America’s Car Museum gets a lot closer to becoming a reality.
Harold and Nancy LeMay, Tacoma, WA amassed the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, other vehicles and memorabilia in the world. At its peak, the LeMay Collection numbered in excess of 3,000 vehicles and thousands of artifacts. The Collection is broadly American and spans the 20th Century, powerfully demonstrating both the dominance of the American auto industry as well as the American experience and love affair with the automobile.
In 1997 the LeMays, with assistance from local Tacoma, WA business leaders, formed the Harold E. LeMay Museum for the purpose of donating their Collection to the Museum for public benefit. The not-for-profit charitable Museum was chartered to interpret and preserve the history and technology of the automobile and its influence on American culture. Progress was slowed by Harold’s death in November 2000.
In 2002 the Museum hired a Chief Executive Officer, David L. Madeira, to lead the institution through a situational assessment and strategic planning to turn the LeMays’ dream into reality. The process included acquiring land as a site for the new Museum, selecting a Design and Planning Team, creation of an International Board of Directors, formation of a Steering Committee and guide development (fund raising) efforts.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with David volunteering as a media relations consultant before his staff took over PR responsibilities. I also sat on the Board representing my client and Board member, Nicola Bulgari, and serving on the Steering Committee. David, the Board and the LeMay family have done a phenomenal job during extremely difficult economic times bringing people and funds together to build what will truly be, America’s Car Museum.
On June 10th at 4:00 PM, ground was broken at the Museum’s future site in Tacoma, WA. The LeMay Museum has more than 2,400 Charter Members from 44 states, 4 Canadian provinces,
and 10 foreign countries. Harold would be proud.
To view photos taken at the LaMay Museum groundbraking, please visit http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=LeMay+Museum+Groundbreaking&z=e
For more information about America’s Car Museum and coverage of the Groundbraking, please visit
http://www.lemaymuseum.org/ and http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/11/1221874/rubber-finally-meets-road-for.html#user_comments