The Origins of Forney Museum of Transportation
Decades ago J.D. Forney received a 1921 Kissel yellow Tourister from his wife and children on his birthday. This kick-started a lifelong obsession with classic cars.
Over the years that followed Forney built up a large private collection of rare and interesting vehicles, so many that by the 1960s he had enough to fill a museum with. So fill a museum he did.
In 1961 the Forney Museum of Transportation was incorporated in Fort Collins, Colarado, and in 1964 it was recognized as a non-profit organisation.
Who Was J.D. Forney of Forney Museum of Transportation?
A Fort Collins local, Forney was a college drop-out with an entrepreneurial verve. He started out selling books before developing his own battery-powered soldering iron that he took from door to door until he had made enough to hire salesmen of his own.
He then expanded his product range, manufacturing a broader array of soldering equipment and even 2-seater aircrafts. His success allowed him to indulge his love of classic cars and ultimately to set up the Forney Museum of Transportation.
The Forney Museum of Transportation Collection
Amongst its many classic cars, Forney boasts such gems as:
The Big Boy Union Pacific #4005 locomotive, one of the few remaining examples of the largest steam locomotive ever made.
The Forney Locomotive, a type of locomotive colloquially known as 'Little Giants' and commonly used on elevated railways.
Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart's Kissel.
It has a total of over 500 exhibits which include a broad range of different vehicle-types lending credence to its slogan 'Anything on Wheels'.
Visiting the Forney Museum of Transportation
The museum is open from 10am-5pm Monday, Thursday-Saturday; and 12pm-5pm Sunday. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $8 for children (3-12).
It is about a 10 minute drive north of Denver CBD and has paid parking out front. In terms of public transport, it is a 15 minute walk from the Denver Airport stop on the A Line.
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