Discover Five Fun Facts About America's Packard Museum
Since 1992, America’s Packard Museum has been a must-see attraction for Dayton visitors and Daytonians alike. With two buildings, 50 unique automobiles, and numerous artifacts, America’s Packard Museum remains a cultural and historically relevant piece of Dayton’s downtown and automotive history.
Here are Five Fun Facts about America’s Packard Museum:
Fun Fact 1: Packard, a Forgotten American Icon
Most people when they think about the name “Packard” they wonder why their printer is not working. While nothing to do with today’s tech giant, Packard once was synonymous with American Luxury. Based out of Detroit from 1903 to 1956, the Packard Motor Car Company built its reputation on fine craftmanship and engineering, even outselling their main competitor—Cadillac—for several years. Packard firsts include air conditioning and the first steering wheel on a production car! Many great figures from history owned or used a Packard. Warren G Harding (shown here) as the first U.S. President to go to his inauguration in an automobile, and it was in a Packard!
Fu Fact 2: An Ohio Automobile Company
In 1899, the Packard brothers founded the Ohio Automobile Company in Warren, Ohio. The Packard brothers got to work on their first car and successfully drove it on November 6, 1899. In 1901 James Ward Packard’s secretary what he should tell a potential buyer who was inquiring about a Packard car. Believing the cars spoke for themselves, he replied “just tell him to ask the man who owns one.” That would become Packard’s Slogan for the next fifty-five years. The firm renamed as the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902 and moved to Detroit in 1903.
Fun Fact 4: The Packard Company and The Great Dayton Flood
Alvan Macauley brought prestige to Packard in the Roaring ‘20s as the Company’s most notable president. However, years before, he was a patent attorney for the National Cash Register Company in Dayton. During the Great Dayton Flood of 1913, Macauley used every resource he had to deliver eighteen Packard trucks by train to help with the relief effort. No doubt, Packard saved many Daytonian lives in those fateful weeks. Credit: Dayton History.
Fun Fact 3: Location, Location, Location
“A Packard Museum? In Dayton? Downtown?” Ah yes, a ponderous set of questions with a simple, yet elegant answer. The Citizen’s Motor Car Company, Dayton’s original Packard dealership, built and operated a facility at Ludlow and Franklin Streets from 1917 through 1937. It has been automotive related since, first selling Pontiacs, then Buicks, finally becoming the warehouse for Genuine Auto Parts. Local Packard collector Robert Signom II acquired the facility, creating it as a non-profit museum in 1992.
Fun Fact 5: A Place to Visit, A Place to Party
Here at America’s Packard Museum, we often consider ourselves one of the more unexpected places in Dayton. So how does one experience the Museum? First, follow us on social media! We are always trying to educate about the Museum, our exhibits and events through Facebook and Instagram. Second, host your party here! We are a great venue for any event. We host about sixty events per year, and you may have already been to a swanky soiree here! Third—and quite obviously—come visit! America’s Packard Museum is a great place to bring friends and family visiting Dayton. If you have never been before, now is the time!
