Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum

The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum is a collection in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Part of the Western Reserve Historical Society and housed at the Cleveland History Center, it was founded by industrialist Frederick C. Crawford of TRW, and opened in 1965. The collection began as the Thompson Products Auto Album, which was also founded by Crawford. Crawford explained that when he started collecting the cars, it was simply because it seemed a shame to let them be scrapped, which was the typical fate of almost all antique machinery at the time. He saw value in saving a few historically significant examples.[1]

The Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection
Established1965
Location10825 East Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
USA
Coordinates41.5131°N 81.6112°W / 41.5131; -81.6112
FounderFrederick C. Crawford
WebsiteThe Crawford Auto-Aviation Collection homepage
1916 Owen Magnetic

Its eclectic collection of historic vehicles includes (as of 2019) more than 170 automobiles, 12 aircraft, 3 antique carriages and sleighs, and 21 non-car artifacts (motorcycles, boats and bicycles). The facility includes more than 2000 square feet of archival collections.[2]

The aviation collection includes a P-51 Mustang racing plane used in Thompson Trophy Races.[3] The oldest car in the collection is an 1897 Panhard et Levassor, while more recent acquisitions include a 1981 DeLorean and a Self-driving car named DEXTER which was team Team Case's entry in the DARPA Urban Challenge 2007, in which it placed in the top 20.[4]

In 2016, the museum's 1913 ALCO Model Six Berline Limousine won the Ansel Adams Award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, one of the country's most prestigious auto shows. The Ansel Adams Award is given to the most desirable touring car at the show.[5]

As of 2018, the museum featured two major exhibits: Setting the World in Motion, featuring cars and airplanes made in Northeast Ohio,[6] and REVolution: The Automobile in America, telling the story of the automobile in America.[7]

See also

References
  1. "The Thompson Products Auto Album". Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  2. Ewinger, James (2012-12-09). "Revamped Crawford Auto Aviation Collection to open next year at revived historical society". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  3. Western Reserve Historical Society. "Aircraft". Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  4. "DEXTER, Case Western Reserve University's robotic car, to be inducted into Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum". Case Western Reserve University Press. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  5. Washington, Roxanne (2016-08-30). "Cleveland's Crawford Auto Aviation Museum's antique limousine takes the prize". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  6. "Setting the World in Motion". Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  7. "REVolution--The Automobile in America". Retrieved 2018-12-28.



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