To operate as a museum of road transportation, vehicles, artifacts, roadside culture, alternative propulsion, and vehicle builders focused on Pennsylvania and the Greater Delaware Valley; as well as the historic vehicles built by Jeremiah Sweinhart’s Carriage Factory 1872-1914 and by Paul Hafer’s Boyertown Auto Body Works 1914-1990 in the historic Industrial Age factory buildings which now house the collection.
-
Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
To operate as a museum of road transportation, vehicles, artifacts, roadside culture, alternative propulsion, and vehicle builders focused on Pennsylvania and the Greater Delaware Valley; as well as the historic vehicles built by Jeremiah Sweinhart's Carriage Factory 1872-1914 and by Paul Hafer's Boyertown Auto Body Works 1914-1990 in the historic Industrial Age factory buildings which now house the collection.$225.00
More About Us
The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles stands out as a unique preservation of road transportation history in Pennsylvania. The Museum is dedicated to preserving and memorializing Pennsylvania’s unique place in the history of transportation.
From the Jeremiah Sweinhart Carriage Factory with its operating blacksmithing forge used in the manufacture of carriages and sleighs to electric vehicles made in Boyertown Auto Body Works in the 1970s, the museum’s staff and Board of Directors has an eye out for opportunities to acquire, preserve, and restore the best specimens of road transportation vehicles manufactured in Pennsylvania.
The location, collection, and mission of the museum provide a great opportunity to help new generations to value Pennsylvania’s contribution to the transportation of America from the cradle of the early iron industry in Eastern Berks and Western Montgomery Counties.
More than preservation, the museum is strategically positioned to be an educational asset to school districts by providing learning experiences which fill the state’s needs by highlighting Pennsylvania’s vital position in the industrial development of the area. An integral part of this opportunity is to both maintain the existing collection, increasing its exposure, but also restoring these important pieces of history to as complete condition as possible.
One example of the need for preservation is for an important part of the museum’s collection, its 1900 Duryea Phaeton which was donated to the museum in 1986 by Bill Pollock. From the early 1950s to 1986, the car was a part of the Pollock Auto Showcase in Pottstown. A major restoration of the vehicle was started during that time, with one vital exception. The Phaeton has no transmission. And in the last 33 years, the museum has searched to find an existing one.
Then, Dominic Denardo, a retired master machinist joined the crew of volunteers. He and his son still have access to a working machine shop. The marriage of the services of a volunteer master machinist with access to a machine shop and the museum’ need for the Phaeton’s transmission is a partnership made in heaven. Mr. Denardo is meticulously fabricating a new transmission for the Phaeton.
The museum’s goal for the “Amazing Raise” is $ 25,000 to continue our work in preserving our collection of America’s transportation treasures, such as the 1900 Duryea Phaeton.
You have the opportunity to be a part of the mission. Your contribution between on October 15 will be proportionately matched as a part of the “Amazing Raise”. Please give generously.
Since 1965, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles has been preserving Pennsylvania’s road transportation history. Housed in a former truck factory–and a carriage factory before that–the Boyertown Museum displays rare and and beautiful examples of our state’s manufacturing history. The evolution of road transportation is on display in historic buildings, from horse-drawn carriages, sleighs, and wagons, to a variety of bicycles and motorcycles, to a wide variety of gasoline cars and trucks. Also featured are early electric vehicles and their history. Many of our pieces have been unrestored, and some are the last remaining examples of their kind. The early and experimental days of the motorized vehicles take center stage at the Boyertown Museum.
The Museum continues to save pieces of Pennsylvania’s road transportation culture and improve the public’s access to our dynamic industrial history.
Testimonials
“This was one of the most worthwhile museums I have visited in a long time. Its holdings were extremely varied, from vintage penny-farthings, tractors and a Conestoga wagon to twentieth century Duryea’s, Model T’s and a fantastic 1948 woody Chrysler. To top the collection off, there is an original Sunoco gas station and a beautifully restored 1938 diner! Everybody we talked to was exceedingly kind and accommodating, and I would definitely visit the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles again!”
“This “hidden treasure” in Boyertown is a great family outing. The volunteers are friendly, helpful, and educational, and the exhibits are unparalleled. It’s automotive history with a big helping of American, Pennsylvanian, and Berks County history thrown in. Highly recommended.”
“Amazing, fun place to visit. Loved the variety of the Museum items and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour. He spent more time with us since my husband has antique vehicles and we appreciated all that was for us to see. I highly recommend this museum with a great staff! You will see vehicles that will amaze you that no other Museum has.”