My favorite car I ever owned was a 1984 red Pontiac Fiero. “We build excitement.” was Pontiac’s ad campaign the year the Fiero came out. Maybe it is nostalgia for my youth, but I would buy another Fiero tomorrow if they still made them. It was sporty, cute, FAST and it got great gas mileage, which was important for commuting to Illinois State University.

Of course, the money I saved on gas was definitely spent on speeding tickets. That car was to FUN to drive. It was a manual transmission, so it really felt like I was driving a race car. It had a moon roof. It had a good stereo. The speakers were fantastic and embedded in the headrests-They made all of my favorite songs sound even better. There was barely any room in the trunk, and only had two seats, so I had to travel light. But it was worth it. I was a Pontiac Girl!

I drove Pontiacs exclusively until they stopped producing cars.

I love cool cars and a good road trip to take them on. I also really enjoy a good museum origin story. Pontiac, IL has a few of them!

The Pontiac-Oakland Museum in Pontiac began in August of 2010. Tim Dye was driving back home to Oklahoma. He was returning from a Pontiac show near Chicago. While driving south on I-55, he noticed signs for the city of Pontiac, he decided to check out the town. As he explored the city, he visited the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum and struck up a conversation. Tim showed his recently published book on Pontiac-Oakland memorabilia and history. He mentioned that he was looking for a suitable place. He wanted to exhibit his vast personal collection of artifacts. Where better than Pontiac, IL?

Pontiac Mayor, Robert Russell was told of Tim’s visit and negotiations began. By early 2011, city officials approved the start of work on remodeling an empty storefront directly across from City Hall. The Museum opened in July of 2011. Less than a year from Tim’s first visit.

The museum has one of the world’s greatest collections of Pontiac and Oakland cars. The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum features antique and classic cars and plenty of automotive artifacts. They also have a Resource Center Library. It includes several thousand old highway maps. There are sales brochures, original design drawings, and service and owner’s manuals too. If it was printed about the Pontiac or Oakland auto brand, the museum probably has a copy.

The museum also features a wonderful display of more than 2,000 oil cans. Displays change several times a year — there’s always something new to see!

Pontiac, IL has several museums downtown. It is a great example of how museums, arts, culture, and tourism can improve small town economies.