Long weekends provide the perfect reason to spend a few hours visiting a local museum.
Last month, I headed home for a few relaxing days and took myself to the Saratoga Automobile Museum for something new and different.
I wouldn't say that I'm a car person (though visiting the BMW Welt years ago was pretty cool), but these machines are absolutely works of art!
Honestly, it's pretty fascinating how much care goes into the design of something that just need to get us from A to B.
Even this little guy that enabled non horse-powered travel — 1909 Paterson Motor Buggy.
The museum starts with some history of the building, which used to be a bottling plant.
A bit fitting for a car museum — machines that wouldn't have been so accessible to the public without the conveyor belt system Henry Ford created to automate and speed up the creation process (a technology quickly adopted by factories in various industries).
One of my favorites — 1910 Maxwell AB Runabout.
The museum isn't comprised chronologically, which was actually a refreshing way to peruse the collection.
The first floor includes a collection of man-made race carts, Ford Model Ts, and mid-twentieth century race cars.
1923 Ford Model TT One-Ton Truck (loaned by Hoffman Car Wash).
Of course, these automobiles weren't just intended for transportation — they also provided necessary goods, like ice...and popcorn and peanuts!
On the second floor, you'll find more contemporary race cars, early car models, and luxury cars from the '30s that really demonstrate the elegance and care that went into producing these useful works of art.
1931 Pierce-Arrow Dual Cowl Phaeton.
Most surprising was finding out how many car manufacturers were in New York State — at least one in every region of the state.
The largest space in the museum houses flashy race cars that remind me of the fabulous old films shot in the south of France.
1962 Sunbeam Rapier.
And with names even I recognize!
1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT
A zippy 1958 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Sprint Veloce.
When in doubt, Carpe Viam!