Lars Anderson Auto Museum
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 18.605 W 071° 08.128
19T E 324002 N 4686414
This modest auto museum claims to have the oldest collection of automobiles in the United States which has an everchanging exhibit area and hosts monthly motor vehicle events in the grassy area next to the carriage house where the museum resides.
Waymark Code: WM3NV8
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 04/26/2008
Views: 123
According to the museum's web site, for over 75 years, the museum "has been supporting the collector car community through a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and lectures."
The museum exhibit building is a brick building with turrets on the corners. This building was the carriage house of Larz and Isabel Anderson, who were diplomats and socialites of Boston. Their first automobile was an 1899 Winston Runabout. As the continued to purchase new automobiles, they would retire the 'old' one to the carriage house. After a while, they would allow the public to view the 'antique' cars in the carriage house on Sunday afternoons. They totalled 32 automobiles in all. When Isabel Anderson died, the the carriage house was given to the Veteran Motor Car Association of America who first opened the building as a museum in 1949. Today, the museum has 14 of the original 32 automobiles, plus some other cars as part of the permanent collection.
In the 1970s-1980s timeframe, the Museum of Transportation, as it was then known, moved to a wharf building with the Boston Children's Museum in South Boston, but later moved back to the Carriage House.
Today, the museum provides an exhibit area that they periodically change [Opening in May 2008 is a Italian Car Exhibit]. They also have many events scheduled throughout the year, such as "Corvette Day" and lectures to attract almost any automotive taste. Check the web site for scheduled events for the year. An event that is also held in the museum is the regional pinewood derby tournament for the cub scouts.
The museum is located within Anderson Park in Brookline, MA, and is near the Jamaica Plains part of Boston. Getting there can be tricky for people not familiar with the area, but the web site has directions and signs are posted. The park was the location of the Anderson Estate. The mansion is gone, but in addition to the carriage house, there are other grassy fields, a pond, and an ice skating rink.
Primary Vehicle Category: Cars
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
The museum may be closed during changes to the exhibits or special functions.
Cost of Admission: 7.00 (listed in local currency)
Physical address of Museum:
15 Newton Street
Brookline, MA United States
02445
Museum Website: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
To log your visit, please include a picture of your favorite vehicle in the museum. If you choose not to enter the museum, post a new picture of the sign or exterior, something so that we know you have been there.