Harold E. LeMay and The Museum in Tacoma, WA That Bears His Name

If you read my previous post Here, Bill Harrah had the largest automobile collection in the world. When that collection was liquidated, the mantle was eventually taken on by Harold E. Lemay of Washington state. A little about Harold Lemay:

Harold LeMay (1919-2000) was an American businessman and philanthropist, known for his extensive collection of antique cars and his philanthropic work in the state of Washington.

LeMay started his career as a garbage collector, eventually building his own waste management company, Harold LeMay Enterprises, which became one of the largest privately-owned garbage companies in the United States. He used the wealth he amassed through his business to pursue his passion for collecting antique cars, amassing a collection of over 3,000 vehicles, which was recognized as the largest privately-owned car collection in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997.

LeMay was also known for his philanthropy, particularly in the state of Washington, where he donated millions of dollars to a variety of causes, including education, the arts, and social services. In 2003, the Harold E. LeMay Museum was opened in Tacoma, Washington, showcasing a portion of his extensive car collection.

Harold LeMay passed away in 2000 at the age of 81, but his legacy lives on through his philanthropic contributions and his massive car collection. His family was critical in establishing this museum in his honor, but in the end it was not what they wanted. T

The Harold E. LeMay Museum, also known as America's Car Museum, is located in Tacoma, Washington. The museum features over 350 cars on display, including some of the rarest and most significant vehicles in automotive history. Though this museum carries the LeMay name, it is operated by a board and owned by investors. Because of this several of the cars donated by LeMay were sold off, and other cars were brought in, much to the dismay of the LeMay Family. In response to this, the LeMay family decided to establish their own museum just a few miles away at the old Marymount military academy that Harold purchased back in the 90s. This museum is dedicated solely to preserving and showcasing the extensive car collection of Harold LeMay.

When driving to the Seattle area, I had passed this museum several times, but had never taken the time to visit. I finally had a chance and it did not disappoint. It was there that I discovered the family museum was just a few miles away, and I will post about my visit to that in the future.

Here are a few of my favorite cars showcased in the museum:

Here is a great video which tells the LeMay story: