LeMay – America's Car Museum

Washington State – October 12, 2026 -- Washington drivers will be able to order a new LeMay – America's Car Museum specialty license plate, after the Washington State Department of Transportation approved its design. The museum has not yet announced when ordering opens.

The original black-and-white design went to the State

The museum first proposed a black-and-white "throwback" look. The State adopted that design for its own retro plate series, so it is no longer associated with the museum and is owned by the State.

The museum then had to create a fully new concept that met the State's specifications, including color palette, layout, and mandatory design elements. The new plate went through the State's approval and compliance process.

Tacoma – October 12, 2026 -- LeMay – America's Car Museum has a busy 2026 lined up: a refreshed Route 66 exhibition, a free monthly Cars & Coffee meetup starting January 17, and a newly approved Washington specialty license plate.

Cars & Coffee meets every third Saturday in 2026

Tacoma Cars & Coffee moves to the museum on January 17, 2026. It runs every third Saturday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m. throughout the year, with coffee from Naomi Joe Coffee. The event is free and open to all years, makes and models. The museum asks attendees to use good judgement when entering, parking and exiting.

United States – October 12, 2026 -- Today's American garage can double as a home gym, office, game room, art studio or even a guest apartment, a long way from its origins as a shelter for horse-drawn carriages. LeMay – America's Car Museum has traced that transformation across more than a century.

Carriage houses laid the blueprint

In the late 19th century, elite homes had carriage houses behind the main residence. They held carriages, tack and feed, often with stalls for horses and upstairs quarters for stablehands or drivers. As cars spread in the early 20th century, these buildings became obsolete, but they set the template for the garage.

Tacoma – October 12, 2026 -- LeMay – America's Car Museum opens The Birth of the American Supercar on October 25, an exhibition guest curated by automotive innovator Steve Saleen, with a free monthly car meet and a refreshed Route 66 display also on the calendar.

Saleen curates a tour of American supercar history

The exhibition follows American supercars from early speed pioneers to modern machines. Vehicles come from Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Saleen himself, along with more obscure makers such as Vector, Cunningham and Hennessey. The museum says the show covers roaring V8s and carbon-fiber bodies, and how American automakers challenged European rivals.

Tacoma Cars & Coffee moves to the museum on January 17, 2026

The meet runs every third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. throughout 2026. Admission is free, and the event is open to all years, makes and models. Naomi Joe Coffee will serve the coffee.

Washington State – October 12, 2026 -- Washington drivers will soon be able to order a LeMay – America's Car Museum (ACM) specialty license plate, now that the Washington State Department of Transportation has approved the final design. No release date has been announced yet.

The museum had to start over after the state claimed its first design

ACM's originally proposed black-and-white "throwback" plate was adopted by the State for its own retro plate series, so it is no longer associated with the museum. Because the State now owns that design, ACM had to create a fully new concept. The State's specifications covered the color palette, the layout, and mandatory design elements.

The museum worked through the State's approval and compliance process to produce the approved artwork.

Tacoma – October 12, 2026 -- Washington drivers will be able to order a LeMay – America's Car Museum specialty license plate once the state confirms a release date. The design has been officially approved by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The museum had to start over after the state took its retro design

The museum's original black-and-white "throwback" concept was adopted by the state for its own retro plate series. Because the state now owns that design, it is not associated with the museum. The team had to build a fully new plate that met the state's specifications for color palette, layout, and mandatory design elements.

After working through the state's approval and compliance process, the museum says the final artwork reflects its identity, mission, and visual spirit.

Tacoma – October 12, 2026 -- LeMay – America's Car Museum in Tacoma, WA, has opened a refreshed Route 66 exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of America's most famous highway.

The exhibition, a longstanding favorite with museum visitors, got an aesthetic refresh. It adds centennial-themed elements and vehicles that pay homage to the highway's 100th birthday.

Drive Home films and artifacts will join the display throughout 2026

Throughout 2026, the exhibit will show films and artifacts from the upcoming Route 66 Drive Home.

The seventh Drive Home will cover all of Route 66

The Drive Home kicks off in just a few weeks. America's Automotive Trust and the Detroit Auto Show created the event to celebrate driving and keeping cars on the road. Each edition ends with a drive "home" to Detroit, Michigan.

Tacoma -- Starting January 17, 2026, Tacoma Cars & Coffee will meet at LeMay – America's Car Museum every third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event runs throughout 2026.

Admission to the gathering is free, and it is open to cars of all years, makes and models. Coffee will come from @naomijoecoffee.

Organizers ask attendees to use good judgment on site

The museum describes the meetup as a community event. To keep it safe and fun for everyone, organizers ask visitors to use good judgment when entering, parking and exiting.