Bill Harrah's Cars

 Our first post retirement road trip in June took us through Reno Nevada. Being a non gambler in Nevada I needed to find something to do away from the casino that Jim would enjoy too. I hit the jackpot with a trip to the National Automobile Museum. The cars on display here are just a small part of the collection created by Bill Harrah who started out with bingo halls that turned into the Harrah's gaming empire. 

Bill Harrah's portrait from the National Automobile Museum website.

 The website has lots of history and information on events and if you want to see all these beautiful and some of them very sexy cars you can buy your tickets online too.

Our history museum opened in 1989, it was reported to have set the standard for automobile museums

around the world. Since then, it has received many accolades and today it is recognized as one of 10 Best Automobile Museums in the U.S.

The idea for this Museum developed following the death Bill Harrah and the museum still exists today thanks to a persuasive public and the generosity of many.

Bill Harrah was a prominent gaming pioneer who founded Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos and the former Harrah’s Automobile Collection. He assembled the largest and most historically significant collection in the world that reached approximately 1,400 vehicles. His legacy lives on at the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection).

After his death in 1978, Holiday Inns purchased Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos and Harrah’s Automobile Collection in 1980.

Following the announcement of plans to sell the collection, there was a tremendous public outcry across Nevada and the nation. Responding to this outcry, Holiday Inns donated 175 cars and the research library to the future nonprofit museum. At the time, it was the largest corporate philanthropic gift in our nation’s history.

Holidays Inns sold the balance of the Harrah collection, the majority at spectacular, record-setting auctions in 1984, 1985 and 1986, as well as through private sales.

With generous donations from the City of Reno Redevelopment Agency, the State of Nevada, and many individuals and organizations, this Museum opened on November 5, 1989, with much fanfare and national and international publicity.

The pictures below are just a sample of what I took that day. I spent most of my time walking through saying "Wow, look at that one!" Many of my favorites were the cars with the curvy long and low cars from the 30s and 40s like the silver car below. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!