Mopar or no car: Detroit-area Chrysler Museum to reopen June 4
Jeff Peek
Sounds like we weren't the only ones hoping that the "closed" sign on the Walter P. Chrysler Museum was temporary.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that the Auburn Hills, Mich., facility – home to a rotating exhibit of 65 classic, custom and concept Chrysler Corp. vehicles – will soon open its doors to the general public for the first time in more than three years. The museum closed on Dec. 31, 2012.
According to Brandt Rosenbusch, manager of historical services for FCA US, Chrysler employees lobbied to open the facility, and the decision was made after securing enough volunteers to staff the museum. It will be open two weekends per month (excluding December) beginning June 4-5.
The 55,000-square-foot facility features three floors of historically significant automobiles, along with interactive displays and historical exhibits that tell the story of Chrysler's contributions to automotive design, technology and innovation. There are more 300 vehicles in the museum's collection.
"I think everybody's been asking for it to reopen," Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association President Lori Emerling told the Detroit News. "We're really excited."
The Chrysler employee car club has hosted its annual car show at the museum every year since the facility opened in 1999, and for a donation to charity, show-goers have been allowed inside. This year's show is scheduled for June 11.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates in 2016: June 4-5 and 25-26, July 9-10 and 16-17, Aug. 6-7 and 19-21, Sept. 10-11 and 24-25, Oct. 1-2 and 22-23, Nov. 5-6 and 19-20 and Dec. 17-18. An extra day was added and hours will be extended until 6 p.m. during the weekend of the Woodward Dream Cruise Aug. 19-21.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children. Admission is free for kids age 5 and under. For more information, visit www.wpchryslermuseum.org.
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