Shinka Through the Lens

On June 12, 2025, we welcomed more than 100 cars and over 200 spectators to LeMay - America's Car Museum for our first cruise-in of the summer! With a theme honoring 100 years of Chrysler and Mopar, we saw an eclectic array of vehicles, ranging from a Chrysler Sebring convertible and classic Plymouth Cuda (along with many other American muscle cars) to Maseratis and vintage Volkswagens. These local Tacoma car shows are truly a celebration of all things automotive! We hope to see you at the next on July 17. Our theme for that one is "A world of cars," where we will celebrate Asian and European makes and models. Shout out to OpenBay Garage for sponsoring the 2025 ACM Cruise-In series!

At LeMay – America’s Car Museum, we celebrate the automobile in all its cultural, historical, and mechanical glory. But where do these beloved vehicles spend their off-hours? The answer—the garage—has a story just as fascinating as the cars themselves. From humble carriage houses to polished home showrooms and versatile lifestyle spaces, the American garage has evolved dramatically over the past century. The Horse Before the Horsepower Before the rise of the automobile, elite homes in the late 19th century featured carriage houses, usually tucked behind the main residence. These structures stored carriages, tack, and feed, and often included stalls for horses. Some even had upstairs quarters for stablehands or drivers—an early example of a structure designed for both function and flexibility. As cars gained popularity in the early 20th century, carriage houses became obsolete—but they laid the blueprint for what would become the American garage.