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Nostalgia extends to ticket prices Dec. 2-10 at Volo Auto Museum

Cynthia Wolf Posted on 2017-11-27

Back when the Volo Auto Museum first opened in 1960, visitors paid 50 cents apiece to see a smattering of jalopies in a 10,000-square-foot, gravel-floored pole barn.

 

From Dec. 2-10 in 2017, those same two quarters will buy a far more bountiful feast for the eyes.

 

“Now more than ever, our exhibits appeal to all ages, genders and tastes,” said Brian Grams, museum director. “We truly are a family venue. To encourage more people to see what we have, we’re rolling back the clock to our original 1960s fee for nine days this December.”

 

With regular admission at $15 for adults and $9 for children ages 5 to 12, the 50-cent days offer a rare opportunity to glimpse the museum’s ever-changing and increasingly eclectic collections at a steep savings. 

 

So much has changed at the Volo Auto Museum since its inception. The museum at 27582 Volo Village Road today features 150,000 square feet of indoor, heated exhibit space housing displays ranging from nautical to agricultural, musical and, of course, all things vehicular. 

 

Among the more recent additions are a vintage RVs and campers exhibit, the Duesenberg Room, the Disney gallery and an impressive collection of vintage music machines featuring everything from antique juke boxes, Otto Accordions and player pianos to an exceptionally rare, fully functional Mortier dance hall orchestra machine from the ’50s.

 

“It’s a self-contained band,” Grams said. “It came from the Crystal Palace in Belgium.”

 

That’s not all. Like snowmobiles? A whole room is devoted to vintage sleds. How about scooters? Motorized bicycles? Depression-era tractors? Antique kiddy rides? Rat Fink memorabilia? This place has the bases covered. It truly must be seen to be believed. And from Dec. 2-10, the eye-popping experience is deeply discounted.

 

“For those who have been here, we want to show them all of the changes we’ve made,” Grams said. “For those who haven’t been here, come check us out. We’re so much more than an auto museum.” 

 

The Volo Auto Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For other information, call 815-385-3644, visit volocars.com or find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook.

 

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Photos provided (old photo is a Volo Auto Museum shot from the early 1960s)

Suggested caption: Visitors to the Volo Auto Museum at 27582 Volo Village Road paid 50 cents to see a relatively small grouping of jalopies back when the museum opened in 1960. From Saturday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 10, the public is invited to step back in time not only to view the hundreds of nostalgic items now on display, but also to enjoy the 50-cent ticket price of days gone by. Today's visitors have a lot more to see — the museum now encompasses roughly 150,000 square feet of climate-controlled display space featuring everything from classic and Hollywood cars to agricultural, nautical and vintage RV exhibits. 

**50 cent promotion valid for same day admission only.  Not valid for pre-purchased tickets or on-line tickets.  No charge cards accepted for charges less than $10.00.