Franklin Auto Museum

Today we volunteers were honored by Bourke, Tony, Bill and the board of trustees for a year of service. We are happy to help keep the museum open by showing guests our collection of cars. If you enjoy meeting fellow car enthusiasts, join our team and maybe be at our lunch table next year.

Congratulations 🎉 to our own trustee and board member Bill Boris on taking home Best of Show this year with his stunning 1927 Pierce-Arrow Model 80 Roadster!! (Tucson Classics Car Show 2024)

Tucson Classics Car Show 2024- the board of the Franklin Museum poses by our ‘34 Club Sedan. A huge thank you to our wonderful staff who helped today, and to a very enthusiastic Tucson public! We are excited to kick off our 2024-2025 season this Wednesday October 23rd.

Seen on the far right of this polaroid image captured on 5 April of 2024 is Mister Ron Jackson. For the last few seasons he had been a volunteer docent at the Franklin Museum. His easy way and old world demeanor made him a fan favorite among our visitor and staff. His working life was spent on the payroll of Rolls-Royce in the aircraft and automobile divisions, and up until last year he might be seen driving about in his Silver Shadow. He passed away peacefully earlier this week and we all shall miss him. Godspeed to you Ron as you fly the spirits of ecstasy to the next realm.

The sun is setting on another wonderful season at The Franklin Museum.

We will close for the summer on Saturday May 11th at high noon.

We are very grateful for a record number of visitors who came to experience “Tucson’s most well kept secret” this season. We are also grateful for our phenomenal staff; we simply could not do it without you!

Our summer work schedule is quite full as we maintain our historic grounds and fleet of vehicles. We look forward to seeing you on the field of the Gregory School for the Tucson Classics Car Show (Sat October 19th). We will open for the 2024-2025 season the following Wednesday (Wed October 23rd).

We wish you a fun (& air conditioned) summer!

-A.M. Warren,
Curator of Collections

We are pleased to present our newest addition- a 1915 Saxon Runabout generously donated to the museum.

The Saxon was a well made small car, available for $395 with a sturdy 4-cylinder and standard 3-Speed transmission. Easily serviceable and nice to look at, the Saxon was a popular car in its time. Many preferred it over the Model-T, which employed a planetary transmission, and was similarly priced during Saxon production.

While our focus is on Franklins of course, we are glad to preserve and promote this fine example of early motoring for the public to see.

Thank you Arizona Inn for hosting an “old friend” today as we celebrate our Packard’s centennial. We had beautiful weather, a delightful lunch at the Audubon Bar, and enjoyed discussing this unique historical connection with Inn guests.

The Arizona Inn remains a comfortable and elegant retreat that emphasizes its rich history and wonderful service. As a native, I suggest that if you want to experience true Tucson character, look no further for your accommodations.

-Anthony Warren, Curator

November 7, 1923- Shadwell Bowyer, proprietor of Bowyer Packard of Tucson, drove you to the Grand Canyon to deliver you to your proud new owners on their honeymoon- Mrs. Isabella Greenway & Gen. John Campbell Greenway. You’ve lived in Ajo during it’s formative years, and you accompanied Mrs. Greenway on her move to Tucson in 1927 where she established the Arizona Hut, and later the esteemed Arizona Inn in 1930. You’ve gracefully transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt on their trips to Arizona. Perhaps some new deal legislation was discussed in your stately passenger compartment? If only you could talk!

After a rest at your garage in Ajo, you returned to Tucson in 1954 to be displayed at Bowyer Motorcars- a testament to new Packard buyers of the durability of their ensuing car purchase. In the 60’s, you moved to Tombstone to live with a Greenway cousin and continued to traverse our beautiful state. The 80’s found you home in Tucson, where your caring owner of more than 40 years gave you fresh paint and a motor rebuild.

The past decade has been spent at your forever home here at the Franklin Museum, where I am sincerely honored to be your caretaker every day. We’ll see that you’re around to celebrate 150 years… We ought to start planning!

But today, November 7, 2023, you’ve joined an elite few as a fully operational Centenarian. We tip our hats to you, our beautiful Packard, for there is not a vehicle more deeply rooted in our state’s history than you are. Poignantly, we can conclude that they don’t build them like they used to.

Stop by the Arizona Inn this Sunday 11/12 from 11A-2P to take great pictures and to see the car at it’s “home away from home”.

-Anthony Warren, Curator

It’s the best week of the year! The Franklin Museum opens for our 61st season this Wednesday!

Stop by and check out the largest, most comprehensive single collection of Franklin cars in the world tucked away quietly in midtown Tucson. Visitors will also be delighted by our historic 1930’s ranch property, knowledgeable staff, and a few other cars worthy of being stable mates with our Franklins.

Museum hours are Wednesday- Saturday 10AM- 4PM through mid- May (closed for summer). Admission is $12 regular, $10 for Seniors & groups, and as always kids are free.

Address: 1405 E Kleindale Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719.

Phone: 520-326-8038. No appointment needed for groups of 9 or less.

Friends & Patrons,
The staff of the Franklin Museum would like to thank everyone for another excellent season. As usual, we will be closed for Tucson’s frigid summer months, and reopening for our next season in late October.

The museum will close Saturday May 13th at 12:00pm noon.

Wherever the road leads, we wish everyone a safe and pleasant summer. Keep the rubber side down, and we look forward to visiting this fall.

Warm regards,
-A.M. Warren, Curator