Tacoma – – October 12, 2026 -- LeMay – America's Car Museum has opened a new exhibit, Rare & Luxurious: 100 Years of Exceptional Automobiles, in its Showcase Gallery.
The exhibit traces luxury and performance from the 1920s to today
Visitors will see vehicles from Duesenberg, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Continental, Crane-Simplex and other marques. The museum describes the show as a look at how luxury and performance have evolved over a century.
Tacoma Cars & Coffee moves into the museum in January 2026
Starting January 17, 2026, the free community meetup will run every third Saturday of the month from 9 AM to 11 AM throughout 2026. Coffee comes from @naomijoecoffee. The event is open to all years, makes and models, and the museum asks attendees to use good judgment when entering, parking and exiting.
A refreshed Route 66 exhibition marks the highway's 100th birthday
The museum reopened its longstanding Route 66 exhibition with an aesthetic refresh, centennial-themed additions and vehicles that honor the 100th anniversary of the highway's opening. Throughout 2026, it will show films and artifacts from the upcoming Route 66 Drive Home.
The Drive Home began as a partnership between America's Automotive Trust and the Detroit Auto Show, with each trip ending in Detroit, Michigan. For its seventh edition, the Route 66 Centennial Commission joins as a partner. Nine vehicles will drive Route 66 in its entirety, followed by nearly two dozen "privateers" in their own cars. Anyone who wants to join the convoy can sign up through the museum.
Washington approves a new ACM specialty license plate
The Washington State Department of Transportation has approved the museum's new plate design. The museum's original black-and-white "throwback" concept was adopted by the state for its own retro plate series, so the museum had to create a new design that met state specifications for color palette, layout and mandatory elements.
The museum is still waiting for the state to confirm when plates can be ordered. Once the window opens, buyers can purchase them through the Washington State Department of Licensing website. Proceeds support the museum's 501(c)(3) nonprofit work, including educational programming.