The Peterson Automotive Museum has been in the news a great deal over the past month or so. The decision of the Board to sell off approximately one third of its collection along with a drastic remake of the exterior of the museum building has left many fans of the museum in shock. The Peterson is more than just a museum; it is a collection of memories and tributes and is uniquely Southern California car culture.
Every museum is slightly different from the others. What makes the Peterson unique in my mind is that it was created by one of the most significant auto enthusiasts in the hobby’s history. The Peterson’s publishing company has touched everyone of us as we were growing up and continues to do so today. A large portion of the Peterson’s estate went to funding the museum.
I hope the museum never loses its strong Southern California flavor but I also understand that it must bend with the times and changing demographics to remain relevant. I am a muscle car and sports car guy; that is what I really like and what I grew up with. However, I still love looking at and learning more about all cars as well as the role of Southern CA in the car hobby.
Here are a few examples of how the Peterson Museum currently displays some of their permanent inventory. The dioramas are some of my favorite parts of the Peterson.
