The National Corvette Museum is Adding a New Facility to Preserve its Growing Collection of Historic Corvettes

New Building to Highlight Historic Vehicles Including the Neil Armstrong Corvette

Here we grow again! A major expansion will soon be underway at the National Corvette Museum as a much needed Collections facility is finally being added to the NCM campus. Located on Corvette Drive down by the R8C delivery storage lot, the 66,000 square-feet facility will house the Museum’s collection of vehicles and artifacts under one roof, and best of all it will be open to members and the public.

One of the core missions of the National Corvette Museum is to preserve the history and provenance of the historic vehicles in its possession, and this new facility will do just that.

The oversized building allows for growth while offering plenty of room for displaying vehicles, as well as other treasures and artifacts related to America’s Favorite Sports Car. A preservation room will feature multiple service bays and lifts for making sure these Corvettes are around for future generations. The recent preservation work of Zora’s 1974 Corvette is a testament to that successful mission while also showing everyone what the team in charge of these historic cars are able to accomplish.

And speaking of historic cars, the National Corvette Museum has more than a few historic vehicles under its care, and now you can add one more: Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s 1967 Corvette!

We’ve all heard the stories of America’s astronauts driving Corvettes for a $1 lease. Before he was first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong once owned a Marina Blue 1967 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe powered by a 427/390-hp V8 engine. Armstrong’s unrestored Corvette has been the subject of previous preservation efforts, and now with the car coming home to the NCM, it will have everything needed for its extended care.

“This vehicle is a prime example of the need for a new facility,” said Robert Maxhimer, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Education at the National Corvette Museum. “When a Corvette with a story like Neil Armstrong’s comes through our doors, it deserves to be cared for in a space that is built to honor its legacy. This expansion ensures we can physically preserve the vehicle while protecting its history for future generations to enjoy and learn from.”

Corvette Museum members should be excited about this new facility as it finally brings the NCM’s growing collection of Corvettes under one roof and accessible to members. The National Corvette Museum has secured $2.1 million in funding the new facility and we appreciate those members who have graciously donated. Here is what the NCM says in its press release:

Longtime supporters of the National Corvette Museum, Mary and Ivan Schrodt, have generously pledged $1,000,000. In recognition of their gift, the Vehicle Collections Gallery will be named in their honor. Michael LaRocca, National Corvette Museum Board Chair-Elect, has pledged $500,000 to name the Atrium Lobby the Michael LaRocca and Family Atrium, where all guided tours of the facility will begin. Melanie and Tim McMichael & Family, known philanthropists and longtime supporters of the Museum, have pledged $500,000 to name the Preservation Center and Heritage Conservation Lab.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the NCM Collections Facility will be held during the Fall Member Appreciation Day on October 23rd. If you would like to attend, you have until October 20th to RSVP. The project is expected to be completed by Summer 2026.

The National Corvette Museum will be conducting a fundraising drive for the project, and we encourage members to donate to help fund this new endeavor as it benefits the long-term storage, preservation, and member access to all the Corvettes in the collection. To donate, visit www.corvettemuseum.org, or if you would like to discuss additional partnership opportunities, contact the Museum’s development team at [email protected].

“This expansion project is about creating a sustainable future for preserving the full story of Corvette,” said Bryce Burklow, President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. “We’re safeguarding the design breakthroughs, engineering milestones, and cultural moments that make Corvette an icon. And soon, our guests will be able to experience that process in a whole new way.”

Check out these renderings of the new Collections facility:

Our friend Steve Garrett of the CORVETTE TODAY Podcast spoke with the National Corvette Museum’s Ryan Eichler about the new Collections facility in this CORVETTE TODAY Extra:

Source:
National Corvette Museum

Related:
Join the National Corvette Museum for Member Appreciation Day on October 23rd
National Corvette Museum Celebrates its 20,000th R8C Museum Delivery
Corvette Museum Debuts 1974 Stingray Owned by Corvette’s First Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov

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