The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum in Luray is an interesting place to visit. If cars and old time transportation are an interest or hobby of yours, you'll love this museum.

This remarkable collection was built beginning in the 1950s by H.T.N. Graves, who was President of the Luray Caverns Corporation at that time. His efforts have provided society with a significant piece of preserved history which is valuable on many levels.

According to the Luray website "the social, political and economic impact of motorized vehicles is traced throughout the collection, providing an insightful look at the role of transportation". This is indeed true as housed in the museum there are a large collection of different modes of transportation which each showcase the milestones and progress made in transportation from 1725 to 1941.

Included in the collection are carriages, a baby buggy, bicycles, delivery vehicles and of course many different cars. These modes of transportation have been restored beautifully and are a treasure and nice commemoration of how much society has progressed as technology developed over the last several centuries.

When visitors enter the museum they are immediately transported back in time. One of the first exhibits seen is of a carriage that was constructed in the 18th century in France, and it is a beauty.

As visitors continue through the tour of the exhibits they can see how transportation changed over the decades and centuries. It is interesting to see up close and personal the noteworthy progressive improvement of how transportation has evolved prior and after cars were invented.

Some of the prized modes of car transportation in the collection are the 1893 Benz, which is documented as "one of the oldest cars in the country still in operating condition" (Luray Caverns website), 1903 Speedwell, 1905 Riley, 1906 Cadillac, 1908 Baker Electric, 1913 Stanley Steamer, 1914 Wescott, and Rudolph Valentino's 1925 Rolls Royce. This is by no means a full itinerary of the many cars exhibited, but is merely an example of the many antique cars located in the museum.

Whether a visitor's interest lies with cars, history or simply has a curiosity in the development of transportation, this is a neat museum. During a tour of the exhibits visitors can experience a distinct realization of the evolution society has made with transportation over the centuries.

The museum is free with a paid admission to the Luray Caverns and is located on the same property as the caverns; the museum is only a short distance away. This historical museum has a lot of interesting history contained within its walls and it's a great side excursion when visiting the caverns.

The Car and Carriage Caravan museum opens at 9:00 a.m. and remains open until 1/2 hour after the last cavern tour. You can read more on the museum's section of the Luray Caverns website.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
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