The fabulous architectural plan you are looking at is the future pavilion and Show Field of "The LeMay - America's Car Museum®," which, when finished, will be the largest and most comprehensive automobile museum in the world. It will include a collector car center; a show field suitable for major concours; an education center; retail and entertainment facilities; and private storage opportunities for individual collectors. The original LeMay Collection contained 3,000 automobiles, motorcycles, trucks and other vehicles, plus more than 30,000 pieces of related 20th century Americana, all assembled by Harold LeMay and his wife, who stashed it in and around buildings on his Tacoma property. Although never operated as a museum, Mr. LeMay kindly opened his home one weekend each year for the benefit of interested visitors. It was then recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest privately-held car collection.

When Harold LeMay died a group of enthusiasts set a goal of $143 million to assure that the collection would be displayed in a spectacular facility displaying up to 1000 cars and associated memorabilia. The city of Tacoma, recognising the Museum's tourist and education potential, donated land in an ideal location next to the Tacoma Dome and Interstate 5. City council has now agreed to a plan whereby the Museum campus can be built in stages, thus allowing it to open nearly a year ahead of the original schedule while saving several million dollars in construction costs. The Show Field will be available for major events and have the ability to remain open while the second stage is being built. Construction is slated to begin in April 2008. To date more than $49 million has been committed, including the land, so fund-raising continues to be a major activity. You can learn more about the Museum at its Web site and become a member for as little as $50.00.