Do you have car lovers in your crew? Drive down memory lane and check out The Midwest Dream Car Collection (MDCC) with its collection of over 65 rotating cars. From 19th century antiques to new and exciting cars from the present, it is sure to be a hit with everyone in your family.
Location and Hours
MDCC is located at 3007 Anderson Ave. in Manhattan. Museum hours are Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. In addition, group tours are available on Wednesdays, by appointment.
Admission
Children 0-5 years old can enjoy FREE admittance to the Midwest Dream Car Collection. For those 18 and up, the cost is $8 per person; for military, seniors, and youth under 18, the cost is $5 per person. Memberships are available as well.
Mom Tip: Want to bring along a friend? Check the calendar for free friend days!
Plan Your Visit
The MDCC features a permanent collection of vehicles that are on display at all times, as well as rotating, temporary collections of vehicles. My boys love to walk around and see the latest, rotating exhibits of cars on display. They have their favorite cars (a 1951 Hudson Hornet “Doc Hudson” from Cars and a 2022 K-State Serval Racecar) or point out cars that look like one of their toy cars from home.
You can learn more about the vehicle and read a brief description at each one. Some vehicle displays even have supplemental videos, (for example: the 1966 Amphicar Model 770 has a video that plays on loop and shows how the car works; my boys call this the “boat car”). Do note that you cannot touch the vehicles on the main showroom floor, so I usually remind my boys they can “only look with their eyes.”
On the east end of the museum, you will find the Mechanic’s Bay where a Master Technician can be found working on vehicles most weekdays. My boys love to see the cars getting fixed up before they make their way to the main showroom.
Mom Tip: Make sure to take some time while cruising around the exhibits to speak with the volunteers. They love sharing their knowledge and stories about the vehicles. They even let my boys sit in the 2012 Morgan 3-Wheeler one time (my boys call this one the “shark car”). What a special experience!
Restrooms
There are multiple bathrooms located throughout MDCC. These bathrooms are spacious and clean, making me feel comfortable if I must have all three kids with me when somebody needs a potty stop. Although there is no designated nursing area, there is plenty of space and seating available throughout for nursing mothers.
For the Kids
Your trip to MDCC is not complete without having your crew explore the Kid’s Zone. Here you’ll find a big train track/car set to build, a set of matchbox cars and plenty of space to “drive them around,” Duplos, Legos, puzzles, books, and an art station. There are always coloring pages available with a variety of car-centric designs to choose from.
For the Parents
Beer and wine are available for purchase by the ounce. Purchase a prepaid beer wall card at the front desk and select from 16 beers on-tap at the self-serve beer and wine wall. Beers are rotated seasonally, and four premium wines are also available on-tap.
Events
Midwest Dream Car Collection hosts several family friendly events throughout the year including Open Hood Sundays, Cars and Cops, Trick or Treating, and Santa Saturday. They also host monthly events like Cars and Coffee and the Kids Studio. My boys’ favorite event is the holiday scavenger hunt during the month of December. Be on the lookout for reindeer and elves hiding in the cars! If you find them all, you get a small prize! Check the calendar or subscribe to the MDCC newsletter to find out about upcoming special events.
Pit Stop Gift Shop
Be sure and browse the gift shop on your way out to find memorabilia including toy cars, clothing, books and more for car lovers young and old. Members receive a 10-percent discount on all gift shop purchases.
 with its collection of over 65 rotating cars. From 19th century antiques to new and exciting cars from the present, it is sure to be a hit with everyone in your family.){kind=link}