The rainy season has begun, gas prices are up and company is coming. I know just the place to take the relatives where you will not have to travel far to rekindle happy memories and entertain the youngsters: the ever-changing Towe Auto Museum in Old Town.

Visiting the museum, I felt like a time traveler. Upon entering I saw a stagecoach full of passengers. I could almost hear a crack of the whip and the horses’ hoofs beating off the dusty miles. I found a display of Henry Ford working on his inventions and room after room of wonderful old cars, trucks and buses. Some of the rooms have exhibits showing families going on picnics or camping next to their newly acquired invention - the automobile.

A docent will take you around the museum and answer questions about the automobiles that are on display. Some cars are always on display, new ones are added often, and each month a car club will put their cars on display.

The featured car club for December is the Sierra Mustang Club. Some of the cars on display include a 1996 Ford Mustang GT Coupe, 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback, 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible, 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible, 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe and a 1972 Ford Mustang Fastback Mach-1. Those should bring back a lot of memories!

I especially liked the 1908 Ford Model T touring car. It just looked like so much fun - that is unless it began to rain!

I discovered beautiful luxury cars, roadsters, and black cars that reminded me of the ones seen in the movies when mobsters drive by shooting. The museum includes displays of hot rods, convertibles, sports cars, racing cars and the list just goes on and on.

There is a car that you can sit in while having your picture taken. There are approximately 170 antique and classic vehicles in the museum. In a Special Events area, there is space provided for business and social functions and it can be rented for public and private purposes.

In addition to all this, the museum has a prize that few other places have: a 1920s “mighty Wurlitzer” theatre pipe organ. Back in the days of the Stutz Bearcat and Calvin Coolidge, the movies were silent except for the music. The musical score was the sole voice of the film. This voice was usually a pipe organ. When sound films arrived in 1927, the thrilling sound of the theatre organ was no longer used.

Completely original organs are quite rare, and this Wurlitzer was assembled with parts from many organs. A huge amount of wind is required to operate the organ. A 10hp centrifugal turbine blower is located in an enclosure behind the museum, putting out some 2,400 cubic feet of air pressure per minute. You can experience the “voice” of the organ in silent movies offered at the museum.

Take a trip to the Towe Museum and journey down memory lane. Listen to the organ, watch a silent movie and take a picture of all the relatives sitting in a classic antique car.

Enjoy!

Finding Your Way
From Sacramento take Interstate 5 to the exit for Old Town and follow Front Street to the Towe Auto Museum at 2200 Front Street.  For information call: 916-442-6802

Reprinted by permission of River Valley Times
© 2008 River Valley Times