The National Automobile Museum began as the collection of vehicles accumulated by William F. “Bill” Harrah of Nevada casino fame. After he died in 1978, his properties, including the automobile collection, was purchased by Holiday Corporation. When Holiday announced its intention to sell the collection, a private non-profit corporation was formed to preserve the cars and keep them in Nevada. The result was the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection) being built on land in Reno and opening in 1989, thanks in part to many donations, the City of Reno Redevelopment Agency, and an appropriation from the State of Nevada. AutoWeek considers the National Automobile Museum one of the top 16 in the world. Nevada Magazine’s reader poll has chose it the “Best Museum in Northern Nevada” for many years.
