Nethercutt Museum Sylmar California
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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. |
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. |
The 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. - Article By Matthew Martz |
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