AACA Museum, Inc. President’s Message

A Message from Our Museum’s President

Welcome to the 2021 Night at the Museum! After having to cancel last year’s event, we are especially pleased to welcome you here tonight. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. The truth of that old saying has been proven by the visitation to the Museum after we reopened, and the participation in Museum events this year. Both have hit record levels, even when measured against pre-COVID numbers. We are encouraged and delighted by the enthusiasm shown by our members, our supporters, and the public for the Museum and its activities.

The credit for this success is widespread. We have received many outstanding donations of cars, trucks, and buses, and we exhibit them both within the Museum and at outside events. For example, the Museum sponsored a major display tent at the recent Macungie car show, which featured Cadillac as this year’s honored marque. Our volunteers continue to provide outstanding service, contributing hours that would equal nine full-time employees. They are our ambassadors to greet the tens of thousands of visitors we get each year. Our outstanding staff – downsized since the COVID closures – work tirelessly to maintain the quality of everything we do. Finally, we could not fulfill our mission without you, our loyal supporters.

Special thanks go out to the sponsors of tonight’s dinner, who are listed in the program, as well as the other advertisers supporting the event. It is appropriate that tonight we are honoring Jim Schmidt, a lifelong antique car enthusiast and the founder of National Parts Depot (“NPD”). Jim’s award is based on his contributions to the hobby, but his generosity to our Museum is also deeply appreciated. Our main storage building, “Jim’s Place”, is now heated and air-conditioned to improve the quality of storage and to promote visitation by special request.

Space does not permit me to thank personally everyone who has enabled us to remain one of America’s greatest auto museums. But please know that your support is appreciated. We look forward to a great future in preserving and making the public aware of the rich history of the automobile.

Sincerely,

Richard P. Sills President, Board of Directors AACA Museum, Inc.