Academy of Art University Automobile Museum

The Academy of Art University Automobile Museum occupies a former auto dealership that has been transformed into a space dedicated to the history and design of the automobile. The collection began in the 1990s when former university president Richard A. Stephens started acquiring vintage vehicles to inspire students in the school's industrial design and automotive restoration programs. These cars serve as reference material for aspiring designers who study the engineering, lines, and craftsmanship of machines from the early twentieth century through the modern era. The museum represents a direct link between the academic mission of the university and the preservation of automotive heritage, treating these vehicles as rolling sculptures rather than simple modes of transportation.