Glendale is home to The Martin Auto Museum, a walk-through automotive history and a chance to learn about cars, one Corvette, or Thunderbird, or Ferrari at a time.
This Museum holds 201 of the most unique and gorgeous automobiles, dating back to before the early 1900s. But as Randy Valenzuela, an employee at the Martin Auto Museum, told Northeast Valley News,
“This place isn’t about money; It’s about experiences, and the way the people feel.”
The cars take people back to a time different from this one.
Walking into the building itself smells like a new car, but what is most noticeable is the pristine condition of the beautiful antique cars; they shine. There are racing cars, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Volkswagens, and so many more. Think of a car, and the Martin Auto Museum has it.
Valenzuela explained, “Pretty soon this stuff is going to be history,” which is why his favorite line of cars are the brass-era cars. These are the cars from 1886 and up, the oldest the museum has. These cars have no technology; they just run.
This era of automobiles is so old that people believed a woman who drove one was a witch because they were still so unknown to humanity. All the cars, literally all 201, have their own plaque that comes with a story about each one, which is what makes this place such a historical treasure.
People from all walks of life visit the museum to see the cars, especially those who lived when they were built and have a story about a car just like it. Valenzuela said he loves hearing stories from people in their 80s-90s because they remember them so deeply. One elderly visitor came in with his children, and when they left, the children were in tears. When asked why, they said it was because their father had Alzheimer’s and didn’t remember them, but every car he walked past, he remembered and knew exactly what each car was.
The Martin Auto Museum can have a special meaning for people. It’s an authentic visit through history. Stories from the past are often recalled as people stop in awe of the stunning vehicles.
The Martin Auto Museum has been at their location since 2018, it keeps expanding, and may be getting a new showroom. But one day, “Mel” the museum’s owner, plans to build “A school for teenagers, young kids, and young adults to learn how to restore and work on cars,” Valenzuela said.
A goal that is not built on money or greed, but a true way for people to feel and experience history through cars.
Source: nevalleynews.org
