Indiana is home to one of the most spectacular automotive museums in the entire country and most people have never even heard of it. That changes today.
Inside a stunning Art Deco building, vintage and classic cars spread across multiple floors and galleries that celebrate the golden age of American design. This is not a dusty collection of old vehicles.
This is automotive history presented in a way that makes your jaw drop repeatedly. Have you ever stood next to a car so beautiful it actually looked like a piece of art?
This museum delivers that moment over and over again. The building itself is extraordinary. The cars inside are even better. Casual visitors walk in expecting a nice afternoon and walk out completely obsessed.
Indiana is full of unexpected treasures and this museum sits right at the top of that list. Are you ready to discover one of the most exciting places this state has to offer? Clear the schedule for this one.
The Art Deco Building Itself
Before you even look at a single car, the building itself will stop you cold. The 1930 Art Deco administration building of the Auburn Automobile Company is considered the museum’s most important artifact, and that is not an exaggeration.
Designed by architect Alvin M. Strauss, this structure is the only automobile museum in the world housed in its original company headquarters.
That alone makes it a one-of-a-kind destination.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, designated an Indiana State Historic Site in 1992, and named a National Historic Landmark in 2005.
Visitors often say the building feels grand and full of 1920s and 1930s charm the moment they walk through the front door. The original showroom on the first floor still looks much like it did nearly a century ago.
Can you imagine standing in the exact spot where buyers once picked out a brand-new Duesenberg?
The curved staircases, the polished floors, and the detailed architectural touches all tell a story without saying a word. Visitors consistently say the building is way bigger than it looks from the outside, and they are always right.
The architecture alone is worth the drive to Auburn, Indiana.
Duesenbergs That Defined Luxury
The word “Duesy” did not appear out of thin air. It came directly from the Duesenberg, one of the most luxurious and prestigious American automobiles ever built.
In the 1930s, these cars cost $16,000 or more, which was an almost unimaginable sum at the time.
Hollywood stars, business tycoons, and the wealthiest families in America lined up to own one. Each Duesenberg was essentially handcrafted, built to the specific wishes of the buyer, and finished with a level of detail that most modern cars simply cannot match.
The museum’s exhibit called “Duesenberg: The Evolution of America’s Finest Motorcar” is a highlight that serious car fans should not rush through. It showcases rare models, including the very first Duesenberg sold to the public and experimental prototypes that never made it into production.
One visitor described the experience as seeing cars that are “works of art, a feast for the eyes with attention to details we do not have today.”
That feeling hits hard when you stand next to a Duesenberg and realize every curve was shaped by hand. Indiana is home to one of the finest collections of these machines anywhere on earth.
The Revolutionary Cord Automobiles
Not every car in history earns a spot in the New York Museum of Modern Art, but the Cord did exactly that. The Cord automobile was recognized as a design achievement so significant that it crossed from engineering into pure art.
The Cord L-29, introduced in 1929, was the first mass-produced front-wheel-drive car in the United States. That was a revolutionary idea at the time, and it changed the direction of automotive design for decades.
The later Cord 810 added retractable headlamps and a look so futuristic that people genuinely stopped in the street to stare.
One of the most talked-about cars in the collection is a 1930 Cord L-29 Cabriolet that once belonged to architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Knowing that one of America’s greatest creative minds chose this specific car says everything about what the Cord represented.
What kind of person drives a car that a museum considers a work of art?
The Gordon Buehrig Gallery of Design inside the museum recreates the original clay model studio where designer Gordon Buehrig shaped the Cord 810. This process is still used by car manufacturers today.
Standing in that recreated studio, you realize that what happened in Auburn, Indiana, quietly shaped how cars look all over the world.
Auburn Cars And Their Power
Auburn cars had a personality all their own. While Duesenbergs were built for the ultra-wealthy and Cords pushed design boundaries, Auburn automobiles offered serious power at a price more people could actually afford.
That combination made them wildly popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
The 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster is one of the most visually striking cars in the entire collection. Its long hood, sweeping fenders, and exposed exhaust pipes give it a look that feels fast even when it is standing still.
One lucky visitor even got to drive a 1935 Auburn 851 Sedan around the town of Auburn with a staff member, describing it as fulfilling a lifelong dream.
The museum displays Auburns from 1924 to 1937 in the original showroom, exactly where they would have been sold to real customers walking in off the street. Seeing them in that context adds a layer of meaning that a generic museum space simply cannot replicate.
Does it get more authentic than seeing a car in the actual room where it was once sold?
Auburn cars represent the democratic side of this golden era, proof that thrilling design and real performance were not only for the super-rich. The city of Auburn, Indiana, carries that legacy with genuine pride, and the museum makes sure visitors feel every bit of it.
Three Floors Of Pure Discovery
The museum has a reputation for surprising people. Visitors consistently report that the inside is far larger than the outside suggests, and that sense of discovery never gets old.
Three full floors and nine automotive-themed galleries give you more to explore than most people expect.
The first floor holds the original showroom, restored to its 1930s appearance, where Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs are displayed as they once were for actual buyers. The upper floors expand into galleries covering racing history, engineering milestones, Indiana-built cars, and even a Stinson Junior airplane, because E.L.
Cord also owned the Stinson aircraft company.
The Gallery of Excellence on the third floor showcases rare and unusual cars built in Indiana that most visitors have never seen before. Some of these vehicles are genuinely unlike anything else you will encounter in any other collection.
How many museums can surprise a seasoned car enthusiast with something completely unfamiliar?
Families with kids also find plenty to do. Children have had the chance to sit in antique cars and race cars, which visitors describe as one of the coolest experiences their kids have ever had. The museum is fully handicap accessible, making it welcoming for everyone.
The Annual Labor Day Festival
Once a year, the entire city of Auburn, Indiana, transforms into a celebration of automotive history on a scale that is hard to describe without seeing it. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival takes place every Labor Day weekend, and it draws car lovers from across the country.
The festival centers on the museum and fills the surrounding streets with vintage cars, classic car auctions, parades, and events that make even non-enthusiasts excited to be there. The energy during festival weekend is something that regular visitors say is completely different from any other time of year.
The museum itself becomes even more lively during the festival, with special programming and events that connect the indoor collection to the outdoor celebrations happening all around it.
If you have ever wanted to see hundreds of stunning vintage cars in one place over one weekend, this is the event to put on your calendar. Could there be a better excuse to road trip to Indiana?
The festival has a long history and deep roots in the community, making it feel like a genuine celebration rather than a commercial event. Local pride runs high during this weekend, and that enthusiasm is contagious.
Visiting during the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival turns a great museum trip into an unforgettable experience that stays with you long after you drive home.
Events And Special Programming
The museum does not just display cars behind ropes and hope you enjoy yourself. It actively creates experiences that connect visitors to these machines in memorable ways.
One of the most popular events is called Demonstration Days, where a museum curator actually starts and drives a car from the collection inside the building.
Hearing a 90-year-old engine come to life in that original Art Deco showroom is an experience that visitors talk about long after they leave. The sound alone is worth showing up for.
Cars and Coffee events also bring local car owners and fans together on the museum grounds for casual, enthusiastic gatherings that feel more like a neighborhood celebration than a formal program.
The museum has also hosted weddings, with couples choosing the stunning Art Deco interior as their ceremony backdrop. One couple described their wedding there as the event of their dreams, made possible by a staff team that went above and beyond to make it special.
Have you ever considered that a car museum might be one of the most beautiful event venues in Indiana?
Notable guests including Jay Leno and Dan Aykroyd have visited the museum, drawn by the quality and significance of the collection.
The museum also runs educational programs with trained docents who bring the stories of these cars and the people behind them to life in ways that a simple placard never could.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Getting the most out of a visit to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum starts with a little planning. The museum is open seven days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM, which makes it easy to fit into almost any travel schedule.
The museum is located at 1600 Wayne St, Auburn, IN 46706, and it sits right next to the National Auto and Truck Museum. Many visitors do both in a single day, spending anywhere from three to six hours depending on how deeply they want to explore each collection.
Visitors say the National Auto and Truck Museum, housed in the original Auburn factory building behind the main museum, is absolutely worth the extra stop.
Admission is very affordable, and visitors who receive EBT assistance can get in for free by showing their card at the door. The gift shop inside the museum is a nonprofit operation, meaning every purchase you make goes directly toward maintaining and preserving the collection.
Is there a better souvenir than knowing your purchase helped keep automotive history alive?
Indiana has no shortage of things to see and do, but this museum earns its place at the top of any road trip itinerary. Go with time to spare, comfortable shoes, and a willingness to be genuinely surprised by what you find inside.