Museum’s Historic Vehicles to Go ‘Hoods Up’

BOYERTOWN PA – “Hoods-Up Weekend,” an annual event during which the normally closed hoods of vehicles at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles are raised for visitors’ inspection, is scheduled for June 27-28 (Saturday and Sunday).

More than 90 locally manufactured cars, trucks, carriages, bicycles, and motorcycles are on display at the museum. Hoods on more than 30 of them will be open during its regular hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Many of the cars, trucks, and other conveyances in the museum collection feature early and experimental engines. The joy of Hoods-Up Weekend, visitors say, is the ability to see those and other normally hidden away mechanical gems. Additionally, museum docents will be available throughout the weekend to answer questions and offer insight into both rare and regular machines.

On Saturday (June 27) only, as a special treat, museum volunteers also will start selected vehicles. The public can hear engines roar to life on a 1907 Dragon, 1914 Touraine, 1916 Autocar Stake Body Truck, 1917 VIM Delivery Truck, 1940 Bantam Pickup Truck, and others.

Additionally, members of the Susquehanna Valley, and Old Time Touring Club regions of the Horseless Carriage Club will attend the museum’s festivities. Visitors can witness the uniqueness, charm, and character exemplified by their historic vehicles.

The museum’s galleries, open to the public daily, include the original Jeremiah Swinehart Carriage Factory. They also offer examples of roadside architecture: a 1921 cottage-style Sunoco gas station, and a 1938 Jerry O’Mahony diner.

Photo provided by Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Founded in 1965

The museum, located at 85 S. Walnut St., will charge its applicable admission fee for the event. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and AAA members. Museum members and those ages 12 and younger are admitted free. For more information, call the museum at 610-367-2090 or send an e-mail to mail@boyertownmuseum.org.

The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles is a non-profit organization founded in 1965 by Paul and Erminie Hafer. It preserves and displays examples of Pennsylvania’s road transportation history in the former factory buildings of the Boyertown Auto Body Works.

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