Champlain Valley Transportation Museum
Encyclopedia
The Champlain Valley Transportation Museum in Plattsburgh
, New York
, originally founded in 2000 to be a museum
dedicated to the history of Lozier Motors
, has grown in scope to cover all the transportation in the region. It includes artifacts
and displays on the history of land and water based transportation in the region, especially on Lake Champlain
and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The museum was the idea of Anthony Vaccaro, a Plattsburgh physician
, who owned and restored a 1915 Lozier. He saw a museum dedicated to Lozier Motors as a way of promoting Plattsburgh's rich history. Despite the museum's expanded scope, the Lozier remains its centerpiece. The museum's Type 82 Lozier is the only known Type 82 in existence.
The museum officially opened on the site of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base
in 2004 with the help of a corps of volunteers. Its permanent collection includes Essex County
's Weatherwax Sail Ferry, brought to the museum after restoration, and sold to the museum for one dollar, now used to transport visitors to the nearby museum at Bluff Point Light
on Valcour Island
. Also housed at the museum are the Bill Gates Diner (a cafe housed in a trolley car), a 1924 REO Speed Wagon
used by Plattsburgh Motor Services' founder Walter Church, a 1929 Model A
Ford and a 1967 Jaguar.
Following a 2006 grant that helped establish the museum, in 2007, the museum received a $1 million grant from the New York State Department of Transportation
to assist in the
upgrade of the museum's infrastructure. The museum is required to raise $200,000 in order to receive the grant and in January 2008 it began a capital campaign to achieve this goal.
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, originally founded in 2000 to be a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
dedicated to the history of Lozier Motors
Lozier
The Lozier Motor Company was a brass era producer of automobiles in the United States of America. The company produced luxury automobiles from 1900 to 1915, with a factory at 3703 Mack Avenue, Detroit, Michigan....
, has grown in scope to cover all the transportation in the region. It includes artifacts
Cultural artifact
A cultural artifact is a term used in the social sciences, particularly anthropology, ethnology, and sociology for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users...
and displays on the history of land and water based transportation in the region, especially on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The museum was the idea of Anthony Vaccaro, a Plattsburgh physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, who owned and restored a 1915 Lozier. He saw a museum dedicated to Lozier Motors as a way of promoting Plattsburgh's rich history. Despite the museum's expanded scope, the Lozier remains its centerpiece. The museum's Type 82 Lozier is the only known Type 82 in existence.
The museum officially opened on the site of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base covering 3,447 acres in the extreme northeast corner of New York, 20 miles south of the Canadian border...
in 2004 with the help of a corps of volunteers. Its permanent collection includes Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
's Weatherwax Sail Ferry, brought to the museum after restoration, and sold to the museum for one dollar, now used to transport visitors to the nearby museum at Bluff Point Light
Bluff Point Light
Bluff Point Light, also known as the Valcour Island Light, on Valcour Island in Lake Champlain was in service from its construction in 1874 until 1930 and was one of the last lighthouses on Lake Champlain to be named. It is now part of Adirondack State Park and operated as a museum by the Clinton...
on Valcour Island
Valcour Island
Valcour Island is an island in Lake Champlain in Clinton County, New York, USA. The island is mostly in the Town of Peru and partly in the Town of Plattsburgh, southeast of the City of Plattsburgh....
. Also housed at the museum are the Bill Gates Diner (a cafe housed in a trolley car), a 1924 REO Speed Wagon
REO Speed Wagon
The REO Speed Wagon was a light motor truck manufactured by REO Motor Car Company. It was an ancestor of the pickup truck....
used by Plattsburgh Motor Services' founder Walter Church, a 1929 Model A
Model A
Model A may refer to:* Ford Model A , a model of car built by the Ford Motor Company* Ford Model A , a model of car built by the Ford Motor Company* One of the letter-series models of Farmall tractors...
Ford and a 1967 Jaguar.
Following a 2006 grant that helped establish the museum, in 2007, the museum received a $1 million grant from the New York State Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
to assist in the
upgrade of the museum's infrastructure. The museum is required to raise $200,000 in order to receive the grant and in January 2008 it began a capital campaign to achieve this goal.