SAH members were some of the featured speakers at the National Association of Automotive Museums conference, held at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles from April 1-5 of 2025. Four SAH members participated in the “Education and Museums” roundtable discussion, which was organized and moderated by SAH board member Dr. John E. Mohr. Toby Stinson of the Owls Head Transportation Museum, exhibit writer and author Mary Seelhorst, and Casey Maxon of the Hagerty Drivers Foundation all participated in a thoughtful discussion of the educational mission of automotive museums. Topics discussed included educational outreach to younger generations, curriculum development in collaboration with professional educators, and contemporary challenges in interpreting and presenting the automotive past.
Drawing on their diverse experiences in education and museum management, panel participants tackled the challenge of engaging with a younger generation that often has diverging opinions about cars and their role in American society. The latest innovations in exhibit design were discussed, including multimedia displays and software-driven presentation tools. All agreed that it is important to continue engaging with these tough questions, and to preserve the history of the automobile for future generations. Presenters received a strong reaction from the audience, which was much appreciated.
Other highlights of the NAAM conference included SAH board member Mary Seelhorst’s presentation on the mysterious disappearance of the Aston Martin DB5 featured in the James Bond film “Goldfinger.” The unsolved disappearance of this “star car” from a Florida garage in 1997 is still one of the most enduring mysteries of the automotive exhibition world. All attendees enjoyed the hospitality of the Petersen Museum and the conference sponsors, as well as a surprise visit to Jay Leno’s LA garage. (jm)
Photo left to right: John Mohr, Casey Maxon, Toby Stinson, Mary Seelhorst.