You can see the evolution of America’s Sports Car through the collection, preservation, and celebration of its legacy, and with offerings meant for two, including the heart-stopping virtual thrills in the Corvette Racing Simulator, to the 360-degree LED Screen that wraps around you as you enter the iconic Skydome, to exquisite tastes at the on-site restaurant, Stingray Grill.

The opportunity to share experiences alongside the iconic two-person sports car is guaranteed to remind you and your special someone that your passion can expand beyond conventional boundaries. Few cars in history have had such a widespread impact on lives across the country.  When you hear the name “Corvette” it is hard to find someone nearby who doesn’t have at least a distant connection to the longest-running nameplate in automotive history.  As you work your way through the beautiful exhibit spaces in the National Corvette Museum, you begin to understand how Corvette has captivated cultures from generation to generation.

The Corvette is an American icon in any decade, but it’s the Corvette’s community of connections that have sustained the public’s relationship with the car over time.  You can see the connection unfold into a full-blown sensation through our latest exhibit, An American Love Affair: 70 Years of Corvette.

A journey through the exhibit will connect Corvette’s relevance in society and pop culture over the past 70 years The Museum features a spectacular collection of Corvettes that represent the vehicle’s history, from the all-new, electrified 2024 Corvette E-Ray, to a National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) award-winning 1953 Corvette, serving as the perfect example of how the passion for Corvette began. Other iconic Corvettes and artifacts that highlight the love affair between America and Corvette are on display throughout the Museum, such as a collection of Corvette toys and models from the George Biederman Collection, Barbie Corvette toys, a Disneyland Autopia Car, and a display LT6 engine.

The unprecedented collection of award-winning Corvettes from all around the country set against the backdrop of the region’s first fully immersive, nearly 360-degree video wall, also known as the Skywall, permits guests to travel through time, experiencing the Heartbeat of America on the street and the ground-pounding sound of American thunder on the track.

An epic history requires epic treatment, and this is exactly what the new Skywall does, by transforming the interior of the iconic Skydome into a jaw-dropping continuous video moment that captures the energy, sight, sound, and experience of Corvette. The continuous screen envelops the guest with immersive video and a spectacular new sound system that makes the roar of the Corvette feel inches away. While Skywall’s first immersive experience expands on the love affair of the Corvette, the experience can be tailored to new exhibits and private rentals, making the Skydome a must-see for any romantic considering venues in the future.

After exploring the fascinating Museum, be sure to take a stroll down Corvette Boulevard, the main hall adorned with new Corvettes awaiting their delivery date.  You’ll not only get an up-close look at the thrill of a Museum Delivery, but you’ll also find the perfect lunch date to top off your tanks.  The Stingray Grill is located within the National Corvette Museum, and while reservations aren’t required, we’d recommend making one online after conveniently purchasing a ticket for the perfect date at the Museum.  The modern atmosphere of the exhibits leads to an elevated dining experience that is sure to impress anyone familiar with the Corvette aesthetic.   Take a bite out of famous specials like The Stingray Burger that made mouths water around the world when featured on Guy’s All American Road Trip on Food Network, paired perfectly with an expertly crafted cocktail.

The heartfelt hospitality found in the National Corvette Museum is just part of the reason that you may want to weave your Museum visit into a weekend adventure in Bowling Green, KY.  Planes and trains… cars and guitars… caves and waves… rails and trails… thrills and chills… charm and farms… We could keep going for days, and that’s just what it would take to see and do everything in the Bowling Green area. As the Home of the Corvette, we sure love our fast cars, but the city offers so much more that we think you will be surprised by how much is happening here.  You’ll find plenty of local amenities and attractions where the two of you can recharge in Kentucky’s third-largest city.

As the fastest-growing city in Kentucky, Bowling Green is the dining and shopping mecca for a dozen surrounding counties, and we’re brimming with locally owned restaurants and splurging (shopping!) options. Being centrally located on I-65, means we are just under an hour away from Nashville, TN.

As you consider the options for a romantic destination, we encourage you to think beyond the conventional idea of romance and dive into the vast world of Corvette as you experience the National Corvette Museum’s An American Love Affair: 70 Years of Corvette.

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March 15 – LUSTER: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile and Motorcycle Painting

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, cars and motorcycles have not only been ubiquitous on the nation’s streets and highways, but also in film, top forty hits, and in painting. With the emergence of photo-realism in the 1960’s, motor vehicles assumed a special place of distinction as subject matter in the iconography of American art. LUSTER: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile and Motorcycle Painting, is a traveling museum exhibition comprised of over 55 paintings by nearly 15 of today’s realists and hyperrealists who specialize in automobiles and motorcycles as their primary subject of choice.

Undergoing a major renovation to transform the space into an art gallery, Luster will take residency in the Museum’s limited engagement gallery through the end of 2024. Art will be juxtaposed against Corvettes, motorcycles and other automotive icons that served as the inspiration for the work, including a 1937 Cord 812 on loan from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, IN.

April – The Vintage Shop Opens on CorvetteStore.com

The Corvette Store’s Vintage Shop gives the Museum another opportunity to showcase the car’s incredible history and the fashions that have accompanied it, while the interest in vintage apparel has skyrocketed with younger generations craving a unique look. The Vintage Shop will be available in limited “product drops” in 2024 on the recently renovated CorvetteStore.com. We are seeking all types of Corvette merchandise, including T-shirts, totes, lapel pins, and more and all donations must be clean, odorless, and in good condition. To learn more, visit us online at CorvetteStore.com.

April 25 – 27, 27th Annual Michelin National Corvette Museum Bash

Every year, the National Corvette Museum starts off its event season with the Michelin NCM Bash, an event where Corvette fans get to have an in-depth experience learning about the latest and greatest with the Corvette. Returning activities include a seminar and classroom sessions by GM certified Corvette Technician Paul Koerner, with additional seminars presented by Michelin, Mobil 1, and GM. Guests will enjoy guided road tours, a Museum’s Choice car show, a live auction featuring exclusive Corvette memorabilia, and more.

May 1 -31 – Military Appreciation Month Including the Vets ‘n Vettes Event

The National Corvette Museum has a long history of celebrating our military veterans, and the month of May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States. All active and retired duty military will receive free admission to the museum with military ID.  Vets ‘n Vettes, presented by Mobil 1, will take place in May.  Since 2008, the NCM has been hosting this event, offering veterans, servicemen and women, and those who support them, a comfortable place to meet and share stories and experiences while enjoying road tours and other Corvette-related activities.

June – Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Reimagined

When the National Corvette Museum’s iconic Skydome suffered a cave-in on February 12, 2014, due to an undiscovered unground cavern, the world quickly tuned in and watched. The decade since has witnessed incredible change and growth at the National Corvette Museum, and this exhibit documents the moments, memories, and machines that made history that fateful day, while recognizing the accomplishments of countless Museum staff and supporters who built back and reimaged a National Corvette Museum that continues to prosper.

This limited engagement exhibit features select Corvettes that were recovered from the sinkhole, along with timelines and multimedia that illustrate where the Corvette Museum has been, and where it is headed in the future.

August 29 – 31 – 2024 National Corvette Caravan

With more than 8,000 Corvettes descending on the National Corvette Museum from all points around the world, the National Corvette Caravan is a celebration of America’s Sports Car, culminating in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the anniversary celebration of the Museum. Hosted once every five years, Caravan is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2024 and will mark the Museum’s 30th Anniversary. Regional caravans will form and join other caravans as they travel across the United States to meet in Bowling Green, Kentucky for four days of festivities at the National Corvette Museum.

August 31 – 26th Annual Corvette Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

On August 31st, the National Corvette Museum will celebrate the 2024 Members-Elect of the Corvette Hall of Fame with an official, formal induction. The Corvette Hall of Fame was established by the NCM in 1998 to confer official recognition upon the most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette and honor their achievements. Each year, a leader is inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame from one of three categories: GM-Chevrolet, Racing and Enthusiast.

October 2024  – An American Love Affair: Pop Culture and the Corvette

The widely popular exhibit documenting the love affair between America and the Corvette will be refreshed with new Corvettes and Corvette artifacts on display.  With a greater focus on the connection Corvette has to pop culture, the exhibit will include a new multimedia performance in the museum’s Skydome.

“The Corvette means so much to so many people, and our 2024 Exhibits and Events plans include something for everyone,” explained Sharon Brawner, National Corvette Museum President and CEO. “From 8,000 Corvette enthusiasts traveling from all points across the country with the Corvette Caravan, to art aficionados captivated by the beauty and color so unique to cars and motorcycles, 2024 will deliver the sights, sounds, and experiences worthy of the Museum’s 30th Anniversary.” To schedule a visit to the National Corvette Museum, visit www.corvettemuseum.org.

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“When I got the call, I couldn’t believe it,” explained Payne, who took delivery of his new Corvette on July 27th through the R8C delivery program. “I purchased the ticket after my wife, Fran, bought hers earlier that day, and she insisted that I buy one. This was our 40th National Council of Corvette Clubs’ annual convention, and I never expected to be celebrating this way. The new Stingray is just incredible, and to have that special VIN has been a dream come true.”

Upon hearing that he won, Payne came to the Museum and was greeted by a who’s who of the Corvette community, including recently retired Bowling Green Assembly Plant Director, Kai Spande, Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro Product Marketing Manager, Harlan Charles, and National Corvette Museum President and CEO, Sharon Brawner.

“Our Corvette raffle is a great program that not only furthers the Museum’s mission but also gives Corvette fans a chance to drive their dream,” explained Brawner. “This was such a special drawing – taking place during the opening of our new exhibit, under the backdrop of our new Skywall, and Cliff being an avid Corvette fan and active Corvette Club member.”

To learn more about the National Corvette Museum raffle, visit raffle.corvettemuseum.org. To purchase a raffle ticket online, you must be at least 18 years of age and be physically located in Kentucky at the time of purchase. You do not have to be a resident of Kentucky to participate.

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Although the story starts with Harley Earl, it wasn’t until Zora Arkus-Duntov wrote a letter to Ed Cole that Corvette’s fate would be changed forever. Zora’s attitude towards the improvement of the car by adding the V8 engine leads us to another pivotal moment, the 1963 Corvette. Curator of Collections and Exhibits Manager, Bob Bubnis, says, “The 1963 Corvette ended up inspiring generations of design. Even to this day, you can point out features on the current car that are directly connected to that ‘63 design. What also makes the ‘63 significant is that it was when Corvette first showed its rebellious attitude. Not only in design, where it was a complete departure from what it previously had been but when it began to push the limits of what this car was going to do on the track.” That rebellion was fueled by VP of Design, Bill Mitchell. Mitchell had been told to not design another Corvette, so he came up with one of his own. The XP-87 would bear the Stingray name, and now Stingray is a word synonymous with Corvette.

Performance has marked pivotal moments in Corvette’s history for decades now, but the most pivotal in Bubnis’ opinion, is when Chevrolet got behind a true factory-backed racing effort. The privateers made an impact during the time that General Motors would not back the program, but by making that decision during the C5 era to compete in motorsports, Chevrolet was making a statement that the Corvette was a world-class sports car.

With a desire to race on the world stage, the Corvette Racing program was a way for Chevrolet to get behind a huge marketing and technology push for the car. Tadge Juechter, Executive Chief Engineer, has even said that the Corvette went from being race-inspired in the early days to being race-derived today. The connection between what owners and enthusiasts see on the track versus what they get to drive is personal, and Corvette Racing helped make that happen in front of a global audience.

Through each generation of Corvette, Chevrolet has found a way to make it an aspirational vehicle for future generations of enthusiasts. The drive to want to own a Corvette has led individuals down the path to wanting to be successful because they knew they had to work hard to achieve their Corvette ownership goals. This worldwide desire to own a two-seated sports car is all about the personal, yet intimate connection, of sharing an open road alone or with just another person. Some may choose to push that experience as far as they can by tracking the car, others may just want that feeling of a Saturday afternoon cruise, either way, you can’t deny that the car hasn’t had an impact on the automotive culture. Corvette is one of the longest-running automotive brands in history, second only to the Suburban, and when you visit the National Corvette Museum or attend a car event, seeing 70 years of living history in front of you draws on your emotions. “When you think on the times when Corvette almost got canceled, it was the passion of drivers, racers, designers, and engineers, that kept it going,” said Bubnis. Those individuals also contributed to its international accolades. With names like Arkus-Duntov, Shinoda, and Lapine, Corvette is an example of what diversity and inclusivity can do when brought together for a common purpose. Of course, those individuals, and many others contributed to the iconic cars that we know and love today, such as the 1963 Corvette, 1990 ZR-1, 2001 Corvette Z06, 2009 Supercharged ZR1, and of course the 2020 Mid-Engine Corvette, just to name a few.

Earlier, we touched on the rebellious 1963 Corvette, but that rebel attitude carried over into the 1983 Corvette. In the 1970s the Environmental Protection Agency had rolled out plans mandating that the automotive industry address harmful emissions. Corvette was directly affected by these changes leading to decreased horsepower. Because of the passion of the people, even though the 1979 Corvette had been reduced to 195 hp, it set a sales record of over 53,000 units. Fast forward to 1990, Corvette had a lot of horsepower to make up for at the end of the C3, but the team of engineers rose to the challenge and used science to make the car fast again, even under the EPA’s requirements. The 1990 ZR-1 reached a horsepower of 375 and was successful at beating Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and BMWs who were in the same horsepower range.

Likewise, the launch of the C5 brought Corvette to new heights, taking America’s Sports Car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it would eventually claim 8 victories. All of the factors added up perfectly, it was designed for that purpose and made the connection between being race inspired to race-driven even stronger.

The 2009 Supercharged ZR1 was impactful in another way as General Motors was going through a financial rough patch, but the Corvette came out stronger than ever with the most power we had ever seen, quite literally the light in the dark.

Finally, the 2020 Corvette became Zora Arkus-Duntov’s vision for a mid-engine Corvette come true.

Over the last 70 years, through the chaos of changing times, environmental challenges, and moments when Corvette was on the brink of death, it was the passion of those who love the car, that kept it going.

Where will the future take Corvette? “If the past has taught us anything, we can be assured that no matter where Corvette goes, it will always be leading the way to adventure,” shared Bubnis.

An American Love Affair: 70 Years of Corvette is now open and included with Museum admission.

Original article published in the April/May/June 2023 Issue of America’s Sports Car Magazine. If you are interested in stories like this one, become a member today! 

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On National Corvette Day, the National Corvette Museum opened a new exhibit that explores the history, passion, and special connection between America and its favorite sports car. The new exhibit features an unprecedented collection of award-winning Corvettes from all around the country set against the backdrop of the region’s first fully immersive, nearly 360-degree video wall that permits the guest to travel through time, experiencing the Heartbeat of America on the street and the ground-pounding sound of American thunder on the track.

“Since 1953, America has been captivated by the Corvette. This new exhibit explores the longstanding love-affair that between Corvette owners and admirers  through its mark on history,” explained Sharon Brawner, National Corvette Museum President and CEO. “To celebrate this milestone, we had to take this exhibit to the next level, and the Skywall does just that. We cannot wait for our members and guests to experience this immersive experience for the first time.”

A journey through the exhibit will connect Corvette’s relevance in society and pop culture over the past 70 years and features a spectacular collection of Corvettes that represent the vehicles history, from the all-new, electrified 2024 Corvette E-Ray to a National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) award-winning 1953 Corvette, serving as the perfect example of how the passion for Corvette began. Other iconic Corvettes and artifacts that highlight the love affair between America and Corvette are on display throughout the Museum including, a collection of Corvette toys and models from the George Biederman Collection, Barbie Corvette toys, a Disneyland Autopia Car, and a display LT6 engine.  

Skydome Meets Skywall

An epic history requires an epic treatment, and this is exactly what the new Skywall does, by transforming the interior of the iconic Skydome into a jaw-dropping continuous video moment that captures the energy, sight, sound, and experience of Corvette. The continuous screen envelops the guest with immersive video and a spectacular new sound system that makes the roar of Corvette feel inches away. While Skywall’s first immersive experience expands on the love affair of the Corvette, the experience can be tailored to new exhibits and private rentals, making the Skydome a must-see destination for corporate clients in the region looking to wow guests.

Plan A Visit to the National Corvette Museum

Prior to its latest exhibit the Museum opened the McMichael Family Education Gallery in late April, offering a state-of-the-art educational experience geared toward the next generation of Corvette Enthusiasts, and Custom Carisma: The Legendary Creation of Carl Casper, showcasing the work of world-renowned car designer, engineer, movie car builder, racer and car show producer, Carl Casper (Closing December 31, 2023).

To learn more about opportunities and experiences, like dining the Stingray Grill (recently featured on Guy’s All-American Road Trip), available at the National Corvette Museum, click here.

An American Love Affair: 70 Years of Corvette is included with Museum admission.

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