Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Illinois Roscoe Historic Auto Attractions

Historic Auto Attractions

This deceivingly ordinary warehouse hides an enormous collection of pop culture treasures.

Roscoe, Illinois

Montse here and there profile photo
Added By
Montse here and there
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Elvis Presley collection.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
Marilyn Monroe’s artifacts with certificates of authenticity.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
Clint Eastwood collection.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
Bonanza collection.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
Howard Hughes collection.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Bonnie and Clyde Ambush artifact collection.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
Ronald Reagan limo   melissaegunn / Atlas Obscura User
Andy Griffith Show   melissaegunn / Atlas Obscura User
  jen487 / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Historic funeral vehicle.   Montse here and there / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

From the outside, this building looks like an utterly common industrial warehouse. You’d expect it to be stuffed with mundane car parts—that is, if it weren’t for a sign announcing its historic auto attractions.

Step inside the unassuming warehouse, and you’ll immediately realize how deceptive its size is. It’s packed with a trove of Americana treasures that goes far beyond classic cars.

Wandering around is like going on a whirlwind tour of the past. Of course, there are historic cars throughout the place, including Joseph Stalin’s limousine and a few Third Reich vehicles (accompanied by a disclaimer against the represented ideology). But there’s so much more to discover as well.

The museum is full of rare, unusual items once owned by various historical figures. Its artifacts range from the hats worn by Bonnie and Clyde the day they were shot to John F. Kennedy’s golf balls. Historical outfits are displayed on wax figures ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Fidel Castro that resemble the famous figures just enough to make them unsettling.

The mix of memorabilia and artifacts from classic pop cultural icons (think film, TV, politics, world leaders, and more) is presented in an atmospheric mix of eerie lighting. Music associated with the iconic figures and themes displayed plays from the speakers. The visual tone of the artificial lighting makes all the artifacts look quasi-animated. The total lack of natural lighting and contact with the outside world contributes to the ghostly experience you’ll encounter while exploring the building.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Know Before You Go

It's very easy to miss because the warehouse is deceptively small from the outside and it's not visible from the local road.

The museum is closed in winter. 

Community Contributors

Montse here and there profile photo

Added By

Montse here and there

B Beth1116 profile photo jen487 profile photo M melissaegunn profile photo

Edited By

Beth1116, jen487, melissaegunn

  • B Beth1116 profile photo Beth1116
  • jen487 profile photo jen487
  • M melissaegunn profile photo melissaegunn

Published

July 23, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/18242

Related Tags

Museums And Collections Museums Collections Americana Pop Culture Cars Gangsters
Historic Auto Attractions
13825 Metric Rd
Roscoe, Illinois
United States
42.460209, -89.014909
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Labyrinth at Womanspace

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Anderson Japanese Gardens

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Rockmen Guardians

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 398
Stories 20

Nearby Places

Labyrinth at Womanspace

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Anderson Japanese Gardens

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Rockmen Guardians

Rockford, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Illinois

Illinois

United States

Places 398
Stories 20

Related Stories and Lists

A Cross-Country Car Excursion

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Hastings prides itself on its status as the birthplace of Kool-Aid.

    Hastings, Nebraska

    The Hastings Museum Kool-Aid Exhibit

    The home for all things Kool-Aid offers everything except a chance to actually enjoy the drink.

  •  The 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air Bubble Top was such an icon, that even the Beach Boys sang its praises. Their song “409,” appeared on both their 1962 album Surfin’ Safari and 1963’s Little Deuce Coupe.

    Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

    Wheels of Yesteryear

    From the 1940 Ford Coupe that started it all 50 years ago, this collection of over 150 classic vehicles celebrates the spirit and history of American car craft.

  • 1934 Franklin Club Sedan

    Tucson, Arizona

    The Franklin Auto Museum

    One of the largest private collections of cars manufactured by the short-lived Franklin Automobile Company.

  • D.W. Correll Museum

    Catoosa, Oklahoma

    D.W. Correll Museum

    It reportedly took three years to sort through all the objects in this eclectic lifelong collection.

  • Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim.

    Sinsheim, Germany

    Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim

    It has an American Dream Car exhibit, Europe's largest Formula One collection, and many, many mannequins.

  • A toilet car, a coffee mug car, and a cricket bat car.

    Hyderabad, India

    Sudha Cars Museum

    Camera cars and condom bikes built from scrap and one man's passion.

  • A 1927 Greyhound bus on display at the museum.

    Hibbing, Minnesota

    Greyhound Bus Museum

    An abandoned bus station transformed into a museum dedicated to the history of Greyhound Lines, in the place where it all began.

  • An early flying machine.

    Owls Head, Maine

    Owls Head Transportation Museum

    Every plane, auto, and bicycle in this collection is kept in working order and are regularly demonstrated to the public.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.