The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is home to some of the most significant examples of America’s sports car. It’s also a destination for Chevrolet Corvette owners who want to add an extra touch of ceremony to their ownership experience, with the 20,000th museum delivery celebrated just recently. But there’s more activity ahead for the museum. It’s preparing for a major expansion, and in an unexpected way, the inspiration traces back to Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong.
The upcoming expansion is driven by the museum’s growing collection of rare and historically important Corvettes that require long-term preservation. A prime example is a 1967 Marina Blue Corvette Sting Ray once owned by Armstrong. Before becoming the first man to walk on the Moon, Armstrong drove that car daily to NASA. Just about every NASA astronaut drove a Corvette back in the 1960s, but Armstrong’s historic moon landing makes his rather special. When the vehicle was donated to the museum, it revealed a simple truth: cars of this significance need a space that can properly protect and present them.
Long-Time Supporters And One Anonymous Donor
To meet those needs, the museum has begun work on a new 66,000-square-foot Collections Facility, set to open a year from now. The expanded area will increase the museum’s capacity for vehicle preservation, small artifact conservation, and long-term storage. It will also include spaces for behind-the-scenes tours. The project has already gained strong financial support, with $2.1 million in funding commitments raised through the capital campaign.
Longtime museum supporters Mary and Ivan Schrodt pledged $1 million, earning naming rights to the Vehicle Collections Gallery. Michael LaRocca, the museum’s Board Chair-Elect, contributed $500,000, resulting in the naming of the Michael LaRocca and Family Atrium. Another $500,000 donation came from Melanie and Tim McMichael & Family, who will lend their name to the Preservation Center and Heritage Conservation Lab. An additional $100,000 gift was provided by an anonymous donor.
Strengthening The Link To Bowling Green Assembly Plant
The expansion will also reinforce the museum’s campus-wide ecosystem that connects Corvette ownership, history, and performance. Located across the street from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where every Corvette has been built since 1981, and near the NCM Motorsports Park, the new Collections Facility will strengthen that link. It will even pave the way for NCM Insurance to return to the main campus, allowing visitors to experience nearly every aspect of Corvette heritage in one location.
“This expansion is about creating a sustainable future for preserving the full story of Corvette. We’re safeguarding the design breakthroughs, engineering milestones, and cultural moments that make Corvette an icon. And soon, our guests will be able to experience that process in a whole new way,” said Museum President and CEO Bryce Burklow.
Source: National Corvette Museum
