Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum

Tallahassee, FL


It is human nature to be a collector of something. When a man's collection becomes big enough to need a two-story building to house it, you have a museum. So it is with Devoe Moore.










Yesterday we got underway for our summer 2018 adventure to Utah. We covered 305 miles, arriving here at The Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum – a Harvest Hosts Site.

Let me offer a brief explanation (and a plug) for Harvest Hosts. Their tagline is "Unique Overnight Stops at Wineries, Farms & Attractions." This is a membership organization putting RVers and businesses together. The business offers free overnight dry camping at their location. The etiquette is that you will call ahead, arrive during business hours, and buy something. The Harvest Hosts website provides the location and description of all participating businesses. We have belonged for several years and manage to use a couple of their locations on every trip. The hosts are interesting people and we leave with some fresh farm produce or a couple bottles of wine. An "Attraction" is usually a museum – like our present location.

The highway sign says Automobile Museum, so does the dedication plaque ...
Street Sign

Dedication Plaque

It looks like they had quite a party


... but inside there is more – much more. Their tagline is "It's More Than A Museum... It's A Journey Through History"

Automobiles, of course. The oldest one I spotted was this:

1909 Hupmobile
Robert C. Hupp learned auto manufacturing from Ransom Olds and the Ford Motor Company. In 1908, he completed his own design and started production in Detroit. This brand lasted for almost thirty years.


Here are a few more. I can't begin to show pictures of all them, so I picked a few that I liked.

1939 Ford "Special" Roadster



The famous Ford F-100

1956 Ford F-100 Custom


There are many classics like these:

1948 Tucker

1954 Kaiser Darrin



1940 Ford Deluxe Moonshiner



An impressive collection of Corvettes ...


... and Ford Mustangs


Then there is my absolute all-time favorite car

The "First". The 1955 Ford Thunderbird


I found some personal recollections in Devoe' collection.

My first new car was a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle, much like this one.


That roof rack carried my stuff on my first cross-country trip from Ohio to California


But I always have a pang of regret that I didn't buy the Karman Ghia


Devoe started his working life as a farrier (shoes horses).

Devoe Moore's mobile blacksmith shop


As you enter the building a sea of automobiles to the left and a collection of Steinway pianos to the right. Who can collect famous grand pianos? Devoe Moore, that's who.



Every one of these pianos has a story.

Steinway replica of the Alma-Tadema

Replica of the 100,000th Steinway, now in the Smithsonian

Replica of the Steinway "Peace Prize" piano

500,000th art case piano laser etched with signatures of 800 Steinway artists

Chihuly Olympia Steinway


On September 1, 2016, these five Devoe Moore's Steinway pianos went to Florida State University for a concert by the Five Browns. That concert and those artists are stories in themselves. For those interesting stories, I'll refer you to this article in the FSU News
I would love to have been at that concert


Like I said – every one of these pianos has a story. A Google search will turn up a gold mine of information. You can do that yourself, I must move on.

The museum website lists these collections.
Adding MachinesAntique Cash RegistersAntique Spark Plugs
Antique Time PiecesAutomobilesBatmobiles
BoatsBoat MotorsBrass Fans
DollsFishing LuresGeneral Store Exhibit
GunsKnivesMotorcycles
Native American ArtifactsPedal CarsSports Memorabilia
Steinway Pianos. .. .

I'm sure I missed some of them. I'll include a few more photos to tickle your interest.

Outboard motors


A doll collection



A section just for Batman and all his modes of transportation


Pedal cars


Motorcycles


It was a great day spent with Devoe Moore and his collections and I thank him for his hospitality.


I could write a lot more but it is time to stop. Enjoy the post and put the Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum on your list of places to visit. Tomorrow we move on to Biloxi, MS.

OUR CAMPGROUND

Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum
6800 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
GPS: 30.485910, -84.163169

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