You may have noticed that our Automobile in American Life exhibit is looking a little…different lately.

That’s because this important representation of Americans on wheels – one of the most significant exhibitions of its kind in the world – is getting a makeover!

When we first opened the Automobile in American Life exhibit in 1987, it was considered groundbreaking for its size, scale and scope – 50,000 square feet that documented the introduction of the automobile and its enormous impact on our culture and lives. But just like Americans and their cars, this story has kept moving at a rapid pace, and our exhibit is ready to zoom into the future.

During the renovation of this now 80,000-square-foot space, we’ll be adding new collection items, brand-new labels and signage, more explanatory graphics and improved layouts and displays to tell updated story lines on America’s transportation history.

Many favorites from the collection will remain, including the classic McDonald’s neon sign and the Holiday Inn room (gotta love that green shag carpet!) – and when it comes to Lamy’s Diner, you’ll finally get to do what many of you have asked for over the years: the chance to sit down and have a cup of coffee in this fabulous old-school diner.

One of the coolest parts of this updated exhibit will be the new technology applications. Twenty new interactive experiences with 42-inch touch screens will allow you to interact with digital artifacts from our collection and dig into curators’ insights and the stories the exhibit tells – in other words, you’ll be able to experience Henry Ford Museum in a whole new way!

As you can tell, we’re pretty excited – so stay tuned for more updates throughout this process! And for a great retrospective on the Automobile in American Life exhibit and the construction process, check out this great post from Midwest Guest.

What was your favorite part of the Automobile in American Life exhibit? What are you hoping to experience in the updated exhibit?