I recently got to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum – after hours! The evening started with a walk through the Vault, an area beneath the museum that features over 300 vehicles from around the world. At the entrance, we were greeted by Bib, the Michelin mascot!
The 1942/46 Lincoln Custom Armored Limousine, used by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, was so cool! It had really (I mean, really) thick windows – I counted 8 layers!
Another cool car to see was the 1998 Cadillac Popemobile. This vehicle was built for Pope John Paul II and blessed, but it didn’t have that much protection so it ended up not getting used.
After checking out the Vault, it was time for appetizers and dinner! The dinner took some time to come out, but at least it was worth the wait!
Appetizers: Butternut Squash on Rice, Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders, Shrimp – At first glance, I thought the butternut squash on rice was sushi…but it wasn’t. The sliders were not bad too!
Dinner: Salad, Steak, Cheesecake – The steak was actually a pretty big size. I was glad mine was medium rare and not well done!
It’s time to race! We checked out the Forza Gallery, where there were racing simulators. While we waited for our turn, there were even extra chairs for you to sit and wait in. The simulator itself was…hard to drive. It didn’t even feel like I was going fast at all! The simulator ran for 4 minutes 30 seconds.
My overall favorite car? Probably the 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, used in The Fast and the Furious (2001).
It was such a fun experience visiting the museum after hours! I can’t remember if I’ve ever been so close to so many nice cars. Where would we go after hours next?
