Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

AUBURN March 7, 2006; The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum galleries and staff can now stay warm thanks to local support from area utilities, a local foundation and Women's Association. A start up of the boiler in the fall of 2005 found it to be completely inoperable. The boiler, used to heat the museum's main building (the original 1930 art deco administrative building of the former Auburn Automobile Company), had deteriorated internally. The pipes within the boiler rusted through in many places. The museum needed to replace the internal pipes, seals and insulation within the boiler. The museum sought funding to help support the repairs, estimated to cost $28,284. Northern Indiana Fuel & Light Company, Inc., NiSource Charitable Foundation and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) came to the museum's aid recently and donated three checks of $2,500, totaling $7,500 to assist with the repair project. Also, AEP donated $5,000 a few months earlier to help with repair costs. And the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum Women's Association donated $6,000. The balance required now is $9,784.

Laura Brinkman, Executive Director of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, appreciates the help given to the museum by those local utilities, the foundation and the Women's Association. "We are very grateful for the generosity shown by these local utilities at a time when we were unexpectedly faced with a very significant, yet essential and timely repair. This expression of community at our time of need is deeply appreciated." The boiler repair project will ensure the preservation of its automobile collection and the continued comfort of museum visitors.

The not-for-profit Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum is located in the restored 1930 art deco administrative building of the former Auburn Automobile Company. The museum displays 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars in eight galleries. The museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1997, is a National Historic Landmark. It is open to visitors daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.