n Bowling Green Kentucky, near the assembly plant for the Corvette, a group of dedicated enthusiasts had a dream - -  Dan Gale was President of The National Corvette Museum Foundation, established in 1987 after a small group of the National Corvette Restorers Society talked about a need for a library and archives for the Corvette. The idea expanded into plans for a full-blown museum. Gale headed the volunteer group that planned, financed and built the museum from the beginning, until it's opening in 1994. The land for the museum was contributed by four Bowling Green-area residents. The money  needed to build the museum came from sponsors and a consortium of public and private funding sources, including nearly $4 million from Corvette club members, Chevrolet dealers, Corvette suppliers and Corvette owners worldwide. Also, UAW-represented and salaried employees at the Bowling Green Corvette plant pledged $170,000 through payroll deduction.  The architectural firm for the project was Neumann - Smith Associates of Southfield, Michigan,

After seven years of effort, and commitment of fifteen million dollars, on Labor Day weekend 1994 the dream came true. The National Corvette Museum is the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit museum ever dedicated to a single automobile.

The now world famous 68,000 square foot museum, toped by the illuminated 11-story Mobile 1 Spire, was dedicated to the history and preservation of America's best loved sports car.  Corvette people and enthusiasts from all over the country came together in Bowling Green to celebrate the opening. On hand were GM people like Jim Perkins, Larry Shinoda, and Zora Arkus Duntov, and entertainers like the Beach Boys and George Jones. The dedication celebration started with more than 4,000 Corvette owners converging on Bowling Green after traveling a combined  total of 250,000 miles across the country. The line of Corvettes coming in to Bowling Green stretched as far as the eye could see.

The idea for the caravans came as a fluke, Dan Gale was speaking at the opening of a remodeled hotel in Bowling Green, When the committee's Press Relations person pointed out there was a problem. Loads of television and press people, and nothing new to give them. Dan, good on public relations, came up with an idea..

"We'll have Corvettes leaving from every major city, from the South, North, East, and West. The Goodyear blimp will be on hand for the major networks to shoot from etc,etc. Well,as luck would have it we had 4310 Corvettes from all over. It was a real blast. I can only imagine 1999, I'll bet it will be 10,000.  I hope the Kentucky  police are as receptive now as they were then. .I started a year before the caravan with the Governor, State and Local police. We had meetings once a month to let them be part of it. It was also a great fund raising event, t-shirts, jackets etc. I get misty thinking of it. The National Corvette Museum is the largest single marquee lovers undertaking ever." - Dan Gale

I remember the last actual day of caravaning.....it rained all day.  For that matter it rained some through the night before we staged for the final leg at the Opryland Hotel.  There must have been about two thousand of us out there hand washing our cars and waiting in the endless line to start the trek to the Museum.  I'm really looking forward to '99. - John Rupp "The Arkansas Flash"

National Corvette Museum Trivia..
Ever wonder about where the now famous NCM logo came from ?
It was originally designed by Larry Shinoda as the gas cap cover for the Stingray.

The National Corvette Museum is privately owned 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
Visit the Natioanl Corvette Museum Online