A Trip Down Nostalgia Lane
Only a select few things are stronger in life than a man’s love for his cars. A man of wealth might even start collecting, until he could open up his very own museum about all things vintage cars. And that’s not a hypothesis: One of the greatest examples of a man’s affection for classic cars is the Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette, WY, which features the private collection of Leon and Jeff Wandler.
Leon Wandler’s very specific passion lies with automobiles made by the former Hudson Motor Car Company, which unsurprisingly make up a large part of the exhibition. But in addition to cars from the Hudson brand, the museum also features numerous other specimen of classic automotive engineering from all kinds of manufacturers, past and present.
But, you would be very much mistaken in believing that the Wandler’s impressive collection only revolves around classic automobiles. The museum’s retro atmosphere is enhanced by numerous other vintage exhibits and a plethora of decorative elements. You will also find various well-preserved neon signs and gas pumps, which are reminiscent of times long past.
The 1930s atmosphere is heavily promoted by the pleasant fact that you don’t just move from exhibition A to exhibition B. Moreover, the museum’s scenery resembles that of an old-timey American main street – complete with a gas station (including retro pumps, of course), a classic American diner, barbershop and motel. And we haven’t even mentioned the astonishing replica of an underground mineshaft yet.
So, what’s not to love about the Frontier Auto Museum? Not only does it offer a trip down memory lane for car aficionados, but also boasts an impressive collection of antiques. After your museum experience, head into the Frontier Relic store, where you will have the opportunity to treat yourself to a small souvenir in the form of various antiques, as well as upcycled and locally made bits and bobs.
