National Packard Museum
1899 Mahoning Avenue NWWarren, Ohio 44483
330-394-1899 | National@PackardMuseum.org www.PackardMuseum.org
National Packard Museum
Luxury car manufacturer Packard got its start in Warren, Ohio. The National Packard Museum showcases the legacy of the Packard family and its fine automobiles.
The National Packard Museum explores the origins of a great American luxury car and its inventors, James Ward and William Doud Packard. Exhibits introduce the family and their role in the company and the town of Warren. Alongside exhibit cases filled with family memorabilia, a display of the earliest Packard cars built in Warren highlights the special features of this special automobile. A second gallery provides a broader view of the Packard, from its innovative engineering to its role in American culture. The cars are beautifully displayed, each one a sparkling gem of design and craftsmanship, arranged to allow ample room for inspection. Rotating exhibits, public programs, and special events offer many reasons to make repeat visits to the National Packard Museum.
Raised in an entrepreneurial family, James and William Packard inherited wealth and continued to add to it by building factories to supply railroad construction and operating timber tracts and quarries. Eventually, they formed the Packard Electric Company to manufacture incandescent light bulbs and electric wiring.
Never content to rest on their wealth, the Packard brothers challenged themselves to build a better automobile. In 1899, the first Packard was released; the luxury sedan appealed to affluent consumers who appreciated its sleek design and innovative mechanical features. At the height of its popularity, Packard had markets in 61 countries, and according to company advertising, 53% of the cars it had built since 1899 were still in use in 1956. Although the last Packard rolled off the assembly line in 1958, many of the standard features in contemporary cars were invented by Packard designers and engineers.
Notes for Travelers
Along with the usual souvenirs, the museum gift shop offers an excellent selection books on automotive topics, back issues of Packard’s International Magazine and other titles of local history.