Blackhawk Museum facts for kids
Blackhawk Museum
|
|
| Established | August 1988 |
|---|---|
| Location | Danville, California |
The Blackhawk Museum is a really cool place in Danville, California. It opened in 1988 and has five different areas to explore. You can see amazing classic cars, learn about the American Old West, discover art from Africa, explore Chinese history, and even see exhibits about nature.
This museum is located inside the Blackhawk Plaza shopping center. It's also connected with the Smithsonian Affiliations program, which means it works with the famous Smithsonian museums. The museum is part of a non-profit group called the Behring Global Educational Foundation.
How the Museum Started
The Blackhawk Museum began thanks to a partnership between Ken Behring and Don Williams. They started working together in 1982. The museum officially opened its doors in August 1988.
Their goal was to show off important and beautiful cars to everyone. They wanted people to enjoy them and learn from them. An architect named Doug Dahlin designed the museum building.
In February 2015, the museum added a new permanent exhibit. It's called "The Spirit of the Old West." This part of the museum shows what life was like in North America in the 1800s. It tells stories from both the settlers and Native American people.
What You Can See: Museum Collections
The museum has about ninety classic cars. These are old, special cars that are very valuable. You can also see a display that shows the work of the Wheelchair Foundation. This foundation helps people who need wheelchairs.
One of the most unique cars at the museum is a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C. It has a body made from a special wood called tulipwood. Over the years, the museum has also shown a 1962 limousine that belonged to John F. Kennedy. Another special car was a Chinese Hongqi, which was the first car made in China to come to the United States.
The museum helps organize a local event called the Concours d'Elegance. This is a car show where many beautiful cars are displayed. Some of the museum's own cars are shown there too.
The museum often has new exhibits. These exhibits cover different topics like transportation, culture, and science. For example, they have shown old American jukeboxes and antique gas pumps. Since 2000, the Blackhawk Museum has worked with the Smithsonian Institution. Together, they bring many different cultural exhibits, historical items, and important cars from all over the U.S.
Since it opened, the museum has added exhibits about African art, Chinese history, and even exotic animals.
