For Gold & Glory:
a tribute to charlie wiggins
NOW OPEN
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
discover The incredible True STory of
Charlie wiggins
Experience For Gold & Glory, an immersive exhibition restoring racing legend
Charlie Wiggins to American motorsports history.
Now on display at LeMay - America's Car Museum.
Included with museum admission ticket.
The Driver History Nearly Forgot
Charlie Wiggins was a driver, mechanic, innovator, and race-car builder. He built the Wiggins Special and became a four-time champion of the Gold & Glory Sweepstakes, achieving greatness in an era when segregation excluded Black competitors from many of America's most prominent racing opportunities. His story is not a footnote. It is American motorsports history.
Watch Charlie's Story
Inside the exhibition
Step into the world surrounding Charlie Wiggins: the energy of Indiana Avenue, the roar of the racetrack, the craft behind the Wiggins Special, and the community that built its own space for competition and excellence. Historical imagery, artifacts, sound and immersive design reveal a story shaped by brilliance, ambition, and endurance.
Click here to read the exhibition’s official press release.
The Wiggins spcial: back to glory
highlights of the exhibition
Racing history and the Gold & Glory Sweepstakes
Charlie Wiggins' life , engineering skill, and championship career
The culture and creativity of Indiana Avenue
The Barriers Black racers confronted, and the worlds they built beyond them
The Curatorial vision of guest curator Edward T. Welburn
Vehicles featured
1930 Packard 740
1931 chevy independence
1928 Chrysler series 72
1933 Chrysler royal pt
1924 Model t pickup
1933 dodge dp
A Designer Brings the Story Forward
Edward T. Welburn, former vice president, General Motors Global Design, serves as guest curator of For Gold & Glory. He is the singular driving force behind championing Charlie Wiggins’ legacy and securing the rights to tell Wiggins’ life story with the care, authority, and scale it deserves.
For Gold & Glory reflects Welburn’s belief that design can do more than shape an object. It can restore memory, create understanding, and carry a legacy forward.
Hear more about the story behind For Gold & Glory. Listen to KIRO’s interview with guest curator Ed Welburn to learn more about Charlie Wiggins, his legacy, and the history behind the exhibition.
Plan your visit
Location: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, 2702 E. D St., Tacoma, WA 98421
Opening-day hours: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 • 10 AM–5 PM
Parking: Included with Museum admission
Accessibility: The Museum is ADA-compliant; add link to complete accessibility information
For Gold & Glory
In the news
Explore recent media coverage highlighting the story of Charlie Wiggins, the remarkable history of the Wiggins Special, and the significance of bringing this long-overlooked chapter of American motorsports history to light.
