Automotive Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Automotive Hall of Fame

Automotive Hall of Fame in 2011
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Established	October 18, 1939 (1939-10-18)
Location	21400 Oakwood Blvd Dearborn, MI 48126

The Automotive Hall of Fame is a special place that celebrates important people in the history of cars and the auto industry. It's like a museum and a hall of fame all in one. You can find it in Dearborn, Michigan, which is a town near Detroit, USA. This Hall of Fame is part of the MotorCities National Heritage Area, which highlights the history of cars in the region.

History of the Hall of Fame

The Automotive Hall of Fame started a long time ago, on October 18, 1939, in New York City. A group called the "Automobile Old Timers" created it. Their main goal was to remember the first people who helped create the automobile. They also wanted to honor people from all parts of the car industry around the world.

For its first 30 years, the Hall of Fame changed its name four times. In 1957, it became "Automotive Old Timers." This new name showed that it included more people, even those from related industries. Then, in 1971, it changed to "The Automotive Organization Team." Finally, it became known as "The Automotive Hall of Fame." This last name helped it grow even more.

In 1946, the Hall worked with the "National Golden Jubilee." This event celebrated 50 years since the first automobiles were made. General William S. Knudsen said that ten pioneers were chosen for the Hall of Fame. These were people whose amazing ideas and leadership made today's cars possible. They worked with the Automobile Manufacturers Association to pick these first honorees. Some of the first people chosen included Henry Ford, Ransom E. Olds, and Alfred P. Sloan Jr..

The organization moved to Washington, D.C. in 1960. It shared a building with the National Automobile Dealers Association. In 1971, it moved again to Midland, Michigan. This was its first real home, located at Northwood University. Then, in 1997, it moved to its current location in Dearborn, Michigan. This building is 25,000 square feet, which is quite large! It's right next to The Henry Ford museum. Inside, you can see old car parts and learn about car history. There's also a small theater and a big area for events and other exhibits.

The Hall of Fame celebrated its 75th birthday in 2014. In 2016, during a special ceremony, the president of the Hall of Fame mentioned that they were thinking about moving to downtown Detroit. However, these plans did not happen.

Awards and Honorees

Each year, the Hall of Fame honors people who have made a big difference in the car industry. By 2016, 271 people had been welcomed into the Automotive Hall of Fame. These honored individuals include the founders of famous car companies like Benz, Bosch, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Porsche, and Toyota.

Besides the main Hall of Fame induction, three other important awards are given out each year:

• Distinguished Service Citation
• Industry Leader of the Year Award
• Young Leader and Excellence Award

For the Hall of Fame induction, the Distinguished Service Citation, and the Young Leader and Excellence Award, anyone can suggest a person. You can fill out a form or send a letter with information about the person. This helps the Awards Committee make their choices. The Industry Leader of the Year Award is different. Only the Awards Committee can nominate and choose the winner for this award.

Famous Inductees

Other Similar Places

In 2001, the European Automotive Hall of Fame was created. It welcomed its first 13 members that year. Special plaques honoring these people are placed at Palexpo, which is where the Geneva Auto Show takes place.

See also

• List of motor vehicle awards