Whether or not you reside within the metropolis or are simply visiting for the weekend and in search of enjoyable issues to do in San Diego, the San Diego Automotive Museum (SDAM) is a must-see. Automobile fanatic or not, there’s loads to pique your curiosity right here.
The museum highlights the auto’s contributions to our tradition by educating guests concerning the vehicle’s social and technological previous, current, and future. That is carried out via various reveals, starting from historic barn vehicles to worldwide bikes.
The San Diego Automotive Museum additionally flaunts a formidable assortment of classic vehicles. Belief us after we say this assortment is a automobile fanatic’s dream come true and that it’s best to see it.
Highlights
Whereas there are cool vehicles and bikes to take a look at, what’s much more fascinating is why they’re there. It’s additionally enjoyable to see the evolution of styling and horsepower through the years, however look out for these favorites.
- The museum’s strong assortment of bikes is a pleasing shock to most company. Forty bikes sit on show, courting all the best way again to the early 1900s.
- Calling all Again to the Future followers—the museum has a DeLorean DMC-12 on their present flooring. Company may even hop within the automobile for an image.
- A set of basic vehicles is the point of interest of the San Diego Automotive Museum. Each is full with a brief description and unique worth.
- Louie Mattar’s Cadillac alone is sufficient motive to go to the museum. We gained’t spoil the story behind the automobile. Simply understand it’s value seeing in individual.
- Remaining true to southern California’s tradition, the SDAM boasts a group of classic lowriders which can be enjoyable to peruse and study the historical past behind.
Prime 5 Issues To Know In regards to the San Diego Automotive Museum
The San Diego Automotive Museum is simple to navigate, however we’ll present a couple of additional ideas to make sure you profit from your expertise.
Admission Ideas
For those who’re a San Diego resident, you may go to without cost on the fourth Tuesday of each month. All you must carry is your I.D.
For those who’re not a resident however are planning on visiting, you may purchase your tickets prematurely on-line. Nonetheless, they’re solely good for one week from the acquisition date. Costs embrace:
- Adults (18-64): $14.50
- Seniors (65+): $10
- Navy (With ID): $10
- Scholar (With ID): $10
- Youth (5-17): $8.50
- Ages 0-4: FREE
Two Sightseeing Move Decisions
Bundle admission to SDMRM with different points of interest throughout San Diego or simply in Balboa Park.
Go San Diego Move
Each the All-Inclusive and Explorer sightseeing passes embrace SDMRM and over 50 different San Diego points of interest.
Use promo code lajollamom for 10% off via December 31, 2022.
Balboa Park Explorer Move
This go consists of 16 taking part Balboa Park Museums.
Select one in all three go choices that embrace a Parkwide Move good for seven consecutive days, an Annual Move (greatest for residents), or a Restricted Move that features any 4 taking part venues good for someday.
You can even purchase a present certificates to the museum for any pals or relations planning on visiting San Diego quickly.
Location
The museum is conveniently 5 minutes from downtown San Diego, in Balboa Park’s Pan American Plaza. It’s simple to entry from main freeways, together with the I-5 and Freeway 163.
You’ll park without cost within the Pan American Plaza parking space (you may’t miss it) and can simply be capable to stroll out of your automobile to the museum. If the lot is full, you may search for free road parking.
For those who’re within the temper for a day of edutainment, you’re in luck — SDAM neighbors the San Diego Air and House Museum and the Comedian-Con Museum. Different common Balboa Park museums are a brief stroll away.
Automobile Exhibits
For those who can’t make it to the San Diego Automotive Museum however wish to see their vehicles, hold a watch out for exterior alternatives.
For instance, the museum participates within the Cajon Basic Cruise Automobile Present in Downtown El Cajon, simply twenty minutes west of Balboa Park. The present options several types of vehicles each Wednesday. Test their calendar to discover a day that piques your curiosity. The SDAM employees might be on-site to talk and reply any questions you or your little ones might have.
Automobiles and Espresso
As you may see, San Diego Automotive Museum is well-known for interacting with the neighborhood. One other approach they do that is via vehicles and occasional. On the third Sunday of each month, the museum invitations San Diego residents or guests to carry their basic vehicles and chat with employees over espresso.
The occasion takes place at 7:30 a.m., and the museum opens early at 8 a.m. with a reduced ticket worth till 10 a.m.
For those who’re not on the town for the vehicles and occasional occasion, they take part in comparable occasions, the place you may discuss to museum employees and consider the vehicles. The main points are under:
- Automobiles, espresso, and doughnuts: Month-to-month on the twenty fourth at 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd Suite 128, San Diego, California 92121 at 7 a.m.
- JBA Pace Store vehicles and occasional: On the second Sunday of every month at 5675 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, CA, 92123, at 5:30 a.m.
Rotating Reveals
The SDAM showcases a daily assortment of classic vehicles and bikes, however they hold issues fascinating via artistic, rotating reveals.
Just a few of their previous highlight exhibitions included Evel Knievel’s bike, steampunk creations, and vehicles with characters—an exhibit that includes vehicles from common motion pictures, akin to Automobiles and Scooby Doo.
For those who’re inquisitive about which exhibit you’ll get to expertise, verify their web site’s present exhibitions web page or join their publication to obtain notifications about upcoming exhibitions.
Why We Love the San Diego Automotive Museum
There’s loads to adore concerning the San Diego Automotive Museum.
Vocational Schooling Academy
The SDAM does lots of good, however the vocational schooling academy is probably the most noteworthy.
The museum companions with neighborhood schools and automotive companies to offer under-resourced college students with post-secondary schooling within the automotive discipline. The academy additionally teaches college students accountable fiscal abilities, akin to budgeting.
Upon graduating from the academy, college students are ready with a portfolio of abilities and arrange with interviews at native automotive outlets, akin to Low cost Tire and NAPA.
Library
The San Diego Automotive Museum has a formidable number of automotive literature, starting from restore manuals to classic magazines.
Over 65,000 items of literature make up the museum’s library. This huge assortment seemingly has the reply to any automotive-related query you’ve ever had.
Educated volunteers employees the library and are greater than capable of level you in the best route. Nonetheless, even when you don’t have any burning questions, the library is undoubtedly value perusing.
Educated Workers
Along with educated teams of volunteers, the museum additionally has a well-versed and pleasant employees. Guests regularly rave about how a lot the staff improve the expertise.
They’re vessels of data ready to reply any of your questions or provide enjoyable information a few piece of their assortment you discover fascinating.
You probably have questions that come up earlier than or after your go to, yow will discover the employees’s contact data on the museum’s web site.
The Reward Store
SDAM has the present store of children’ desires. The wonderful present store incorporates enjoyable shirts, memorabilia, and a group of classic sizzling wheels.
For those who can’t make it to the present store in individual, hop on-line. The museum’s present store is so good that they’ve posted some objects on eBay.
Even higher? Something you buy within the present store goes again to the automotive museum. Which means your buy isn’t solely bettering SDAM however serving to alongside efforts just like the vocational schooling academy.
Prime photograph credit score: One other Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0, through Wikimedia Commons
