More than 10,000 visitors head towards an old farmhouse in the east Tacoma community of Lakewood every Saturday to see the most unusual car museum ever. You typically think of massive buildings containing a dozen or so cars when someone mentions a car museum. However, the one in question is actually at a normal five bedroom house in a small village. Visitors come from as far as Japan, Italy and Australia to visit the Harold E LeMay Open House which has been run by Nancy LeMay for the last 29 years.



The unusual museum was started by Nancy and her late husband Harold LeMay after he collected an astonishing collection of nearly 3,500 vehicles. Car fanatics can see anything from a Tucker which is only one of 50 to have been made, to a 1903 Buckmobile. The collection started when Harold toured America looking for special vehicles, many of which were produced in limited numbers which makes the collection even more special. He was interested in everything from how the cars are put together to classic car insurance. People from all over the world come to look at the fascinating collection of classic cars in a unique setting. People can wonder around in a relaxed environment and chat to other fans about car types, parts and classic car insurance.

Due to the large number of vehicles on display, they are housed between two different locations now. As well as the LeMay house visitors can find more classic cars at the Marymount Academy in nearby Spanaway. Visitors can enjoy the journey when they are taken between the two locations in a classic British double decker bus.

Unsurprisingly, Nancy doesn't take care of all the vehicles on her own. The Ford Club is one of the many organisations whose members volunteer to help maintain and look after the cars. This includes cleaning and starting them, preparing the grounds for visitors, conducting the tours of the day and talking to visitors about things such as classic car insurance.

The collection which has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest privately owned automobile collection in the world will be moving soon. It is going to go to a new ultra - modern facility on a nine acre site beside the Tacoma Dome and Interstate 5. It will be the largest automobile and transportation museum in the world.

Proving how popular the museum is, it nearing the goal of raising the 150 million dollars needed to break ground next year. America's Car Museum is scheduled for a 2008 opening and is likely to continue to be a success. People can carry on looking at classic cars, meeting fellow fanatics and maybe even finding classic car insurance.