LeMay – America’s Car Museum

About

LeMay - America's Car Museum occupies a stunning 165,000-square-foot building near the Tacoma Dome, housing one of the world's most impressive collections of automobiles. With over 300 vehicles on display at any given time - drawn from a collection that numbers in the thousands - it tells the story of how the automobile shaped American life, culture, and landscape.

The museum's four floors are organized thematically rather than strictly chronologically, which makes the experience feel less like a timeline and more like a conversation about cars and culture. You'll find early horseless carriages alongside muscle cars, vintage trucks next to exotic sports cars, and everyday family sedans displayed with the same respect as rare collectibles.

Rotating exhibitions keep the experience fresh for repeat visitors. Past shows have focused on specific marques, racing history, custom car culture, and the intersection of automobiles and design. The permanent collection includes vehicles spanning over a century of automotive history, from brass-era antiques to modern supercars.

The building itself is worth noting. Designed to evoke the curves and motion of automobiles, its exterior features a flowing silver roof that catches light differently throughout the day. Large windows provide views of Mount Rainier (on clear days) and the surrounding Tacoma waterfront area.

Interactive elements include a racing simulator, a kids' zone with hands-on activities, and regular events like car shows, lectures, and family days. The museum shop sells automotive books, model cars, and car-themed gifts. A cafe on site serves light meals and beverages.

The collection originated with Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman who amassed one of the world's largest private car collections - over 3,000 vehicles at its peak. The museum opened in 2012 to preserve and share this remarkable collection with the public.

Whether you're a dedicated gearhead or someone who just appreciates beautiful machines, the breadth and quality of this collection is genuinely impressive. Plan two to three hours for a thorough visit.

Accessibility

LeMay - America's Car Museum is designed for full accessibility. The building features elevators providing easy access to all four floors and galleries, ensuring visitors using wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility aids can navigate the entire museum comfortably.

All restrooms are ADA compliant. The museum's pathways between exhibits are wide and smooth, with adequate clearance for wheelchairs and scooters to maneuver between vehicle displays.

Accessible parking is available in the main parking lot near the entrance. Visitors can also use the roundabout in front of the museum for drop-offs closer to the main entrance. The entrance itself is step-free and ADA compliant.

Strollers, wheelchairs, and qualified ADA service support animals are allowed throughout the museum. However, wheelchairs are not currently available for loan or rental at the museum - visitors should bring their own mobility devices.

The cafe and museum shop are fully accessible. The building's modern construction (opened 2012) means it was designed from the ground up with current ADA standards in mind, making it one of the more thoroughly accessible museum experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

For specific accessibility questions, contact the museum at (253) 779-8490 or visit americascarmuseum.org.

More accessible places in Washington

• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Tacoma)
• Olympic National Park (Port Angeles)
• Mount Rainier National Park (Ashford)
• North Cascades National Park (Sedro-Woolley)
• Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (Seattle)
• The Museum of Flight (Seattle)