The Blackhawk Museum (founded 1988) consists of five distinct galleries in one facility located in

Danville, California The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that use "town" in their names instead of "city". The population was 43,582 at the 2020 census ...

. It is best known for its significant collection of

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

, rare, and unique automobiles. In addition to its gallery ''Classic Car Collection'', the museum has four other galleries: ''The Spirit of the Old West'', ''Art of Africa'', ''Into China'', and ''World of Nature''. The facility is located within the Blackhawk Plaza shopping center and is an affiliate through the

Smithsonian Affiliations Smithsonian Affiliations is a division of the Smithsonian Institution that establishes long-term partnerships with non-Smithsonian museums and educational and cultural organizations in order to share collections, exhibitions and educational stra ...

program. The museum is a subsidiary of a not-for-profit Behring Global Educational Foundation.

History

Founded by a partnership between benefactor

Ken Behring Kenneth Eugene Behring (June 13, 1928 – June 25, 2019) was an American real estate developer, and former owner of the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks. Early years Born in Freeport, Illinois, Behring was the son of Mae (Priewe) and El ...

and

Don Williams Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939 – September 8, 2017) was an American country singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing seventeen number ...

that began in 1982, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum first opened its doors in . The museum was established to ensure that significant automotive treasures would be exhibited for public enjoyment and educational enrichment. Hacienda-based architect Doug Dahlin is responsible for the design of the museum. In February 2015, the Blackhawk Museum added a permanent collection of 19th century North American artifacts calle
The Spirit of the Old West
showcasing both the settler and Native American stories of the European expansion into North America during the 1800s.

Collections

The museum houses about ninety classic cars. It also houses a display showcasing the work of the

Wheelchair Foundation The Wheelchair Foundation (WF) is a non-profit organization founded in June 2000 by real estate developer Ken Behring, and based in Danville, California. The foundation partners with donors (individuals, groups and companies) to provide wheelch ...

. One of the museum's most unusual possessions is a 1924

Hispano-Suiza H6 The Hispano-Suiza H6 is a luxury car that was produced by Hispano-Suiza, mostly in France. Introduced at the 1919 Paris Motor Show,Ultimatecarpage.com – Hispano Suiza H6C Monza the H6 was produced until 1933. Roughly 2,350 H6, H6B, and H6C cars ...

C with a body paneled with

tulipwood Most commonly, tulipwood is the greenish yellowish wood yielded from the tulip tree, found on the Eastern side of North America and a similar species in some parts of China. In the United States, it is commonly known as tulip poplar or yellow pop ...

. Over the years, the museum has also housed a 1962

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

limousine and a Chinese Hongqi, the first Chinese-made automobile to be imported to the United States. The museum is a partner in organizing the local

Concours d'Elegance ''Concours d'Elegance'' ( French: ''concours d'élégance'') is a term of French origin that means a "competition of elegance" and refers to an event where prestigious vehicles are displayed and judged. It dates back to 17th-century France, whe ...

event, which showcases some of the museum's collection among the usual entrants. Several changing exhibitions, representative of topics in transportation, culture, and science as they relate to our society, have been hosted in the various galleries and reception areas throughout the museum. Current exhibitions include selections of American

jukebox A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media. The classic jukebox has buttons, with letters and numbers on them, which are used to selec ...

es from the golden age of the juke box and a display of antique

gas pump A gasoline pump is a machine at a filling station that is used to pump gasoline (petrol), diesel, or other types of liquid fuel into vehicles. Gasoline pumps are also known as bowsers or petrol bowsers (in Australia), petrol pumps (in Commo ...

s. Since 2000, the Blackhawk Automotive Museum has been an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and together they have partnered to bring a variety of cultural exhibitions, historical artifacts, and significant automobiles from across the US. Today, exhibits showcasing

African art African art describes the modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual culture from native or indigenous Africans and the African continent. The definition may also include the art of the African diasporas, su ...

Chinese history The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the reign of king Wu Ding. Ancient historical texts such as the ''Book of Documents'' (early chapter ...

, and exotic animals have been added.

References

External links

Blackhawk Museum
{{authority control Museums established in 1988 Automobile museums in California Museums in Contra Costa County, California Smithsonian Institution affiliates 1988 establishments in California