Travel Through Time
Covered wagons, stagecoaches, auto camps, house cars, and the birth of the American road trip.
Follow the evolution of travel from early overland journeys to the first forms of camping, roadside lodging, and recreational vehicles.
The Road Trip Before It Was Recreation
Before vacations on the highway, travel was about survival, work, shelter,
and reaching a better place.
This exhibit traces how people moved across America before modern hotels, highways, and RVs. From covered wagons and stagecoaches to cozy cabins, homemade campers, house cars, and early roadside stops, Travel Through Time shows how travel evolved from necessity into adventure.
From Wagons To House Cars
The story begins with rough travel and ends with the early ideas that shaped the RV.
In the early 1800s, covered wagons carried families, supplies, and entire lives across difficult roads and open country. By the late 1800s, stagecoaches and stage stops helped connect towns and travelers before automobiles changed everything. In the early 1900s, roadside cabins and cozy camps began offering shelter for motorists, sometimes even with small garages for cars. By the 1920s and 1930s, campers and house cars became more common, but for many people they were not just for fun. During hard times, families converted cars into shelter because they could not afford homes or were traveling in search of work.
What To Look For:
- Covered wagons and early overland travel
- Stagecoaches and stage stops
- Cozy cabins with early car garages
- Campers and house cars from the 1920s and 1930s
- Early house bus and RV-style travel
Early Travel
Large character displays helped turn retail spaces into animated movie scenes.
Roadside Shelter
Many displays were meant to be returned or destroyed after their store use ended.
House Cars
Disney, Looney Tunes, SpongeBob, and other characters bring animation history to life.
A Glimpse Into Road Trip History
Now See It In Person
You’ve seen the lineup—iconic cars, unforgettable scenes, and vehicles from every era of Hollywood. Now it’s time to experience them up close and make it a day worth remembering.
Other Attractions to Explore
Three main attractions, one unforgettable destination
Titanic Exhibit
Learn about the Titanic from a whole new perspective, featuring stories rarely told and artifacts that reveal the human side of history.
Volo Museum
The centerpiece attraction, showcasing not only incredible automobiles but also mechanical marvels, movie history, pop culture, and one-of-a-kind entertainment displays.
Jurassic Gardens
Step into a dinosaur wonderland and journey back 65 million years with lifelike animatronics, immersive settings, and prehistoric adventures for all ages.