 Blackhawk Museum | |
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| Established | August 1988 (1988-08) |
|---|---|
| Location | Danville, California |
| Coordinates | 37°48′05″N121°55′03″W / 37.801254°N 121.917555°W /37.801254; -121.917555 |
| Website | www |
TheBlackhawk Museum, founded in 1988, consists of five distinct galleries in a facility inDanville, California with a significant collection ofclassic, rare, and unique automobiles. In addition to its galleryClassic Car Collection, the museum's four other galleries areThe Spirit of the Old West,Art of Africa,Into China, andWorld of Nature.
The museum is located within theBlackhawk Plaza shopping center and is an affiliate through theSmithsonian Affiliations program.[1] The museum is a subsidiary of a not-for-profit Behring Global Educational Foundation.[2]
Founded by a partnership between benefactorKen Behring and Don Williams that began in 1982, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum first opened its doors in August 1988 (36 years ago) (1988-08).[3] The museum was established to ensure that significant automotive treasures would be exhibited for public enjoyment and educational enrichment.
Hacienda-based architect Doug Dahlin is responsible for the design of the museum.[4]
In February 2015, the Blackhawk Museum added a permanent collection of 19th century North American artifacts calledThe Spirit of the Old West, showcasing both the settler and Native American stories of the European expansion into North America during the 1800s.[5][6]
The museum houses about ninety classic cars. It also houses a display showcasing the work of theWheelchair Foundation.[7]
One of the museum's most unusual possessions is a 1924Hispano-Suiza H6C with a body paneled withtulipwood.[8] Over the years, the museum has also housed a 1962John F. Kennedy limousine and a ChineseHongqi, the first Chinese-made automobile to be imported to the United States.
The museum is a partner in organizing the localConcours d'Elegance event,[9] which showcases some of the museum's collection among the usual entrants.
Several changing exhibitions, representative of topics in transportation, culture, and science as they relate to our society, have been hosted in the various galleries and reception areas throughout the museum. Current exhibitions include selections of Americanjukeboxes from the golden age of the juke box and a display of antiquegas pumps. Since 2000, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum has been an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and together they have partnered to bring a variety of cultural exhibitions, historical artifacts, and significant automobiles from across the US.
Since its opening, exhibits showcasingAfrican art,Chinese history, and exotic animals have been added.
