National Corvette Museum
EstablishedSeptember 1994 (1994-09)
Location350 Corvette Drive
Bowling Green, Kentucky
TypeAutomobile
PresidentSharon Brawner
Websitewww.corvettemuseum.org

The National Corvette Museum showcases the Chevrolet Corvette, an American sports car that has been in production since 1953. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65's Exit 28 and near General Motors' Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where Corvettes are manufactured. It was constructed in 1994, and opened to the public in September of that year.[1]

The mission of the National Corvette Museum is to educate worldwide audiences on the evolution of the Corvette – America's Sports Car – through collection, preservation, and celebration of its legacy. The museum offers captivating exhibits, immersive experiences, Corvette manufacturing plant tours, and unique offerings that engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds in the history of Corvette.

2014 Skydome collapse

On February 12, 2014, a sinkhole opened under the floor of the Skydome area of the museum at around 5:44 AM local time, causing a portion of the floor to collapse. Kentucky is one of the many states that is notable for having karst topography. Karst topography is the landscape that is formed from the dissolving of rocks such as limestone. In the museum's case, the sinkhole was caused by the dissolving of the limestone in the ground which caused pockets to open underneath the surface. Eventually, the weight of the building caused the top layer of soil to collapse.[2] Eight rare and one-of-a-kind Corvettes, portions of the display stands and rails, large concrete floor slabs and dirt fell into the sinkhole, causing serious damage to some of the Corvettes. The Corvettes involved have an estimated value of a million dollars.[3][4] The remaining 20 cars in the Skydome were immediately removed from that area. Between March 3, 2014, and March 6, 2014, 5 of the 8 Corvettes were recovered from the sinkhole. The spire area of the Skydome was reinforced before work started on removing the final three buried cars.[5] Multiple multigravity tests were done to ensure that another sinkhole wasn't present or in the making. The results came back clear which allowed for the construction work to begin. For added precaution, micropiles, or systems of steel rods, were inserted into the ground before the concrete was repoured to help give the building more support.[6] The museum reopened the day after the sinkhole appeared.[7]

An exhibit opened in the museum two years later to tell the story of what happened that day and why it happened. This exhibit gives visitors the chance to virtually recover the cars that were in the sinkhole.[8]

Hall of Fame

The museum also sponsors the Corvette Hall of Fame for individuals who have been involved with the Corvette automobile and made significant contributions in their respective fields. Each year, from two to six persons have been inducted into this select group. Members have been divided into three categories: enthusiasts, GM/Chevrolet, and racing.

Honorees[9]
YearNamesCategory
1998Bill MitchellGM/Chevrolet
Harley EarlGM/Chevrolet
Larry ShinodaGM/Chevrolet
Joe PikeGM/Chevrolet
Ed ColeGM/Chevrolet
Zora Arkus-DuntovGM/Chevrolet
1999Jim PerkinsGM/Chevrolet
Dave McLellanGM/Chevrolet
Dick GuldstrandRacing
2000John FitchRacing
Dick ThompsonRacing
Jerry PalmerGM/Chevrolet
2001Gibson HufstaderGM/Chevrolet
Joseph SpielmanGM/Chevrolet
Betty SkeltonRacing
2002John CafaroGM/Chevrolet
Jim JeffordsRacing
Myron ScottGM/Chevrolet
2003Noland AdamsEnthusiast
Robert MorrisonEnthusiast
2004Ray BattagliniEnthusiast
Darrel BowlinEnthusiast
Jon BrookmyerEnthusiast
Dan GaleEnthusiast
Terry McManmonEnthusiast
2005Chip MillerEnthusiast
Randy WittineGM/Chevrolet
Don YenkoRacing
2006Dave HillGM/Chevrolet
John LingenfelterRacing
Gary MortimerEnthusiast
2007Doug HooperRacing
Gordon KillebrewEnthusiast
Carl RennerGM/Chevrolet
2008Allan and Don BarkerRacing
Reeves CallawayEnthusiast
Maurice OlleyGM/Chevrolet
2009Duane BohnstedtGM/Chevrolet
Tony De Lorenzo and Jer ThompsonRacing
John HinckleyEnthusiast
2010Grady DavisRacing
Fred GallaschEnthusiast
Jim IngleGM/Chevrolet
2011Clare "Mac" MacKichanGM/Chevrolet
Ray QuinlanEnthusiast
Ron FellowsRacing
2012Andy PilgrimRacing
Gary ClaudioGM/Chevrolet
Patrick DolanEnthusiast
Bob McDormanEnthusiast
2013Johnny O'ConnellRacing
Wil CookseyGM/Chevrolet
Werner MeierEnthusiast
2014Dave MacDonaldRacing
John HeinricyGM/Chevrolet
Jerry BurtonEnthusiast
2015Herb FishelRacing
Russ McLeanGM/Chevrolet
Rick HendrickEnthusiast
2016Bob BondurantRacing
Ralph KramerGM/Chevrolet
Donna Mae MimsEnthusiast
2017Tommy MorrisonRacing
Jim MinnekerGM/Chevrolet
Peter BrockEnthusiast
2018Burt and John GreenwoodRacing
Tom WallaceGM/Chevrolet
Mike YagerEnthusiast
2019Briggs CunninghamRacing
Tom PetersGM/Chevrolet
Dollie ColeEnthusiast
2020Doug FehanRacing
Henry HagaGM/Chevrolet
Wendell StrodeEnthusiast
Mike McCaghEnthusiast
2022Gary Pratt and Jim MillerRacing
Ed WelburnGM/Chevrolet
Elfi Arkus-DuntovEnthusiast

See also

References

  1. Antonick, Mike (2006). Corvette Black Books 1953-2007. MotorBooks International. p. 106. ISBN 9780760328941.
  2. "Kentucky Sinkhole Eats Corvettes, Raises Questions". news.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  3. JUSTIN STORY and ROBYN L. MINOR (February 12, 2014). "Local contractor will help remove reported $1 million in Corvettes from sinkhole at museum". Bowling Green Daily News.
  4. Jeffries, Adrianne (February 12, 2014). "Eight vintage Corvettes swallowed by 40-foot sinkhole inside National Corvette Museum". The Verge. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  5. Jones, Matthew (February 13, 2014). "Corvettes disappear into massive hole". BBC TopGear. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  6. Katie Frassinelli
  7. Everson, Zach (February 13, 2014). "Corvette Museum Sinkhole Swallows Eight 'Vettes: Watch Them Sink". Aol Travel. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  8. "Corvette Cave In Exhibit". National Corvette Museum. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  9. "Corvette Hall Of Fame". National Corvette Museum. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.

37°00′15″N 86°22′30″W / 37.00417°N 86.37500°W / 37.00417; -86.37500

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