The Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette, WY, truly shines. Indeed, every inch of chrome shimmers like it’s never been touched, while the porcelain signs and gas globes glow like new. For owner, Jeff Wandler, the mission is to share what his family has preserved with people passing through the state on I-90.
What’s in the Frontier Auto Museum?
The museum and antique shop opened in January, 2016, so it’s very much a growing operation. As it turns out, the building is also historical, having been originally built in 1949 for the Ford Dealership.
If you love Americana, the Frontier Auto Museum bills itself as Wyoming’s must-see Americana attraction.
And while its name may indicate it’s an auto museum, there’s a lot more in the 13,000 square foot area than cars, as well-preserved and beautiful as they are!
Today, Jeff runs the museum, along with an antique store in the same building along with his daughter, Briana Brewer and son in-law, BJ Brewer. It’s set up as two vintage towns, complete with all the amenities you’d have found back in the day.
You'll find a barber shop, vintage department store, an old-fashioned laundromat, and more.
And if you want to sit for a spell, you can pull up a chair and watch a miniature drive-in movie theater.
Five different movies play through the day.
Vintage Auto Garage
But back to the cars. The museum’s classic car collection is small, but impressive including Chandler, Crosley, Packard and Studebaker models as well the Hudsons. The Hudson cars belonged to Wandler’s late father, Leon Wandler, and are in show-ready shape.
While the vintage cars were beautiful, David was even more impressed with the garage. As a kid, he’d spent a lot of time in places exactly like it — although, he was quick to explain, none ever looked quite so clean or well organized!
From the classic cars on the hoist, to the parts in their original packaging, to all of the products on the shelves, this garage was perfect.
We often say a room full of artifacts takes us back in time, but few do it as well as this garage. With all the attention to detail, visitors, whether they’re boomers or Gen Z, can devote a lot of time to checking out the many pieces.
For the Kids — Vintage Toy Collections
Wyoming is, of course, a state in the U.S. midwest.
So, it was no surprise that the toy collection was mainly Western.
David was pleased to find many of the things he remembered well from childhood, from the fringed cowboy vests to the guns and holsters.
When I was a kid, I had little interest in dolls, preferring books and cooking. However, I certainly recognized many in the collection.
Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits
As amazing as I found the museum, parts of the collection did stand out.
My favorite part was, without a doubt, the Americana petroleum collectibles. I had no idea there were so many different types of gas pumps! And the signs — well, they’re nothing short of art as far as I’m concerned.
I could have stood and gazed at the walls and ceiling for hours.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
We found the museum quite by accident on a road trip that took us through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, and the Dakotas one spring. The night before, we’d stopped in Buffalo, WY, some 70 miles west of Gillette on I-90, after touring the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum in Rawlins.
We’d stayed in the neat little Creekside Family Fun Center roadside stop of services in Buffalo. The fudge was delicious! We didn’t have time for the mini-golf, but others were finding it fun.
We had a choice of hotels and places to dine at the Center, so for supper we chose the Bozeman Trail Steakhouse.
And while David said his steak was delicious, I was happy with the shrimp and fries I ordered as they were awesome.
Who Should Visit the Frontier Auto Museum?
Whether you stop to check out the Antique Shop or the museum, you’ll definitely find all kinds of Americana that will roll back the decades for you.
It’s a good museum to get generations talking about their memories, whether it’s grandpa sharing his tales of Roy Rogers and Trigger, or dad with his first visit to sit in a barber’s chair.
No matter where in North America you live, though, you’ll find connections to the artifacts on display.
How Do You Visit the Frontier Auto Museum?
Visit the Frontier Auto Museum at 205 Ross Avenue, Gillette, Wyoming.
Check out opening hours and admission rates on the Frontier Auto Museum website.
Keep up with news and events with the Frontier Auto Museum Facebook page.
Take a virtual tour of the Frontier Auto Museum with Wyoming PBS on YouTube.
Plan your visit with Google maps.
Reference(s)
Jean, R. (2022, December 26). Gillette’s Frontier Auto Museum stuffed full of rare and vintage cars restored to show-quality perfection. Cowboy State Daily. https://cowboystatedaily.com/2022/12/26/gillettes-frontier-auto-museum-stuffed-full-of-rare-and-vintage-cars-restored-to-show-quality-perfection/
guide2museums.com 