ingenuity that fueled generations of automotive pioneers. Every race car, engine, trophy, and photograph represents a larger story about American creativity, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of speed.
More than a museum, the Museum of American Speed serves as a living tribute to the people whose passion for racing and innovation helped shape American culture. By preserving these stories today, it ensures they will continue to inspire future generations tomorrow.
– Museum of American Speed, October 2026
Media Contact:
Kevin Sander, Development Director
Phone: 402-423-5769
Website: www.museumofamericanspeed.org
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