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.
Route 66 exhibition gets a centennial makeover
The museum has reopened its longstanding Route 66 exhibition with centennial-themed additions and vehicles marking the 100th anniversary of the highway's opening. Through 2026, it will show films and artifacts from the upcoming Route 66 Drive Home.
The Drive Home is a cross-country convoy created by America's Automotive Trust and the Detroit Auto Show. Each edition ends in Detroit, Michigan. This seventh edition adds the Route 66 Centennial Commission as a partner and will travel the full length of Route 66. Nine vehicles will make the trip, followed by nearly two dozen "privateers" in their own cars. The museum is accepting sign-ups for people who want to join the drive.
Washington approves a new museum license plate
The Washington State Department of Transportation has approved a new LeMay – America's Car Museum specialty plate. The museum's original black-and-white "throwback" design 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 release date is still unconfirmed. Once the window opens, drivers can order plates through the Washington State Department of Licensing website. Proceeds support the museum's nonprofit work, including educational programming.