Hands-On! Interactive Journey
Location: Throughout the Museum
When you step through the doors of America’s Transportation Experience, you’re not just entering a museum—you’re beginning a journey through seven decades of wheeled-vehicle history. True to our mission of preserving and presenting transportation history in engaging, entertaining, and educational ways, the Museum invites guests to travel from the bustling streets of New York City, down legendary Route 66, and all the way to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Along the way, classic, custom, and vintage vehicles shine beside motoring memorabilia and rare artifacts. But the adventure doesn’t stop at simply looking. With more than twenty interactive experiences, the Museum blends cutting-edge technology with hands-on discovery, transforming every visit into an active, multisensory exploration for guests of all ages.
Highlights of Your Interactive Journey
Working Early 1900s Machine Shop
Step into a fully operational machine shop that shows how transportation was built at the dawn of the 20th century. Honk the antique horn, push the control buttons, and watch the belt-driven machinery come to life.
EchoPoint Audio-Centric Devices
Voices and stories from the past echo throughout the galleries. Our proprietary EchoPoint devices offer bite-sized audio vignettes on topics like Milton Hershey’s automobiles, Studebaker history, early motorbikes, the Sand Beach Covered Bridge, Napoleon-era coaches, and more—bringing history directly to your ears.
Driving After Sundown: Active Learning Station
Explore the evolution of automotive lighting, from flickering candle-powered coach lamps to today’s high-tech LED headlights. Compare beams from each era and see how drivers illuminated the road through time.
Model T Automation Assembly Line
Team up with friends or take on the challenge yourself—this hands-on assembly line lets you build a wooden Model T replica piece by piece, just like early auto workers did on the factory floor.
Flo-Inn Valentine Diner Experience
Take a seat inside an authentic 1940s–1960s Valentine diner—the Floinn Café—one of the few surviving portable diners ever made. Spin the stools, play the jukebox, ring the original payphone, and relive the charm of roadside dining in its heyday.
Tucker Gallery Interactives
Home to the world’s most extensive collection of Tucker automobiles and artifacts, this gallery puts you inside the innovative world of the Tucker Corporation. Take the driver’s seat to experience the revolutionary cyclops headlight and radio, hear authentic engine audio, punch in with the time clock, step into Preston Tucker’s office to answer his phone, explore dealer locations, and watch the Tucker story unfold on screen. Don’t miss the display that reveals how light transforms Tucker promotional paperweights.
Roads to Rails Model Train Room
A favorite for families and train lovers alike, this immersive model railroad exhibit spans towns and landscapes across Pennsylvania. Activate trains, set scenes in motion, and relive the magic of railroading—whether it’s your first encounter or a nostalgic return.
