15 Reasons to Visit The National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada

1 Museum Dr, 
Reno, NV 89501

*Website

*Instagram

Fasten your seatbelts and take a ride in a DeLorean time machine back to the past at the National Automobile Museum.

At this cleverly designed museum, walk down the "streets" and hop from gallery to gallery laid out in chronological order and marvel at a collection of cars dating to the 1800s to present day, watching the most impactful human creation evolve, with each collection advancing and transforming. 

The story of the National Automobile Museum all started when Bill Harrah, a pioneer in the gaming industry known for his casinos and hotels, passed away and left a collection of some 1,400 vehicles behind.  

Holiday Inn jumped at the opportunity to take over Harrah's collection, and before having the chance to auction the cars off, the city of Reno stepped in with a proposal - use part of the collection to start a museum and preserve the history and beauty of Bill's legacy.  That vision came to life, and today, it's known as the National Automobile Museum.  

The museum’s thoughtful layout, informative plaques, immersive themed displays, and pristine, beautifully restored classic vehicles create the perfect environment for wonder, nostalgia, and appreciation to flourish.

Not to mention all of the events that that bring the community together and keep the spirit of the museum alive. 

I’ve been taking my kiddos to this museum for years, and it’s been such a joy watching them grow, learn, and have fun with every visit. Over the years, I’ve run into the museum’s president several times.  He’s always so cheerful and kind, and such an easy guy to talk to. 

One time, during an event, he noticed how fascinated I was by the iconic DeLorean from Back to the Future and offered me a chance to step behind the ropes for a photo right next to it. Folks, that’s like snapping a picture with your favorite celebrity! I’ll never forget the day Phil helped make one of my Back to the Future dreams come true.

HOT TIP: Visits, annual memberships, and gift shop purchases, & volunteers all help keep this incredible museum thriving.  Subscribe to the online museum newsletter for special deals, announcements,  and events throughout the year.  It's so nice to have an amazing place to retreat to year round - rain, shine, or snow. Follow the museum on Instagram and find their newsletter subscription box all the way at the bottom of their homepage.  

16 Reasons to Visit the National Automobile Museum

1.  Immersive Displays - Thoughtfully designed exhibits bring history to life.
2.  Experience Automotive History - Learn in the perfect setting while having fun.
3.  See iconic cars from Back to the Future, Titanic, Rebel Without a Cause, and more.
4.  Daily Bill Harrah Presentation - Discover the museum’s origins in a 25-minute film.

5.  Gift Shop - Find rare, out of print car books, antique toy cars, unique souvenirs, T-shirts, a penny press, and more.

6.  Sit Inside a Model T - Costumes provided for fun photoshoots.
7.  Spot a cool figurine of Yoda.

8.  Amazing Volunteers & Staff - Passionate, knowledgeable, and always kind.
9.  Visitor Resources - Tourists can find helpful pamphlets near the restrooms.
10.  Year Round Special Events, especially during the holidays.  
11.  Traveling Exhibits - Past displays include the history of motorcycles and Cars featuring Lightning McQueen and Mater.

12.  Free Photo Booth - Snap a picture and send it to your phone or email.
13.  Halloween Fun Every Year - A safe and exciting trick or treat experience with carnival games, entertainment, and treats for a small fee.
14.  Networking Events - Connect with like minded people in a unique setting.

15.  E.L. Wiegand Children's Education Center - 3,000 sq. ft. of educational and hands on activities: simulated car wash, auto maintenance shop, auto design studio, Reno International Speedway Interactive, build a race car, jr. engineering workshop.

How to Support Our Amazing Museum
*Visit and explore the exhibits
*Attend special events throughout the year
*Shop at the gift store 

*Become a member
*Follow on Instagram & Facebook
*Host your special events here - weddings, banquets, seminars, and more (accommodates 60 to 1,200 guests, with catering available)
*Make a donation

*Volunteer

Notes
*Free Parking 

*Vending machine for beverages available

*Ice cream, snacks, and candy available at gift shop

*Website frequently updated 
*Docent Tours Available - Enhance your visit with guided insights. 
*Tourist Pamphlets - Find info on Reno & nearby attractions near the restroom.

*Members get access to most of their special events & 20% off all items at the gift shop.

*Watch out for free museum days and holiday events on the museum  

***Information subject to change.  All opinions are my own.

Photography

©Katherine Fung,

All rights reserved.

Categorized Under "Museums and Zoos"

EmPIEnada - Delicious & Fun, Made From Scratch Empanadas & Comforting Pot Pies

3683 Kings Row
Reno, NV 89503

(Viewcrest Center next to Taqueria)

Directions

Website

Menu

Reviews on Yelp

*Information subject to change.  Please check in with business for latest info. 

*Find their food truck at Feed the Camel (Mc Kinley Arts Center) and Food Truck Fridays (Idlewild Park) Seasonally (end around late August, early September) 

What are Empanadas?

Empanadas are baked or fried crescent-shaped pastries that can be filled with a variety of ingredients consisting of meats, veggies, and fruits.   Empanadas originated from Spain and found their way into popular culture with their portability and delicious texture and flavor possibilities.

EmPIEnada brings this popular food to Reno with their own twists, introducing well-known flavors from other cuisines, transforming the traditional empanada into something fun, tasty, and interesting. 

Cheeseburger, Gumbo, Beef and Guiness, chicken and waffles, and Italian Meatball are only a few of the options you can find here, and the owner is constantly storming up ideas with her team for new creations.

The empanadas had nice, clean flavors that shone with freshness and simplicity.  The sauces on the side were complimenting and provided another level of flavor (don't forget to ask for them).  Whenever possible, the owner will source ingredients locally. 

They also have pot pies that have a special kind of dough, a dough that is responsible in creating one of the best chicken pot pies i've had in a long time (i've had some pretty good ones in New York).  I was so caught up in the flavor that I didn't get a chance to take shots of the filling.  There was a generous serving of falky, buttery, and flavorful dough, chunks of meat, veggies, loads of creaminess, and a whole lot of yummy.

Visit EmPIEnada and have yourself a foodie adventure with delicious empanadas and pot pies served with a smile (thanks Kim!).

Feed the Camel Food Truck Event @ Mckinley Arts Center

Notes:

-Call ahead of time to place your order (for pick-up) so that they'll have time to bake/fry your pot pies and empanadas (1 hr. for pot pies)

-Call ahead of time to see what options are available

-You can place an order online through their website and order delivery with food carriers Uber Eats and Grub Hub

-vegetarian options available (call in for availability)

-you can load up your freezer with frozen pies available for purchase (sounds like a holiday hack)

-Their loaded baked potato balls (bacon, cheddar, sour cream) are super fun and flavorful.  My kids loved dipping them in all their sauces.  

-You can complete the meal with a side salad and dessert empanadas and pot pies

-Visit their homepage on their website to see their foodtruck schedule (all the way at the bottom)

-Follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram for the latest updates

Menu as of 8.29.2021. Subject to change. 

Categorized under "Food Trucks" and "Fushion"