The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, is one of those places that surprises people. You expect rows of polished cars behind ropes. What you get is closer to a time machine. The museum, also known as The Harrah Collection, holds more than 200 rare, classic and special-interest vehicles, and it places many of them inside walk-through street scenes from different decades. Whether you love engines or simply enjoy a good story, this guide covers the history, the standout cars and the practical details you need before you go.
What Is the National Automobile Museum?
The National Automobile Museum sits on the banks of the Truckee River at the corner of Lake and Mill Streets in downtown Reno. It opened on November 5, 1989, and fills roughly 100,000 square feet with galleries, theater presentations and period storefronts. Travel Nevada reports that AutoWeek and Car Collector Magazine have ranked it among the top car museums in the world, and its horseless carriage collection is considered one of the finest anywhere.
The building nods to the cars inside it. Its rounded walls are finished in Heather Fire Mist, a popular 1950s car color, with chrome trim to match.
The History Behind the Harrah Collection
Every great collection starts with one stubborn enthusiast. Here, that person was Bill Harrah, founder of the Harrah’s casino empire. He loved cars, and he kept buying and restoring them. In 1962 he rented a former ice plant in Sparks to show about 150 restored vehicles, and the collection later spread across thirteen warehouses and several showrooms.
Harrah died in 1978. Holiday Inns bought his properties, cars included, and sold or auctioned most of the vehicles. They set aside 175 for a future museum. Local residents pushed to keep the cars together in Nevada, and with support from the City of Reno, the state and many donors, those vehicles became the core of the museum that opened in 1989.
Must-See Cars at the National Automobile Museum
With more than 200 vehicles on display, a short list helps. These are the ones visitors mention most.
• 1907 Thomas Flyer: Possibly the most famous car in the collection, and a permanent exhibit in its own right.
• Horseless carriages: Gallery 1 covers vehicles from the 1890s to the 1910s, a period when the automobile was still finding its shape.
• Dymaxion: Roadside America describes it as the only surviving Dymaxion, a strange, streamlined design well ahead of its time.
• Gold-plated DeLorean: One of only three in the world, according to Roadside America.
• 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster: A long, elegant roadster that automotive photographers have called one of the most beautiful cars in the collection.
• Themed exhibits: Celebrity Autos, Hot Rods & Cool Customs and the Speed Exhibit each give you a different reason to slow down.
Street Scenes and Theater Presentations
What separates this museum from a standard showroom is context. Street scenes bring displays to life, with a hardware store here and a movie theater there, plus artifacts from each era. You move from the 1890s toward the modern age, and the cars start to feel like part of daily life rather than trophies. The museum also offers theater presentations, audio tours and guided tours, and its 157-seat on-site theater hosts special events.
Plan Your Visit: Hours, Tickets and Tips
Address: 10 S. Lake Street, Reno, NV 89501.
Hours: The museum’s website lists Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Some third-party listings show slightly different times, so confirm on automuseum.org before you travel.
Admission: General admission is $15. Seniors (62+) pay $13. Youth (6–15) and active military pay $10. Children 5 and under are free. Prices can change, so check the official site.
• Time needed: Plan on about two and a half hours. Car enthusiasts may want longer.
• Guided tours: Offered daily at 1:30 pm, depending on volunteer guide availability.
• Photography: Photos are welcome, but tripods, lights and selling photographs require permission. Pets are not allowed.
• Groups: Groups of 10 or more can get discounted rates when they pay in one transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the National Automobile Museum?
It is in downtown Reno, Nevada, at the corner of Lake and Mill Streets beside the Truckee River.
How many cars are on display?
Sources say more than 200. The museum’s own website mentions more than 240.
Why is it called The Harrah Collection?
Most of the vehicles once belonged to Bill Harrah, who owned and restored them.
Final Thoughts
The National Automobile Museum works because it tells the story of the car as part of everyday American life, not just as machinery. Give it a couple of hours, take the guided tour if the timing suits, and look closely at the early horseless carriages. They explain how everything else on the floor came to be.
