Day After Thanksgiving Revs Up Attendance at Museums, Reports Walter P. Chrysler Museum

22 November 2000
Day After Thanksgiving Revs Up Attendance at Museums, Reports Walter P. Chrysler Museum
    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 22 The day after Thanksgiving is
traditionally thought of as a day to "shop 'til you drop."  In fact, many
retailers gear up for this day.  But retail isn't the only industry that
experiences a surge in business; museums throughout the nation enjoy a large
increase in traffic.
    According to Barry Dressel, museum manager at the Walter P. Chrysler
Museum in Auburn Hills, attendance at the museum increases more than 10 times
the normal rate.  Dressel, who has worked at various museums throughout the
country including the Caribbean, claims that this is an occurrence nationally.
    "Similar to retailers, museums usually gear up by increasing staff for
that weekend," explained Dressel.
    But Americans still love to shop.  Dressel says that the Museum gift shop
sales also increase thanks to shoppers looking for unique holiday gifts.
    The Walter P. Chrysler Museum expects even more families to visit this
year due to its new popular exhibit "Chrysler: A Motorsport Heritage."  The
exhibit will showcase racing vehicles from the 1930s to the present.  It will
be held from now until Saturday, March 31, 2001.
    This exhibition is a first-of-its-kind gathering of Chrysler motorsport
vehicles from a wide range of racing formats.  The vehicles themselves are
rare survivors of vehicles that were usually driven to death, then
cannibalized, then junked.  Only recently has the antique car hobby embraced
vintage racing vehicles.  Previously an obsolete race car was regarded as
worthless.
    Nearly 35 motorsport vehicles will featured.  Some of the vehicles on
display include the 1952 Hudson Hornet driven by two time Grand National
Champion Herb Thomas, the 1956 Chrysler 300B driven by Buck Baker, and the
1974 Dodge Charger Richard Petty used to win the Grand National Championship.
    "Thanks to this new exhibit, we're expecting more crowds than ever
before," states Dressel.
    With many interactive vignettes, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum houses
approximately 65 of the more than 160 vehicles in the Chrysler Historical
Collection.  The Museum is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and
from noon-6 p.m. on Sundays.
    The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is the only dedicated, on-site corporate
museum built and operated by an active North American manufacturer.  The
museum is located on 10 acres at the southeast corner of DaimlerChrysler's
headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.