Disguised as a 19th century prison inspired by the historic Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz East resides near the Margaritaville Hotel and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Within the two-story museum’s 24,000-square-feet of space are more than 100 interactive exhibits covering the history of American crime, and the consequences of crime. among other things.
The museum also has O.J. Simpson’s 1993 Ford Bronco, Ted Bundy’s 1968 VW Beetle, John Dellinger’s 1933 Essex Terraplane, and Bonnie and Clyde’s 1934 Ford V8.
Bonnie & Clyde Death CarOther crime-related attractions at the museum include John Dillinger’s death mask, Al Capone’s rosary, a Bonnie and Clyde collection, the polygraph machine used on Martin Luther King assassin James Earl Ray, Al Pacino’s submachine gun from the movie Scarface, items related to the 2012 Benghazi attack, and Tennessee’s electric chair, “Old Smokey,” used in 125 executions from 1916-1960.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $14.95 for children.
Car shows
On Sunday, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles holds a Shelby cruise-in on the third floor of its parking garage. The show begins at 9 a.m. and celebrates Carroll Shelby’s birthday.
The Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California, hosts a cars and coffee February 5 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m., and a special celebration of Enzo Ferrari’s 119th birthday with a cars and coffee February 19 presented by the Ferrari Club of America and the Alfa Romeo Association.
Educational opportunities:
On Saturday, the Simeone Foundaton Museum in Philadelphia will examine why America had so few sports cars when Demo Day will be held indoors, featuring an Auburn 8-88 Boat Tail Speedster, Auburn V12 Speedster, Auburn 851 Speedster, Kissel Speedster, Paige Speedster, and a DuPont Model G Speedster.
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, kicks off its Sunday Speaker Series at 3 p.m. this weekend with “A Brush with History” presented by aviation artist and historian, Rick Herter. Following this Sunday will be John Burton and Robin Nott on January 22, discussing the “Dust Bowl.”
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana, offers its behind-the-scenes tour of the museum January 17 at 6:00 p.m. under the direction of archives manager Ethan Bowers.
January 19, the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento hosts “Sacramento Motorcycle Stories” as part of its Third Thursday program. The event includes local motorcycle historians and club members sharing stories with a Q&A session afterword.
Additionally, January 28 the museum holds “Racing and Engineering for Teens” from noon to 4 p.m. The class will work with the Sacramento State Hornet Racing Team and one of its cars to teach students about engineering and designing a car from scratch. The cost for this class is $30 per student.
The Blackhawk Museum continues its speaker series on February 19 with David Hobbs, Le Mans race car driver, TV announcer, and Cars 2 movie character.
The NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, has announced its 2017 schedule with events April 27-28, June 26-27, and August 26-27. Participants will be a part of a four-group program based on skill level separated into novice drivers, intermediate, advanced, and instructors. Registration is open and can be done online.
It’s not just cars:
The National Corvette Museum holds a Kids camp day January 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is designed to teach children to connect the dots using science to help solve a crime in a hands-on investigation of forensic science. The day is designed for ages 7-12.
Registration is open for the Michelin NCM Bash on April 27-29,. Attendees can attend seminars during the event on the seventh-generation navigation system, tires and brakes, hand building the LT4 engine, what’s new at the BG Assembly Plant, Corvette Racing, Transmissions and more.
The Petersen has opened a new restaurant on its first floor. Drago Ristorante features classic Italian meals with a contemporary flair.
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum holds trivia night January 21. The event cost is $25 per person or $200 for a team of up to eight. The winning team will take home $300.
The British Motor Museum holds “Brick Week” February 18-26 and invites guests to the museum to take part in the automotive-themed brick-building challenges. Guest will be able to complete their own Lego brick section and professional model builders will attach it to the Lego brick mini the museum hopes to assemble in less than 9 days.
On Saturday, June 3, the LeMay – America’s Car Museum stages “Fast & Furious, the 2017 Wheels & Heels Annual Gala.”
