|
|
|
|
THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
|
|
|
Nethercutt Museum Sylmar
California
|
|
|
By Matthew
Martz |
The Nethercutt
Collection and museum is located in Sylmar at the base
of the San Gabriel foothills in the San Fernando Valley
the Nethercutt Museum is a world-class collection of over
250 cars, various mechanical musical instruments, antique
furniture and a fully restored Steam locomotive and private
rail car.
This unique collection was started back in the 1950s by
JB Nethercutt co-founder in Merle Norman Cosmetics and
his wife Dorothy. It is housed in two buildings located
across the street from each other.
The main museum is single level building that contains
mostly rare, beautifully restored automobilia from the
20s and 30s. You will find a few Ford, Dodges, and Chevy’s,
but this collection is more about the luxury cars.
Packard’s, Bentleys, Cadillac’s, Pierce-Arrows,
Lincolns, Duisenberg’s, Cords, Auburns, and quite
a few Rolls Royce’s are all are in mint condition
and meticulously maintained as all of these automobiles
are as drivable today as they were when they rolled off
the showroom floor.
Positioned throughout the museum are five unusual mechanical
instruments including a rare bow front Mills Violano Virtuoso
-- only 17 of these exist, worth about a quarter million
dollars, which still accepts nickels from the museum visitors
to play violin and piano duets.
There is also a massive collection of hood ornaments,
and large library available for automotive research. Before
you leave the main museum be sure to see the beautifully
restored 937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson locomotive
and 1912 Pullman private railcar located to the rear and
outside. The display is available during museum hours
with guided tours of the railcar twice daily. .
|
|
|
Nethercutt Collection Hudson locomotive
|
Across
the street, San Sylmar, was the home of the Nethercutt family
and can only be viewed by 90-minute guided tour. Visitors
enter through the seven-foot tall solid bronze doors that
lead to the lower salon where you are surrounded by 25 automobiles
dating from the early 1900s up till the late 1940s, as well
as antique nickelodeons, music boxes, David Winter cottages,
dolls, coins, and various crystal figurines.
Next stop is the grand salon showroom where towering marble
columns, crystal chandeliers, painted ceilings and 30 more
of the finest automobiles from the 1910s, 20s and 30s, greet
you. As you make your way up to the mezzanine you are treated
to various collections of rare hood ornaments, musical instruments
and 18th and 19th Century French furniture.
The tour concludes in music room, that has been given the
name, "Cloud 99". It is here you will find the
most unique pieces that the Nethercutt’s acquired,
from nickelodeons to orchetriums, a Louis XV style dining
room and of course the centerpiece – a 5000 pipe Wurlitzer
Organ. Visitors are serenaded as many of these musical pieces
are demonstrated on the tour, including the organ, which
they have saved into it various performances from guest
who played the organ.
On certain dates throughout the year free organ concerts
are given. Tickets are given away on a first come first
serve basis. Car enthusiasts as well as non-car enthusiasts
will love this place and wonder why they hadn't heard of
it before.
As with all museums, the Nethercutt continues to add to
their collection of rare automobiles, so return visits can
be new experiences. The main museum is located at 15151
Bledsoe Street Sylmar, CA and is open Tuesday through Saturday,
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan to spend about 1-2 hours at the
Nethercutt Museum. |
Antique Automobile Nethercutt Museum |
Antique Fire truck Nethercutt Museum |
The Nethercutt automobile collection
is available to view by a 90-minute guided tour only, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday at 10:00am and 1:30pm. Reservations
are required. The Hudson locomotive is available for guided
tours Tuesday through Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Admission is free at all facilities and there is ample free
parking.
On a final note, the museum is located in an industrial
section of the city and there are not many amenities located
nearby. However, if you are looking for a great place to
have lunch or dinner, visit the Bear Pit BBQ in Mission
Hills. It’s a short four miles from the Nethercutt
and has been a favorite with the locals since the early
1950s.
You can enjoy a Missouri style wood smoked BBQ in a rustic
setting all the way down to the sawdust on the floor. The
food choices are plentiful as well as the antique automobiles
that fill the parking lot on weekends. The Bear Pit is located
at 10825 Sepulveda Boulevard, Mission Hills, CA. They are
open Sunday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday
and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. - By
Matthew Martz
The Nethercutt Collection
15200 Bledsoe Street San Fernando Valley,
CA 91342 (818) 364-6464 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Nixon
Library and Museum final resting place
of Richard Milhous Nixon. Yorba Linda. |
|
Getty
Center located on a 24-acre hilltop
campus that is part of a larger 110-acre site |
|
|
|
|
