Auto museum takes different approach to visitors
Every museum has to try new promotions and gimmicks to keep patrons coming through the turnstyle, and automotive shrines are no different. Traveling shows, special events featuring a particular brand or model, or hands-on events have worked, but the A.A.C.A. Museum in Hershey, Pa has taken a creative approach to increasing attendance.
The A.A.C.A has over $10 million worth vintage cars, and adult males comprise a large percentage of visitors. To draw a more diverse demographic, the museum has launched a successful campaign to get women and children in the doors. One promotion invited Girl Scouts to camp overnight at the museum, while learning how to perform maintenance on cars. The A.A.C.A. also hosted clinics on automotive detailing, which is a big hit with owners of vintage vehicles who often spend big dollars getting their classics prepped before car shows. Another unique event brought 350 visitors to the roof of the museum to watch "Madman Muntz: American Maverick" being projected onto the side of a building while hot dogs and popcorn were being served.
We like car museums as much as the next auto-obsessed blogger, and the A.A.C.A. has some great ideas to increase foot traffic. Now to get the kids over to Hershey so they can learn how to change the oil.
[Source: NY Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gardiner Westbound 4:36PM (8/12/2007)
Socialists always have a noble reason for increasing taxes, while spending taxpayers money like water.
Reply
John Metcalf 7:16PM (8/12/2007)
As opposed to neocons who decrease taxes on their rich buddies and then start expensive wars . . . to enrich their rich buddies at the expense of the underclasses.
What does this have to do with car museums again?
Gardiner Westbound 8:43PM (8/12/2007)
I inadvertently posted my comment to the incorrect article.
Regardless, the socialist goal is to ensure everybody is equally poor. Judging by your reply you have never lived under a socialist regime or experienced crippling taxes first hand.
John Metcalf 9:39PM (8/12/2007)
Mis-posting noted. Thanks for the clarification.
Mike 11:28PM (8/12/2007)
HE HE HE, funny stuff....
epp_b 8:48PM (8/12/2007)
Cool! Very smart move, I think. Props to whoever thought this one up.
Reply
Dan 10:54AM (8/13/2007)
Interesting article that talks about more than just the AACA Museum. But if you really want to get folks interested in old cars, you can't just put them behind glass displays - you have to give them hands-on opportunities. You have to let them touch the cars, sit in the cars, even drive or ride in the cars. The article touches on those points, but doesn't come out and state as much. Cars are not and were never meant to be static things like artwork or furniture, so the challenge of a car museum is the very nature of the museum itself.
Visitors to our little museum at Hemmings Motor News can put their hands on and sit in the various cars, and there's now a driving museum out in L.A. somewhere. Auto museums (the ones that aren't just so in name for the tax writeoff) need to consider approaches like these to make the cars in their collections relevant.
Reply