About

Where the World’s Finest Cars of Yesterday Live Today!  

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum offers over 120 cars on exhibit on three levels, nine automotive themed galleries allow the visitor to experience everything from classic cars (as defined by the Classic Car Club of America), to Indiana built cars, to racing and engineering themed exhibits and the original Auburn Automobile Company showroom and company offices.

Strategic Focus and Plan

Vision

To be a vital part of our culture which inspires innovation and engages diverse audiences to create personal connections that spark passion and appreciation for how art, design, mechanics, technology, and engineering affect the world and our daily lives.

Mission

The mission of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is to preserve the past and provide multigenerational audiences an educational and inspirational journey exploring the past, present, and future of the transportation industry while leveraging the Museum's collection as its foundation.

Core Values

Preservation

Pushing the limits on maintaining the Auburn Automobile Company in its original and existing state, as a public service.

Excellence

Be recognized for excellence in its collection, exhibitions, educational programs and other activities and through the professionalism and leadership demonstrated by its board, director, staff, and volunteers.

Experiential

The ideal benchmark in providing inspiration and information, using its brand to differentiate its collection, archival findings, and the building itself.

Facts
501(c)(3) Incorporation

Incorporated as Auburn Automotive Heritage, Inc, and doing business as Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

A copy of the museum's most recent 990 (2022) can be found by clicking here.

Educational Programs

The museum’s most active educational program is its self-guided tour offered to the general public 362 days a year. Trained docents enhance the learning experience. The story of the Auburn Automobile Company (1903–1937) is woven throughout 16 galleries and restored offices connecting with visitors as a microcosm of the automobile industry. Study trips that meet Indiana Academic Standards are taught by licensed professionals.

American Alliance of Museums Accreditation

The American Alliance of Museums, in accordance with the highest standards of excellence, awarded the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum accreditation status in 1997 and subsequent re-accreditation in 2006 and 2020. Less than 5% of the nation’s museums have earned accreditation.

National Historic Landmark

The National Park Services designated the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Facility with the highest possible distinction of National Historic Landmark in 2005 stating that this site has been found to possess exceptional significance in illustrating or commemorating the history of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of the American people. It is nationally significant as one of the few remaining examples of an independent specialty automobile company that made hand-assembled rather than mass-produced automobiles. The museum joins a group of less than 2,500 National Historic Landmarks, 42 of which are in Indiana.

Indiana Historic Site

The museum is located in the former international headquarters building of the Auburn Automobile Company and is recognized as one of the finest examples of art deco architecture in the Midwest. It was designated an Indiana State Historic Site in 1992.

World-renowned Automobile Collection

The permanent collection consists of world-renowned automobiles (c.1894–2001) with an emphasis on Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs. An impressive research archives handles in excess of 1,000 research requests annually.

Founding Member

National Association of Automobile Museums & DeKalb Alliance of Museums