PA Museums

Exploring the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon County

The Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon County is the oldest automobile museum in the United States!

The Swigart Museum is the oldest automobile museum in the United States and is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and celebration of the automobile and memorabilia. — The Swigart Museum is the oldest automobile museum in the United States.

The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and celebration of the American automobile, and does so in admirable fashion.

The Swigart Museum automobile collection was started in 1920.

Touring the Swigart Auto Museum

The Swigart Museum is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through the end of October.

The Swigart Museum is located along Route 22 just east of Huntingdon, PA.

While the museum is closed over the winter, they change out the vehicles on display, meaning every year you’ll see something new when visiting.

A 1960 Fiat Jolly convertible on display at the Swigart Museum in Huntingdon Pennsylvania. — A 1960 Fiat Jolly convertible.

The Lobby

The lobby of the Swigart Museum is home to a variety of automobile-related memorabilia, such as hood ornaments, radiator emblems, and vintage drivers licenses.

Vintage drivers licenses on display at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. — Vintage drivers licenses.

You’ll find a collection of ornate vintage automobile lights and horns on display in the lobby as well.

Vintage automobile horns and accessories on display at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon Pennsylvania. — Vintage automobile lights and horns on display in the museum lobby.

The Car Collection at the Swigart Auto Museum

Moving on to the main exhibit area, you’ll find automobiles and carriages dating back to 1896!

The Swigart Auto Museum collection contains automobiles and carriages dating back to 1896.

This 1981 DeLorean is one of my favorites in the collection – note the nod to Doc Brown from “Back to the Future” sitting on the driver’s side of the car.

A 1981 Delorean DMC-12 on display at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon Pennsylvania. — A 1981 DeLorean DMC-12.

This 1936 Duesenberg would be my personal choice for most beautiful car in the collection.

A 1936 Duesenberg Prototype Gentleman's Speedster on display at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon Pennsylvania. — A 1936 Duesenberg Prototype Gentleman’s Speedster.

Every line and curve on this vehicle is a work of art.

The interior of a 1936 Duesenberg Prototype Gentleman's Speedster on display at the Swigart Museum in Huntingdon Pennsylvania. — The interior of a 1936 Duesenberg Prototype “Gentleman’s Speedster”.

Movie Cars at the Swigart Auto Museum

The Swigart Museum has one of the cars used in filming “Herbie Rides Again”, a 1974 American comedy film and the second installment of “The Love Bug” film series made by Walt Disney Productions.

Herbie the Love Bug exhibit at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. — Herbie the Love Bug exhibit.

The Swigart Museum is also home to a pair of rare Tucker automobiles, one of which was was featured in the 1988 film “Tucker, The Man and His Dream”.

The 1947 Tucker Prototype was the first automobile produced by the Tucker Corporation and was a prototype for the Tucker 1948 production cars.

How to Find the Swigart Auto Museum

The Swigart Auto Museum is located at 12031 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon, PA 16652.

Map to the Swiagrt Auto Museum along Route 22 between Huntingdon and Mount Union. — Map to the Swigart Auto Museum along Route 22 between Huntingdon and Mount Union.

For the most up-to-date hours and admissions prices, please visit the Swigart Auto Museums OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Entrance to the Swigart Auto Museum along Route 22 in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania — Entrance to the Swigart Auto Museum along Route 22 in Huntingdon County.

With the vehicles on display changing every year, there’s always a reason to visit, or revisit, the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon County!

A 1960 Volkswagen, AKA Herbie the Love Bug, on display at the Swigart Auto Museum in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. — “Herbie the Love Bug” on display at the Swigart Museum in 2021.

The Grice Museum in Clearfield County features nearly 70 classic cars on display, along with hundreds of taxidermy mounts of wild game animals from around the globe.

A grizzly bear guarding the showroom at the Grice Museum in Clearfield PA — A grizzly bear guarding the showroom at the Grice Museum in Clearfield.

The AACA Museum in Hershey, PA is consistently ranked as one of the top automotive and transportation museums in the United States!

Exploring the AACA Automotive Museum in Hershey Pennsylvania. — The AACA Museum in Hershey, PA.

The Simeone Automotive Museum in Philadelphia is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of racing sports cars!

The Le Mans exhibit at the Simeone Automotive Museum traces the evolution of race cars. — The Simeone Automotive Museum’s collection contains **over 75 historically significant race cars**.

Barry’s Car Barn in Lancaster County is a classic car museum focusing primarily on American muscle cars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

A collage of four photos showcasing Barry's Car Barn in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The top left photo features a blue Shelby AC Cobra and a row of classic muscle cars in various colors. The top right photo shows an indoor exhibit with a collection of vintage Corvettes and retro automotive signs from brands like Texaco and Gulf. The bottom left photo displays a row of colorful classic cars, including a red 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, set against a backdrop of nostalgic memorabilia. The bottom right photo captures the exterior of Barry's Car Barn, a white barn-style building with vintage Gulf and Texaco signs, surrounded by a grassy area and a clear blue sky. The museum highlights American muscle cars from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. — Scenes from Barry’s Car Barn.

The Greenberg Cadillac Museum in Jefferson County displays more than 80 Cadillacs, spanning every model group and decade, making it the largest collection of Cadillacs in the world!

A collage of four photos taken at the Greenberg Cadillac Museum in Jefferson County, PA. The top left photo features a vibrant red 1959 Cadillac with other vintage cars in the background. The top right photo shows a lineup of 1970s Cadillacs, including models in brown, beige, and white. The bottom left photo displays a row of vintage Cadillacs, including a maroon model with its hood open, alongside other cars in gray and blue. The bottom right photo showcases various classic Cadillacs with distinctive chrome detailing, including a silver model from the late 1950s, all arranged on a checkered floor in a well-lit museum setting. — Scenes from the Greenberg Cadillac Museum.

The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles in Berks County is home to a collection of over 90 Pennsylvania-built vehicles, as well as numerous exhibits related to automotive culture.

A collage of four photos from the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The top left image shows a lineup of vintage Ford cars with an American flag hanging above them, highlighting the museum's classic car collection. The top right image features a horse-drawn carriage exhibit, with a black horse figure in harness next to various carriages displayed in a rustic, wooden interior. The bottom left image displays military and service vehicles, including a green military jeep and an ambulance, set against the backdrop of the museum's signage. The bottom right image showcases a row of gleaming classic cars, focusing on a black vintage automobile, with other colorful cars arranged neatly in the background. The collage captures the diversity of the museum's exhibits, from early transportation to mid-20th century vehicles.

For 50 years, Carlisle Events has been hosting some of the largest car shows in the United States at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Cumberland County.

Scenes from the Ford Nationals car show hosted by Carlisle Events.

Nearby Attractions

The Isett Heritage Museum houses and displays over 40,000 items from everyday life in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Vintage televisions on display at the Isett Heritage Museum In Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. — Vintage televisions exhibit.

Comprised of 3 large buildings (one of which is a repurposed barn), the Isett Heritage Museum may be the most floor-to-ceiling packed with artifacts museum I’ve ever set foot in!

Building number 1 at the Isett Heritage Museum is a repurposed old barn. — Building number 1 at the Isett Heritage Museum is a repurposed barn.

Trough Creek State Park is a spectacular 541-acre gorge formed by Great Trough Creek as it slices through Terrace Mountain on its way towards Raystown Lake.

Fall foliage at Copperas Rocks at Trough Creek State Park. — Great Trough Creek in Huntingdon County.

Trough Creek State Park has miles of hiking trails, several unique rock formations, picnic and camping areas, and scenic views that rival anything in Pennsylvania.

Fall foliage at the Ledges Trail Overlook at Trough Creek State Park.

Hawn’s Overlook is the most famous of four scenic overlooks at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County.

Observation area at Hawn's Overlook above Raystown Lake. — Hawn’s Overlook at Raystown Lake.

Saint Mary’s Covered Bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

Beautiful fall foliage at Saint Mary's Covered Bridge in Huntingdon County, PA — Beautiful fall foliage at Saint Mary’s Covered Bridge in Huntingdon County.

The East Broad Top Railroad offers passenger excursions, shop tours, and visits to the “roundhouse”, where their fleet of six steam engines live.

A historic steam locomotive number 16 from the East Broad Top Railroad is pictured preparing to depart the station in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The train, pulling a series of passenger cars, emits a plume of smoke into the early evening sky colored by the setting sun. The scene captures the nostalgia and romance of vintage rail travel. — The East Broad Top Railroad in Huntingdon County.

20 Must-See Attractions in Huntingdon County is your guide to even more natural and manmade attractions near the Swigart Auto Museum.

The Rockhill Trolley Museum offers visitors the chance to ride antique electric trolley cars through a scenic Huntingdon County valley. — The Rockhill Trolley Museum offers visitors the chance to ride antique electric trolley cars through the scenic Blacklog Valley in Huntingdon County.

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.