Heritage Museums and Gardens

In 1964, Josiah K. Lilly III entered a world of collectors fascinated with vintage cars and the preservation of antique automobiles. Over the years he and his wife searched country for cars that played an important role in American history, such as the 1913 Ford Model T, and rare cars that demonstrate the highest levels of auto design, like the 1930 Duesenberg Model J.

Like many collectors, they found friendship and pleasure in the community of those who shared his interest in collecting vintage automobiles. Lily chose to share his interest with the public when he founded the museum in 1969.

Today the museum tells the story of "How Automobiles Transformed America", presenting the origin story of the American automobile through 26 cars from Heritage’s permanent collection.