Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky is The National Corvette Museum. The only museum dedicated to only one model, the Corvette. The Corvette enthusiast and car lovers of all kinds will enjoy exploring this 115,000 square foot building.
Location and Hours
Location:
National Corvette Museum
350 Corvette Dr.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Hours:
Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM
Last tickets sold at 4:30 PM
Open Year Round except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving.
Admission prices:
Regular Admission (Ages 13-61)…$18.00
Child Admission (Ages 5-12)…$13.00
Senior Admission (62+)…$16.00
4 and under Free
NCM Members Free
Military Discounts
A few things you will see:
Around 70 Corvettes, gift shops, Stingray restaurant, the famous sink hole area, a kids area with hands on activities, a race simulator, Chevrolet racing memorabilia, the Corvette Hall of Fame museu
Useful Information:
- Tickets – National Corvette Museum tickets can be purchased online or in person.
- Time – Opens at 9 AM and this is a self guided tour. You should expect to spend at least and hour and a half.
- Clothing/Shoes/Backpack/Purse – No specific recommendations. All indoor walking. Benches are available throughout.
- Food/Picnic – There is a restaurant at the front of the museum. Open 10 AM – 3 PM.
- Pets – Service animals are allowed. The Museum recommends a local pet care facility: https://www.facebook.com/dogsdayoutbgky/
- Accessibility – The museum is handicapped accessible.
Brief History of an American Love Affair
June 30, 1953 was the first production of the Chevrolet Corvette was built in Flint Michigan.
The Corvette was worked on under the design name Opel. For a short time during the design it was also went by the name Cougar.
There have been numerous redesigns throughout the years, which you will see throughout the museum. The most notable design was the Corvette Stingray, making it more sleek and aerodynamic. It was also more powerful boasting a new V8 engine with over 300 horsepower.
In the early 1980s, the National Corvette Restorers Society, composed of dedicated Corvette enthusiasts, conceived the idea of establishing a dedicated museum for the iconic American sports car.
In the early 1990s, the vision of a National Corvette Museum began taking shape, and through passionate efforts and fundraising, the museum became a reality, officially opening on September 2, 1994.
The museum’s strategic location near the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant, which had been producing Corvettes since 1981, cemented its significance as a hub for preserving and displaying the Corvette’s rich history.
This Kentucky museum made national news in 2014 when a sinkhole opened up in the Skydome exhibit. The 40 foot wide sinkhole swallowed up 8 Corvettes! All was caught by the security camera.
What to expect
The National Corvette Museum is right off the highway making it fairly easy to get to. Free parking is available and the lot is large with plenty of parking for any vehicle or RV.
Near the main doors is The Stingray Grill, the National Corvette Museum’s restaurant.
Once you enter there are Corvettes greeting you. Restrooms are located right inside the doors.
You can view some Corvettes, shop at the gift shop, try out the Corvette Simulator and get something to eat, all before starting your self guided tour.
Food and drink are not allowed in the museum area. There are some benches and bathrooms throughout.
There is a kids area where you can design your own Corvette and get it displayed on the wall.
You will get to learn about the start of the Corvette and the processes of design and production. A very in depth story is told throughout, there is a lot to read.
Toward the end of the tour you will get to the Corvette Cave In. In this area you will see video and info on the famous sinkhole that devoured some classic cars in 2014.
At the end of the tour we got to see the Carl Casper display. Featuring legendary cars such as the Cosmic Invader, the “Batman Returns:” Batmobile and the Turbo Shark.
You will exit through the Corvette Store back into the main hall.
National Corvette Museum Raffle
Win a Corvette! The museum holds numerous raffles throughout the year. Learn more here: raffle.corvettemuseum.org
With the Corvette Museum webcam you can watch the livestream and see the drawings live. Video does not always stream the best.
Location
Bowling Green is located an hour and a half north of Nashville and 2 hours south of Louisville.
Hours
Open daily in March through October 9 AM – 5 PM
November through February 10-5 PM Mon-Fri and 9-5 PM Sat and Sun
Closed Tuesdays in January and February.
Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving.
Tickets
Tickets purchased online are good for one year from the purchase date.
Regular Admission (Ages 13-61)…$18.00
Child Admission (Ages 5-12)…$13.00
Senior Admission (62+)…$16.00
4 and under Free
NCM Members Free
Military Discounts
Guided tours are available at 11 AM and 1 PM. Limited to 15 and is first come first serve.
Regular Admission + Guided Tour (Ages 13-61)…$23.00
Child Admission + Guided Tour (Ages 5-12)…$18.00
Senior Admission + Guided Tour (62+)…$21.00
Corvette Simulator – $10.00
Sit behind the wheel of a C6 Corvette and race around a virtual racetrack. More than one person at a time can ride. Rides end at 4:30.
Packages
The National Corvette Museum and 26 local hotels have teamed up to provide you with a one price package.
Package Link
The National Corvette Museum, 26 local hotels and the Historic RailPark and Train Museum have teamed up to provide you with a one price package.
Package Link
Parking
Parking is available at the front of the museum. There is plenty of space for vehicles of all sizes.
Corvette events
National Corvette Caravan
Said to be the largest moving automotive event, the caravan is what it sounds like, a caravan of Corvettes! Once every five years, regional caravans will form and meet up with other caravans across the US.
The Corvette Caravan will meet up at the National Corvette Museum for festivities, demonstration drive, classroom sessions and other activates. Learn more about this event at www.corvettecaravan.com
Food/Where to eat
Stingray Grill is attached to the museum and has nice selection of food and drink.
There are also concessions inside. Though food or drink is allowed past the ticket counter.
Where to stay
There are numerous places to stay in the area and the museum has made this easy for you are well by having a whole list on their website:
Museum Hotel Link
We stayed at the Best Western Plus. Nice and clean, friendly staff and a pretty good free breakfast.
1940 Mel Browning St.
Bowling Green, KY 42104
Nearby Attractions
Plant Tours
Go behind the scenes with a guided tour of the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where Corvettes are manufactured.
485-487 Corvette Dr
Bowling Green, KY 42101
The NCM Motorsports Park
Get the Corvette experince behide the wheel on the track. Join the Driving Club, drive high-speed go-karts or host a corporate event
505 Kimberlee A. Fast Drive
Bowling Green, KY 42103
There is so much to do in the Bowling Green area. It would be worth spending a few days there. Here are just a few things on people’s “must do” lists.
Lost River Cave – Underground cave boat tour
2818 Nashville Road
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Mammoth Cave National Park
45 minutes north east.
Considered to have the world’s longest cave system. There is also camping, hiking, bike and equestrian trails available.
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo – Petting Zoo.
Pet a kangaroo, feed exotic birds and more.
3700 L and North Turnpike
Horse Cave, KY 42749
Hidden River Cave, Zip and Rappel
Zipline in the cave, rappel and cross the world’s longest underground suspension bridge.
119 E Main St.
Horse Cave, KY 42749
Find even more to do at: www.visitbgky.com
Information courtesy of The National Corvette Museum website and personal experience.
Thanks for reading and safe travels!
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