A Car Lover’s Guide to 4 Automotive Museums in DeKalb County

Known as the “Home of the Classics,” Auburn and the surrounding DeKalb County area are rich in automotive history, making it an ideal destination for car enthusiasts, families, history buffs, and anyone who appreciates classic automobiles.

From beautifully preserved pre-war automobiles to legendary monster trucks and historic Ford vehicles, these four automotive museums in DeKalb County offer a fascinating look at the vehicles, people, and innovations that helped shape American automotive history.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, looking for things to do in Auburn, Indiana, or exploring Northeast Indiana’s automotive heritage, be sure to add these museums to your itinerary.

1. Early Ford V-8 Museum — Auburn, Indiana

Head back in time at the Early Ford V-8 Museum, where visitors can experience a glimpse of American life during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

The museum specializes in Ford Motor Company vehicles manufactured between 1932 and 1953, including Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury automobiles. The collection also features commercial vehicles, tractors, and Ford industrial engines.

Beyond the vehicles themselves, visitors can explore an impressive collection of automotive artifacts, memorabilia, technical displays, literature, and historical exhibits celebrating Ford Motor Company’s influence on American transportation and culture.

For Ford enthusiasts and anyone interested in classic cars, this Auburn museum offers a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of Ford vehicles during one of the most important periods in automotive history.

Early Ford V-8 Museum Information

• Location: 2081 Rotunda Drive, Auburn, IN 46706
• Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Phone: 260-927-8022
• Website: fordv8foundation.org

2. International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame — Butler, Indiana

For something a little bigger and louder, head to the International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame in Butler, Indiana.

The museum celebrates the history of the monster truck industry with a rotating collection of classic and innovative monster trucks, along with memorabilia and historical displays.

Visitors can get an up-close look at old-school monster trucks and learn about the people, machines, and innovations that helped transform monster trucks into a major form of motorsports entertainment.

With multiple trucks on display and exhibits designed to appeal to visitors of all ages, the museum is a fun destination for families and anyone fascinated by massive vehicles and motorsports history.

International Monster Truck Museum Information

• Location: 541 West Main Street, Butler, IN 46721
• Phone: 260-837-2435
• Wednesday–Friday: 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
• Monday–Tuesday: Closed
• Admission: Adults $5
• Children age 3 and under: Free

Website: monstermuseum.org

For additional information, contact the museum at 260-837-2435 or email info@monstermuseum.org.

3. National Auto & Truck Museum — Auburn, Indiana

The National Auto & Truck Museum (NATM) is a must-see destination for anyone interested in American automotive history.

Housed in the former factory buildings of the Auburn Automobile Company, the museum features more than 80,000 square feet of automotive exhibits and showcases more than 190 pre-war and post-war cars and trucks.

The collection includes prototype vehicles, vintage gas and oil pumps, muscle cars, historic trucks, and a real 1946 diner. One of the museum’s standout attractions is the exceptionally rare GM Futurliner #10, one of only 12 Futurliners ever produced.

The museum’s historic setting is just as impressive as its collection. The two 1920s-era buildings were once part of the Auburn Automobile Company and are now recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

If you’re searching for car museums in Auburn, Indiana, the National Auto & Truck Museum should be high on your list.

National Auto & Truck Museum Information

• Location: 1000 Gordon M. Buehrig Place, Auburn, IN 46706
• Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily
• Admission: Adults $12; children ages 5–12 $7
• Research Library: Access is included with museum admission
• Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
• Location: 1000 Gordon M. Buehrig Place, Auburn, IN 46706
• Email: info@natmus.org
• Phone: (260) 925-9100

The museum also offers a Campus Pass, which includes admission to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

Group Tours

Planning a group visit to Auburn? The National Auto & Truck Museum offers group tour opportunities, making it a great destination for school groups, car clubs, organizations, and other visitors traveling together.

4. Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum — Auburn, Indiana

No list of automotive museums in DeKalb County would be complete without the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

Located in the historic former Auburn Automobile Company headquarters, this National Historic Landmark showcases more than 120 automobiles spanning more than a century of automotive design, from 1894 through 1999.

The museum is home to one of the world’s most extensive collections of Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles. Visitors can explore three floors of exhibits highlighting the cars, designers, engineers, and automotive pioneers who helped establish Auburn as an important center of American automotive history.

Walking through the museum provides a fascinating glimpse into the golden age of automobile manufacturing. Visitors can even walk the same hallways once used by the automotive leaders of the Auburn Automobile Company during the early 1930s.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Information

• Location: 1600 South Wayne Street, Auburn, IN
• Phone: 260-925-1444
• Website: automobilemuseum.org

The museum also hosts special programs and events throughout the year, offering visitors opportunities to learn more about the history, people, and automobiles associated with the Auburn Automobile Company.

The facility is also available for private events, meetings, and banquets, with meeting rooms accommodating up to 172 people and banquet facilities offering more than 7,000 square feet of space.

The museum proudly participates in the Blue Star Museums program, supporting active-duty military members and their families.

Plan Your DeKalb County Automotive Museum Adventure

If you love classic cars, historic vehicles, or American automotive history, DeKalb County, Indiana, is a destination worth putting on your travel list.

Auburn’s automotive heritage is unlike anywhere else in the region. Within a relatively short distance, visitors can explore historic Ford vehicles, legendary Auburn Cord and Duesenberg automobiles, classic trucks and prototypes, and enormous monster trucks.

These four museums offer something for nearly every type of automotive enthusiast:

• Early Ford V-8 Museum: Best for Ford enthusiasts and fans of 1930s–1950s vehicles
• International Monster Truck Museum & Hall of Fame: Great for families and monster truck fans
• National Auto & Truck Museum: Ideal for exploring a broad collection of American cars and trucks
• Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum: A must-see for classic-car enthusiasts and automotive history lovers

Whether you’re spending a day in Auburn, Indiana, planning a Northeast Indiana road trip, or looking for unique things to do in DeKalb County, these automotive museums offer an unforgettable journey through America’s automotive past.

Ready to explore DeKalb County’s automotive history? Plan your visit and discover why Auburn and DeKalb County have earned a reputation as one of Indiana’s premier destinations for classic cars and automotive heritage.

Discover These Automotive Destinations on the Midwest Motor Tour

The automotive heritage of DeKalb County is part of a much larger story — one that stretches across the Midwest. All four of these automotive destinations are part of the Midwest Motor Tour, a growing collection of places that celebrate the history, culture, innovation, and community of the automobile in America’s heartland.

The Midwest Motor Tour highlights destinations ranging from iconic automotive museums and historic racetracks to vintage dealerships, restoration shops, drive-ins, car show venues, and other legendary locations that have helped shape Midwest car culture for generations.

Whether you’re exploring a museum filled with rare classics, visiting a historic automotive landmark, attending a legendary car show, or discovering a small-town destination with deep automotive roots, the Midwest Motor Tour connects enthusiasts with the places that keep the story of the automobile alive.

For automotive enthusiasts planning a road trip through Indiana and the Midwest, these DeKalb County museums are more than individual attractions — they’re stops along a larger journey through America’s automotive history.

Explore the Midwest Motor Tour and discover more automotive destinations throughout the region: Midwest Motor Tour

Experience the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival

A visit to DeKalb County’s automotive attractions can also be paired with one of the region’s signature automotive celebrations: the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.

Held in Auburn, Indiana, the festival celebrates the city’s legendary automotive heritage and brings car enthusiasts, collectors, and visitors together to celebrate some of the most significant automobiles in American history.

At the heart of Auburn’s automotive story is the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the automobiles and history associated with Auburn Automobile, Cord Automobile, and Duesenberg Motors Company. The museum opened in 1974 and has become one of the premier destinations for automotive history in the United States.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival adds another layer to the Auburn experience, transforming the community into a destination for automotive enthusiasts and collectors. From historic automobiles and special events to gatherings that celebrate the region’s automotive legacy, the festival is a great way to experience Auburn’s car culture beyond the museum walls.

Learn more about the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival

Make DeKalb County Your Next Automotive Road Trip

If you’re searching for automotive museums in DeKalb County, Indiana, you’re discovering just one part of a much larger automotive experience.

With its world-class museums, historic automotive landmarks, annual events, and connection to the Midwest Motor Tour, DeKalb County is an ideal destination for anyone who wants to experience the history of the automobile firsthand.

So grab your keys, plan your route, and make Auburn and DeKalb County your next stop on a Midwest automotive road trip. There’s a lot of history waiting to be discovered — and plenty more roads to explore.