The Gilmore Car Museum

Out in the countryside at Hickory Corners is one of Barry County’s big surprises: the Gilmore Car Museum. The museum calls itself North America’s largest auto museum. That is the museum’s own comparison, not an independent ranking, but the scale is easy to see: its current history page describes a 90-acre campus with more than 400 vehicles on display and more than 209,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Donald S. Gilmore, then chairman of the Upjohn Company, began collecting vintage cars in 1963. A 1920 Pierce-Arrow was among the early cars, and restoring it at his home on nearby Gull Lake helped turn the hobby into something bigger. His wife, Genevieve, suggested sharing the collection as a museum. The nonprofit opened to the public on July 31, 1966, with 35 cars.

Part of the fun is the setting. The collection fills big red barns and vintage buildings, including a working 1941 diner and a re-created 1930s Shell station. Several partner museums share the grounds, and the National Park Service lists Gilmore among the points of interest in the MotorCities National Heritage Area. The museum is open year-round, but some outer buildings, rides, and other experiences are seasonal, so check the current hours before making the drive.

The Gilmore Car Museum is at 6865 W. Hickory Road, Hickory Corners; hours and events are at gilmorecarmuseum.org.