National Automobile Museum Paves the Road With Recent Honor

Thomas Flyer

NY-to-Paris winning 1907 Thomas Flyer joins historic register

​The National Automobile Museum's 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the famous 1908 York-to-Paris race makes history again with its induction into a permanent archive of significant historic automobiles within the Library of Congress. In honor of this notable achievement, the City of Reno declared September 21, 2016 as “1907 New York to Paris Thomas Flyer Day” during an official proclamation ceremony.  

On June 19, 2016, the Thomas Flyer was recognized as the 12th vehicle to be recorded under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Heritage Documentation. The documentation is part of a collaboration between the Historic Vehicle Association and the U.S. Department of the Interior Heritage Documentation Programs to document historically significant automobiles, trucks and motorcycles.

"The Thomas Flyer is one of the most significant American-built automobiles in history "

Jackie Frady, Museum president and executive director

“The Thomas Flyer is one of the most significant American-built automobiles in history,” said Jackie Frady, museum president and executive director. “After 22,000 miles and 169 grueling days, it won the 1908 New York to Paris automobile race as one of six cars from four nations. It was the only American entrant.

“No automobile race before or since has approached this contest of man and machine. We are extremely proud it will be archived in the National Historic Vehicle Register.” 

The victorious 1907 New York-to-Paris Thomas Flyer, the only American entry in the around-the-world race, brought world recognition to the fledgling U.S. automobile industry. This notable feat increased the prestige of American-built automobiles; changed the mind-set of a nation with the promotion that the automobile could be a reliable mode of year-round and long-distance transportation; and proved the naysayers wrong in their assumption that the automobile could not manage such an incredible feat.

The 1907 New York-to-Paris Thomas Flyer is part of the permanent display at the National Automobile Museum, an internationally renowned automobile museum and tourist attraction in Reno, Nev. The museum contributes to the community’s cultural and economic vitality, and showcases many automobiles that play a part of Nevada and American history.

“Our goal is to educate, captivate and provide unique experiences for our visitors,” Frady said. “We are proud the museum is home and host to some of the most important cars in the world, and we love to tell the story beyond the wheel.”

For more information about the National Automobile Museum, named one of America’s Five Greatest Automobile Museums, visit automuseum.org.

About The National Automobile Museum (The Harrah Collection)

One of “America’s Five Greatest Automobile Museums,” the National Automobile Museum showcases more than 200 remarkable automobiles. It features theatre presentations and audio tours in English and Spanish through 100,000 square-feet of galleries, exhibits and vibrant street scenes and accompanying artifacts that bring displays to life. The museum is a dynamic and popular venue for special events as intimate as 60 and as large as 1,200 guests. For more information, visit www.automuseum.org.  

Hours of Operation

Mon. - Sat.:  9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sun.: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  

Tickets

Adults              $10
Seniors            $8 (62 and older)
Junior              $4 (6 to 18 years old)
Children           Free (5 and younger)
Members         Free

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Source: National Automobile Museum

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