If you're a fan of the Corvette, or just sports cars in general, you owe it to yourself to visit the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky!
One of the most iconic and popular American sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette has been capturing imaginations and burning up the road since the mid 1950's. Kentucky's official sports car, the Corvette - or Vette - was named after a small, maneuverable style of warship. Originally built in Michigan and Missouri, Corvettes have called Bowling Green, Kentucky home since 1981 - so finding the National Corvette Museum here should come as no surprise.
With over 70 different Corvette models and one-of-a-kind concept cars spanning the history of this iconic design, the 115,000 square foot National Corvette Museum is guaranteed to delight automobile fans of all stripes. You'll also see thousands of photographs, videos, vintage Corvette ads, models, Corvette memorabilia, and more. Even the one-millionth Corvette made is here!
Famous not only for its stunning collection of Corvettes, you may recall having heard or read of the large sinkhole that opened up under eight rare Corvettes in the National Corvette Museum's Skydome in the early morning hours of February 12, 2014. The Corvettes, their display stands, and big chunks of the concrete floor fell down into the sinkhole, causing serious damage.
For a while the National Corvette Museum toyed with the idea of retaining the sinkhole as part of their attractions and exhibits - hey, when life hands you lemons ... - but that solution ended up being too costly. Instead, yellow tape now outlines where the 60-foot-long, 45-foot-wide, 30-foot-deep sinkhole opened up in the floor of the Skydome. Within these outlines are displayed the remains of the classic Corvettes that fell into it.
Five of the Vettes were too badly damaged to be repaired and are displayed as is, the rest have been or are being repaired for re-display in the museum. Nearby, you can watch a loop of the floor's collapse on security camera footage and the National Corvette Museum gift shop has jars of dirt from the sinkhole for sale as a souvenir.
Other attractions at the National Corvette Museum include an opportunity to sit in a Corvette driver's seat in the lobby and even register to have the chance to win your own! You can plan a tour of the GM Corvette Assembly Plant - the only place in the world where Corvettes are made - located just a quarter mile away, and enjoy a bite to eat at the Corvette Cafe. New owners of Corvettes can even take delivery of their car at the museum, along with a VIP tour of the plant and museum.
Already own a collectible Corvette? You can loan it to the National Corvette Museum for display. Best of all, you can really get your vrooom on at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park with 3 laps in your dream car on a track reminiscent of La Sarthe in Le Mans, France!