Come See Us In 2023

Swigart Museum is Open Saturday October 28th & Sunday October 29th 10:00 - 5:00.

October 29, 2023 the museum closes for the season.

America's Oldest Antique Automobile Museum

Visit The William E. Swigart Jr. Automobile Museum


Where You Can Experience Automotive History

The Swigart Museum is the oldest automobile museum in the United States.

When you visit the museum you will learn about the historical significance of the automobile, while viewing our many displays, and our one-of-a-kind automobiles in our collection.

Our automobile collection was started in 1920, just 25 years after the first patented combustion engine automobile. It was started as a collection that was made available for public viewing during business hours at Swigart Associates. It was later registered as a separate automobile museum, which is still thriving today.

The Swigart Museum collection contains automobiles and carriages dating back to 1896. You can see between 30 to 35 automobiles on display each year at the museum. Because our collection is so vast, each year while the museum is closed over the winter, we change the displays to give everyone the opportunity to see more of our collections. We also have a featured display each year of one of our special automobiles in the center of the museum.

During your visit you will experience more than just cars. The Swigart Museum features the excitement of early automobile racing and old cars that are depicted in prints, paintings, and photographs from renowned automobile artists such as Ernest Montaut and Peter Helck.

You will find a large collection of Jim Beam collector automobile decanters on display on one of our beautiful antique display cases.

In what is believed to be the largest collection of automobile emblems, badges, and license plates in the country, familiar labels from Ford, Packard, and Oldsmobile are displayed alongside the emblems of forgotten models. Car badges, a sign that the motorist belonged to an automobile club, are also on display. The license plate exhibit represents every state in the union and includes only a fraction of the plates in the museum's collection. This important collection of automobilia also includes automobile lamps and horns, hood ornaments, and other accessories that added to the pleasure of driving.

One corner is devoted to a collection of vintage Fisher-Price toys, including classics such as the Snoopy Sniffer and the Corn Popper push toy. Everything from wooden pull toys offered during the company's first year (1931) to toys popular a decade ago brings to mind the pleasure of these childhood favorites.

There's something for everyone of all ages to enjoy at the museum




Although two of our cars on display were movie stars we consider all of our cars to be exceptional like our 1910 Buick Five Passenger Phaeton that was part of President Theodore Roosevelt's campaign parades. These are just a few of the examples of historical vehicles on display at the Swigart Museum.

Herbie The Love Bug

Herbie The Love Bug is on display at the museum. This Herbie was in two of the Herbie movies. Herbie is a favorite of all ages. Come find out which movies our Herbie starred in when you visit Swigart Museum.

On Display

Tucker #1013

Our #1013 Tucker on Display is one of the many Tuckers used in the movie. Be sure to visit our gift shop during your visit where you can purchase "Tucker The Man and His Dream" now available on Blu-ray.

On Display

Come Experience Automotive History at The Swigart Museum

Founded in 1920, The Swigart Museum is the oldest automobile museum in the United States and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and celebration of the automobile and memorabilia.

Make your plans today to come and learn about the historical significance of the automobile and see our wonderful displays, where you will see many one-of-a-kind automobiles.
The William E. Swigart, Jr. Automobile Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum dedicated to the preservation and education of present and future generations. Our remarkable collections have existed for 100 years, beginning as a private passion of our founder W. Emmert Swigart. His son, William E. Swigart, Jr., fell under the spell of these wonderful machines and built up the collection to about 150 cars, of which 30 to 35 are on display at the museum at one time. Some are one-of-a-kind such as the 1936 Duesenberg 12 cylinder Gentlemen's Speedster, the 1920 Carroll, and the 1916 Scripps-Booth.

The museum is accented with even more history. The automotive license plate and radiator emblem collections are believed to be the largest in the world. Automobile lights and horns, bicycles, toys, vintage clothing, and memorabilia are on display throughout the museum. In addition, a gift shop stocked with automobile related products for young and old alike makes a visit to the William E. Swigart, Jr. Automobile Museum a uniquely entertaining and educational experience for all members of the family.


The museum is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October.

"We Hope To See You Down The Road."