As we celebrate the USA’s 250th birthday this summer, reflection on what makes our country successful typically follows. One could argue that much of our country’s success was accelerated by the population’s embrace of the automobile.
While many of us may remember the automobile as being invented by Henry Ford, it was actually developed as a motorized wagon by German inventor Karl Benz in the 1890’s. It was 20 years later when Henry Ford started his company in the USA and developed the assembly line. “Mr. Ford’s cutting-edge style of building a car through mass production jump-started America’s auto industry in the early 1900’s, “ said Jake Welk, Marketing and Communications Director at LeMay – America’s Car Museum.
Ford’s innovative assembly line techniques allowed for efficient and cost-effective production, making automobiles more accessible to the general public. In turn, the automobile allowed people to go further and further from their homes, something unheard of prior to its invention. “Before the introduction of the car in everyday life, where you lived is where you stayed,” Welk said. “The automobile paved the way for people to travel to other states and I believe makes it the most significant invention of our time.”
All that travel created the need for more and better roadways. 2026 is also the 100th birthday of Route 66. Easily the most famous highway in America, Route 66’s centennial is being celebrated with numerous events and festivals across its eight-state span from Chicago to Santa Monica. In January, LeMay – America’s Car Museum became the first organization of the year to lead a convoy of vehicles across Route 66 in honor of the Mother Road’s centennial milestone.
According to Welk, “It’s pretty incredible how the automobile shaped this country and changed the way we drive.” LeMay – America’s Car Museum located in Tacoma contains over 100 years of car history and offers no better place to celebrate the country’s birthday. “After all, everyone has a car story.”
Visitors to the Museum will be treated to the latest exhibition, The Birth of the American Supercar, that features a 2025 Ford Mustang GTD. With over 500 horsepower, it is currently racing against the world’s fastest automobiles at places like the famous Nürburgring track in Germany. One of only 30 created in the world, the red, white and blue GTD is on display for a limited time.
For Additional Information
LeMay – America’s Car Museum
americascarmuseum.org