Reno / Nevada, the « greatest little city in the world », is not the place on this earth where you expect to find a big amount of automobile treasures, it`s much better known for its casinos and variety theaters. More than a million tourists a year enjoy the comforts of first class hotels and try their luck at one of the countless gaming machines. The next proper race track is the Las Vegas Motorspeedway, and the only motorsport event in the city are the annual air – Reno Championship Airraces on the Reno Stead Airport 15km to the north of the city. Though, there is a gem of a museum in the heart of the city in walking distance of the big casinos. Before you spend all your money at a black jack table, lay aside 10 bucks and spend a couple of hours in this beautiful and lovely arranged halls in  South Lake Street. “The Harrah Collection” as the National Automobile Museum is known, is mainly based on cars which belonged to casino owner William F. Harrah. Originally he owned more than 1400 cars, about 175 of them were donated to the museum after his passing. The museum itself opened in 1989.   In the building, you can find unique specimen of automobile artristry, you will see nowhere else in the world. For example there is one of only three goldplated deLoreans, the 1908 Thomas Flyer from the New York to Paris race, the Flying Caduceus, one of the first jet-propelled Land Speed Record cars from 1960 or the absolutely mind blowing 1938 Phantom Corsair. Also the Hollywood theme is very present with lots of cars that were owned by movie stars: Elvis` Cadillac Eldorado, James Deans Mercury Series 9CM or Frank Sinatras Ghia L6.4 Hardtop. They all are displayed in beautiful arranged settings which bring the whole museum to life.

The Harrah

Collection