National Corvette Museum - Bowling Green, KY - 2018
Updated: 05/07/19
Mary Lou's interest in this museum began when a sinkhole opened up in 2014, swallowed eight Corvettes. The sinkhole was caused by ground water dissolving rock - in this case limestone - causing pockets to open under the surface. The museum chronicles the Corvette and the people who made it a legend.
The display of Corvettes is constantly changing from an inventory of more than 80 Corvettes including some of the rarest, fastest, and most historical examples of the iconic car.
Fuel Injection . . .
Semper Fidelis . . .
The experience begins with a film about the history of the Corvette in the Chevrolet Theatre, followed by a self-guided tour. The cars are displayed in historic settings, by year. Below are some of the cars and displays.
1953 Corvette . . .
The Astro Vette (1968) . . .
Mary Lou is stronger than she looks - look at her pick up that frame.
Crash testing . . .
On February 12, 2014 a sinkhole opened up inside the Museum, eight corvettes fell into the sinkhole and lay at the bottom of the hole. Fortunately, the building was empty at the time, no one was injured.
A line on the floor outlines where the sinkhole was, while a second line marks where the cave still lies. A 48" manhole allows visitors to peer into a glass window to see the floor of the sinkhole, over 30 feet down.
This exhibit displayed the entire story of the sinkhole . . .
The sinkhole . . .
Item left at bottom of sinkhole for effect.
Eventually, the cars were removed from the sinkhole so the owners could collect their insurance money. The State of Kentucky required that the sinkhole be filled in so there was no further damage to the cave system,
Some of the cars were more badly damaged than others, those cars were declared "totaled", not worth repairing.
Beautiful cars lined the perimeter of the dome.
When you purchase a Corvette, you can elect delivery at the museum.
Owner
drives the new Corvette out the door to the applause of all museum store and
office employees.
Even the restrooms were part of . . . "all things Corvette".
For more information: www.corvettemuseum.org