FANTASIES IN FIBERGLASS
Opens Saturday, February 27, 2010
Gordon R. Howard Gallery
Invented in the 1930s, fiberglass was first used as heat insulation before automobile enthusiasts came to recognize its potential as a material for car bodies and other components. From Corvettes to dune buggies, many of the most iconic fiberglass customs and production cars of the past half-century will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum beginning in the spring of 2010. Together, they offer an interesting contrast to both the mainstream cars that populate our motoring landscape and those made of carbon fiber, the newest wonder material to be embraced by today's innovators.
NEW EVENTS
FREEWAY OF DREAMS: A HISTORICAL AND VISUAL ANALYSIS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FREEWAYS, 1940-1980
Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
2nd Floor Racing Corridor
Join us Tuesday, January 19, 2010 as we conclude our popular AAA Exhibit with an exploration of L.A. transportation history. Gilbert Estrada, a University of Southern California Ph.D. Candidate, will share his 10 years of freeway and transportation historical research in an accessible, visually informative presentation. Explore the development, growth, and societal impacts of the Los Angeles Freeway system from the early highways and parkway systems before WWII to the explosive growth of interstate highways and freeways between 1940 and 1980. Know Freeways. Know Los Angeles. Free with Museum admission. RSVP Suggested: Clayton Drescher (323) 964-6347 or cdrescher@petersen.org.
FILM SCREENING: FOR GOLD & GLORY
Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
2nd Floor Grand Salon
This one-hour documentary retraces a little-known chapter in American sports history: the heritage of the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, an auto racing circuit for African-American drivers and mechanics, set against a backdrop of racial unrest in America during the 1920s and '30s. The film not only tells of the racial barriers these intrepid sportsmen had to overcome, but also examines the efforts of many whites and blacks to come together, despite the social pressures of the day, to create the largest single sporting event ever held for African Americans. This PBS documentary, produced by WFYI Indianapolis, was the winner of the Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival in 2002 and the Society of Automotive Historians E.P. Ingersoll Award in 2004. Free soft drinks and popcorn will be served. Free with Museum admission. RSVP Suggested: Clayton Drescher (323) 964-6347 or cdrescher@petersen.org.
AUTOMOTIVE AWARENESS 101 CLASS FOR TEENS
Saturday, March 6, 2009, 10:00 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m.
This class teaches teens age 14-16 the basics of what is under the hood, how a car works, and how to maintain it. This engaging and exciting class will be taught by award-winning Monrovia High School instructor Phil Jelinek, who is also a member of the Petersen Pit Crew. This class is perfect for teens with their learner's permit and their parents who want to brush up on their car knowledge. For more information, or to sign up for either workshop, please call (323) 964-6308. Class is $15 per each parent/child pair. (Parent attendance is required)
TRIBUTE TO TRANS AM RACING EXHIBIT
Open through Sunday, December 13, 2009
Bruce Meyer Gallery
From its beginning in 1966 through the summer of 1972, the Trans Am series offered the best racing of the era. More drivers from Indy, Sports Car and Can Am participated in Trans Am than any other single series. The factories used the Trans Am venue to market their new Mustang, Camaro, Firebird Challenger and Javelin pony cars. To win in the Trans Am meant sales success in the showroom. The racing was fierce, fast and feisty.
CALIFORNIA CAR DESIGN: LOCAL STYLE, GLOBAL INFLUENCE
Open through Sunday, February 7, 2010
Gordon R. Howard Gallery
California Car Design will tell the story of locally influenced automobiles and explains how progressive local designers like Harley Earl and Dutch Darrin brought a fresh approach to a conservative profession. It will also explore California's design evolution from the early days of coachbuilding, through the trend setting customizing in the 1950's, to currently being the home to the most automotive studios in the world.
NEW CAR SHOWROOM
Through Sunday, March 7, 2010
Streetscape
The three makes that we feature in our 1939 New Car Showroom are: LaSalle (created 1927, discontinued 1940), Oldsmobile (created 1897, discontinued 2004), and Pontiac (created 1926, will be discontinued in 2010).
SOUNDS OF SPEED
Through April 25, 2010
ArtWall
From the Beach Boy's first recordings to The Fast and The Furious soundtrack, see a unique collection of 180 automotive-inspired albums accumulated by "Speedy Bill" Smith.
OVER A CENTURY OF SERVICE: AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Through Sunday, January 24, 2010
Racing Corridor
Come to the exhibit and experience how the AAA has been woven into the rich fabric of everyday life in southern California through vehicles, photos, and stories.
WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
Misfits of Motordom
Through Sunday, July 4, 2010
Grand Salon
This in-depth study of the truly bizarre, the poorly developed, and the unfeasible ideas that people have seriously attempted to sell to the general public has now been extended due to popular demand! This autotorium of automobile oddities from around the globe is certainly the only assembly of vehicles where the Edsel is the "normal" car!
IMAGINING THE FUTURE:
The Southern California Automotive Design Studio,
Presented in Cooperation with Art Center College of Design
Ongoing Exhibit
Visitors will see a comparison of a 1930's studio with a modern-day studio with various examples of the creative process in 2-D and 3-D form from different points in California's rich automotive history. Design demonstrations by Art Center students will occur in the exhibit on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from approximately 10am-3pm. Check the calendar at www.petersen.org for dates.
HOT WHEELS(r) HALL OF FAME
The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum, features Hot Wheels(r) full-size and die-cast cars, original models, wooden patterns, injection molds and drawings of original vehicle designs.
HOLLYWOOD STAR CARS
Vehicles of Hollywood lore including the Batmobile, "Black Beauty" driven by Bruce Lee in The Green Hornet television series, the "Hannibal 8" driven by Jack Lemmon in The Great Race (1965), a replica of the "Mach 5" from Speed Racer (2008), "Herbie the Love Bug", the VW bus from Little Miss Sunshine (2006), plus cars once owned by Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Fred Astaire, and more!
ALTERNATIVE POWER: LESSONS FROM THE PAST, INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE
From the highly styled 1963 Chrysler Turbine to the General Motors EV1, automobiles equipped with innovative propulsion systems are presented to illustrate the growth of alternative vehicle technology.
ONGOING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES
MAY FAMILY DISCOVERY CENTER
Open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm
The May Family Discovery Center is an interactive learning center that teaches basic scientific principles using the fundamental elements of the car.
DISCOVERY DAY
Car Activities & L.A. BookPALS
First Saturday of every month, 1-4pm
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for arts and crafts, and at 2:30pm, actors from L.A. BookPALS read stories. The program is included in Museum general admission. Call 323-964-6308 for more information. Future topics include:
January 2, Petersen Car Calendar
Ring in the New Year right and stay organized by creating your very own car calendar.
February 6, Automotive Flip Books
Become an animator by designing a cartoon flip book!
SPECIAL FEATURES AT THE PETERSEN
SPECIAL EVENTS AND FILMING - Please call (323) 964-6348 or visit www.petersenevents.org to host your event or shoot film at one of LA's most exciting venues!
BIRTHDAY PARTIES - The Museum offers a wonderful venue for children's birthday parties. Party guests can enjoy all three floors of the museum including the May Family Discovery Center. For more information or to book your party, call 323-964-6373.
SCHOOL TOURS
Taking a field trip to the Pete is an excellent way to teach your students about the history of Los Angeles and its intertwined relationship with the automobile. Students learn basic scientific principles and their applications as they explore hands-on activities in the Discovery Center. School Tours focus on history/social science, visual arts, and science & technology. Call (323) 964-6358 for information and reservations.
GROUP TOURS - A docent-led tour is available to groups of ten or more. - (323) 964-6346.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - Come and be a part of the Petersen's "Pit Crew". New Docent Training Class will be held in the fall of 2008. For an application or more information call - (323) 964-6358, email volunteers@petersen.org, or visit www.petersen.org.
MUSEUM STORE - Excellent souvenirs and gifts for auto enthusiasts (323) 964-6328.