Page 37 - On The Move - Volume 18, Issue 3

What Georgia has lacked is a dedicated as how to keep them coming back. Every Cartersville, you’ve got the Booth Museum.
top-notch venue to showcase these space has been designed to be dynamic. For If you go three miles north, you’re at the
amazing machines. But that’s about to example, exhibits will be cycled through the Tellus. So, at the three main exits for Carters-
change very soon. Rising up from the museum in order to keep displays fresh. Af- ville, you’ve got three world class museums
landscape in Cartersville is an automotive ter all, if you have a collection of vehicles on at your disposal,” said Tom.
showcase that aims to rival the likes of exhibit that never changes, the likelihood of
the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los visitors returning is greatly diminished. And there’s a great story behind how the
Angeles and the Lane Motor Museum in Savoy Automobile Museum got its name,
Nashville. This isn’t a randomly selected, re- Tom Shinall, the Director of Development for one that seems straight out of a movie. “We
purposed building that we’re talking about. the Savoy Automobile Museum, is excited selected thirty-seven acres for the site, which
This is truly going to be something special. about what the museum will have to offer had a homestead on it,” explained Shinall.
for visitors. “What started out as an idea to “When we started clearing the property, we
The Savoy Automobile Museum, slated to have a somewhat small location to exhibit found a 1954 Plymouth Savoy. Not multiple
open in the Fall, will offer visitors a chance a handful of vehicles grew into the loca- cars, not parts of multiple cars…one car, in-
to see vehicles that span the automotive tion that we’re building today, one that will tact, that looks like it belongs up at Old Car
timeline in a world-class venue. It features be destination for visitors from all over the City. One car…on land that was chosen as
cutting-edge architecture and over 65,000 Southeast and beyond,” explained Tom. “We the site for an automotive museum. It’s like
square feet of exhibit space, which includes hope to develop partnerships with enthusi- it was an omen.”
four galleries, a presentation theater, on- asts, community groups, and private organi-
site café, and an outdoor pavilion for a zations who will take advantage of the flex- Tom explained that the car was very carefully
wide range of special automotive events. ibility this space has to offer,” he continued. removed, as well as the tree that was grow-
There’s also an adjacent exhibit preparation ing through it, so that it can be displayed on
and storage facility that encompasses over The flexibility Mr. Shinall referenced will be the museum grounds, along with a plaque
35,000 square feet. key to the success of the Savoy. In addition explaining its significance in the Savoy sto-
to gallery exhibits that focus on various as- ry. “Visitors will be able to view the car when
Part of Georgia Museums, Inc., the Savoy pects of automotive culture and history, the they come here,” said Shinall, “and we’re
joins a well-established group of venues space was designed to attract organizations even going to plant a tree in it.”
in the northwestern part of the state which looking for a world class location to host
include the Booth Western Art Museum, Bar- specialty vehicle auctions, corporate events, No exact date has been set for the opening
tow History Museum, and the Tellus Science workshops, charity functions, and more. And of the Savoy Automobile Museum, but Mr.
Museum. the proximity of the Savoy to its partner Shinall indicated that they’re hopeful it will
museums, as well as the Clarence Brown occur sometime between September and
Because Georgia Museums, Inc. is in the Conference Center and Georgia Highlands November of this year.
museum business, their team knows what it College should help to funnel those types of
takes to bring a vision like the Savoy to life. opportunities into the venue. To stay up to date on the museum’s prog-
Every detail has been very carefully thought ress, visit www.savoymuseum.org.
out, from how to attract new visitors as well “If you go three miles south into downtown

On The Move 2021 35
On The Mo ve 2021 35