Nethercutt Collection and Museum

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Pipes from The Mighty Wurlitzer organ in the Music Room http://www.flickr.com/photos/kansas_sebast...

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1967 Jaguar XK-E 4.2 E-Type Roadster, in the Museum Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

Marble columns and crystal chandeliers in the Grand Salon of the Collection Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

Grand Salon, from mezzanine level Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

1937 Canadian Royal Hudson locomotive, behind the Museum Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

The Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, the largest of its kind on the West Coast Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

Pedals of the Mighty Wurlitzer in the Music Room Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

Piano in the Music Room Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

1936 Duesenberg Model SJN Convertible Coupe, in the Museum Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

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1979 Lincoln Mark V "Lowrider" Coupe (w/Hydraulics), in the Collection Lower Salon Avoiding Regret (Sandi Hemmerlein)

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J.B. Nethercutt began his collection of automobiles in 1956, with the purchase of two antiques, a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster for $5,000 and a 1930 DuPont Town Car for $500. Nethercutt refurbished the antique cars and entered them in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1958. The DuPont won the coveted “Best in Show” award.

Through the rest of his life, Nethercutt continued to collect and refurbish antique automobiles, and in 1971 he and his wife opened their collection to the public, to view for free.

The collection is arranged in two large exhibition halls. The cars are classified by era: Antique (1890-1915), Vintage (1916-1924), Classic (1925-1948), and Post-War (1945-1970s).

As the collection grew, it came to encompass antique musical instruments, including phonographs and music boxes, as well as other relics of a bygone era, such as nickelodeons.

Additionally, the Nethercutt Automotive Research Library and Archives, one of the world’s top automotive research facilities, is housed in the museum. Just steps outside the Museum are a beautifully restored steam locomotive and rail car from 1912.

The museum regularly hosts musical events, such as organ concerts and silent films, free to the general public.

Know Before You Go

There are two buildings for the museum. One building with 50 cars and mechanical musical instruments and art is open Thursday through Saturday and you have to schedule an appointment to see that collection. The other building has around 120 cars and is open Tuesday through Saturday. This part of the museum also has a private 1937 train outside of it and they offer tours of that train twice a day at 12:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.