THE STORY OF THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

American automotive museums have come and gone, but until publishing magnate and philanthropist Robert E. Petersen and his wife Margie opened the Petersen Automotive Museum, there was no central location in which to celebrate the entirety of automotive history, industry, culture, and artistry in Los Angeles, the most car-centric city the world has yet known. Even the Petersen Automotive Museum building represents aspects of automotive history as important as the vehicles displayed inside. Its architecture, user friendly parking facility, and central location make it a living example of automobile culture in Los Angeles.
No stranger to the museum world, Robert Petersen had operated the Petersen Motorama Cars of the Stars on Hollywood Boulevard near Grauman’s Chinese Theatre during the 1970s. Approximately 15 years after the adventure ended, Mr. Petersen proposed the idea of an automotive museum to the Board of Directors of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (whose vehicle collection then encompassed 66 cars and motorcycles) and offered a lead gift of $15 million to begin the project. An agreement was reached, the necessary financing secured, and a disused department store building was acquired in 1992 for the memorable sum of $11,111,111.11. The original Petersen Automotive Museum opened in June 1994 as a branch of the Natural History Museum with a mission to explore and present the history of the automobile and its impact on American life and culture using Los Angeles as the prime example. With its full-size dioramas and engaging thematic galleries, the Petersen Museum rapidly established a new standard of interpretive excellence. In 2000 the museum separated from the Natural History Museum to become an independent entity owned by the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation. The new museum continued to thrive, winning awards and entertaining millions.
About a decade and a half after the museum became independent, the Petersen Museum board of directors conceived an ambitious plan that would keep the museum at the forefront of innovation and updating its outward appearance to convey a sense of speed and dynamism that would hint at the kinds of exciting artifacts it housed.
Since reopening in December of 2015, the museum has increased it's exhibition space, opened the famous Petersen Vault presented by ‪@Hagerty‬, tripled its visitorship, and build a global audience, all through car culture.
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RECOMMENDED PLAYLISTS
The Petersen Automotive Museum Vault: bit.ly/36G8tC0​​​
Ultimate Collection Tours | World's Rarest Cars: bit.ly/2VEAC6e​​​​
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
Click here to learn more about the Petersen Automotive Museum: www.petersen.org
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[@markcady6882]

Oh wow, such a great story and legacy being well looked after, can’t wait to come visit from the uk next year travel restrictions allowing….

[@PetersenMuseum]

We would love to have you!

[@SuperheroJunior]

@@PetersenMuseum This is the same place where the famous rapper from New York City named the Notorious B.I.G was killed by a drive by shooting on March 9, 1997.

[@N-Scale]

So glad to see the museum putting out and hosting great video's

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree Mike!

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@ninjapumkin]

I had travelled from Canada to spend a week in L.A. by myself and my last day there I saw the Peterson Museum. Was an hour before closing. Told my predicament and they said go ahead enter at no charge, look around the museum at your leisure. We will close when your done. Don’t rush. I tell this story to everyone even now to help promote this museum as not only is there a fabulous collection but the people there impacted me to this day.

[@PetersenMuseum]

That's an incredible story! Glad you enjoyed your stay!

[@jeffpetrie7744]

I have had the pleasure of serving as a volunteer at the Petersen, the best automotive museum on Planet Earth!

[@PetersenMuseum]

Thank you Jeff!

[@andersjensen1499]

The fact that he was half danish makes me proud - being super interested in cars, this museum is one I have to visit one day.

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU, MR PETERSEN. SO INSPIRATIONAL WE NEED MORE PASSION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TODAY.

[@danf321]

Been to to museum myself many times, then I brought my sons, and now they visit with their friends. My sons now share my passion for cars.

[@johnbehneman1546]

Thank you so much!!!! It is time to visit The Petersen Automotive Museum again. Thanks for sharing.

[@elcheapo5302]

I spent an entire day at The Petersen a few years ago. Everything about it--the building, the cars, the displays, the people, everything--was just perfect. Hope to make it back some day@!

[@MikeBMW]

Fantastic history of the Petersen Automotive Museum! I am grateful to Robert and all who keep the history of cars alive at the Petersen Museum! :)

[@PetersenMuseum]

Glad you enjoyed it! We do our best to honor his legacy!

[@formerfarmer1718]

Illinois farm boy here. My very first trip to CA my top item was to visit the Peterson! I’d lived vicariously my whole life through the pages of Hot Rod. Now I had “arrived”! 👍 And……..I discovered that the Tar Pits were just up the street! Killer day for a farm kid!

[@sltchevy4652]

Amazing story I enjoy everytime I go to the Petersen thank you so so much for what you do.

[@DanMosqueda]

This is why I get an annual membership, even though I might only make it to the museum a few times a year - it’s the passion of the people.

[@Dave_Boyer]

I’ve been twice, and it feels like home to me. I grew up reading Hot Rod, and reading about the museum over the years. It was only a dream of mine to get there one day, and I can’t wait to go back!

[@jordanmascarenhas7974]

Went there with my pregnant wife in 2018. It was everything people made it out to be and so much more! Can’t wait to go back and bring all my kids one fo these days!!!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid, really enjoyed!! 👍😉👍😊👍🙂

[@anonymousgeorge4321]

Great story. Thanks.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Yep, great vid, great story!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@missingremote4388]

So, I'm glad to have a piece of Robert Peterson's hot rod collection. The Hot rod magazine '95 suburban

[@gsmith207]

Just unbelievable that 1 human can influence millions of others to love a mechanical thing and start a whole culture that will last forever…

[@N-Scale]

Went to Denver Automotive and diesel in 1971 but life got in the way so at 68 years old I now have a 2008 Mustang Bullitt and love the tinkering

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

Don’t miss the vault! It’s even better than the curated displays!

[@GlenTheGuesser]

Bravo!!!

[@superr4368]

In addition to “Hot Rod” and “Motor Trend” magazines, what others did Mr. Peterson have his hand in creating/publishing?

[@TheLambo123254]

lovely video!

[@PetersenMuseum]

You are so kind!!

[@dave5833]

Watch him race one of his Porsche’s at Riverside when you could actually drive on a road track back in the lat 60’s.

[@TheKingAndTheQueen]

Nice 🙂👍

[@dave5833]

@@TheKingAndTheQueen thanks for your reply and have a great weekend

[@cindyzaragoza2736]

miss the old street set

[@aarolecklin8627]

A little mistake in thumbnail picture.

[@PetersenMuseum]

Aaro - thank you for the catch!

[@iamconstantlyhungry]

show more cars please.....but thank you thank you thank you

[@PetersenMuseum]

That's what our other videos are for ;)