The Golden Age Of Trucking Museum Shines As ‘Yankee’ 2006 Editor’s Choice

MIDDLEBURY — The Golden Age of Trucking Museum has been selected as an Editor’s Choice in the 2006 edition of Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England, which deemed the museum a must-see destination.

The Golden Age of Trucking Museum is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1998 by the late Richard J. Guerrera. A successful businessman who owned and operated a trucking company for more than 35 years, Mr Guerrera purchased and restored antique vehicles over time. He housed them in barns throughout the state, often taking them to truck shows and offering them for use in local parades.

As his collection grew he wanted to place it “under one roof for all to enjoy,” so in 1998 he founded the museum and purchased land to build a home for it.

Mr Guerrera passed away in 1999, but his wife Frances carried his dream to fulfillment in 2002, opening the doors of the 32,000-square-foot facility.

The museum is the permanent home to the 18 antique trucks and two antique boats owned by the Guerrera family.

In addition there are more than 30 other antique cars and trucks on loan, which will remain in the museum for one year and then will be rotated out to make room for others. This keeps the exhibits ever-changing, so there is always something different to see. Joining the antique trucks and cars on exhibit in the museum are collectibles, memorabilia, an extensive collection of vanity plates, photographs, artwork, transportation-related books, and magazines and periodicals.

An interactive area for children offers a cut-away of a Volvo tractor trailer cab, complete with a sleeper, which children can climb into and pretend to drive. There are also games, toys, blocks, puzzles, books, computers, videos and much more to captivate children.

Museum volunteers are always available to open the doors or hood of the antique vehicles as well as to talk about their own experiences on the road.

Some patrons have commented, “This was the nicest, most well-equipped, cleanest museum we have ever been to.”

The museum is open year round, Thursday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday, noon to 4 pm, with extended hours during July and August, Tuesday, 10 am to 8 pm; Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm; and Sunday, noon to 4 pm.

Admission is $8 for adults; $7 for seniors; $5 for children; under 2 is free; and a family is $20. There are special rates for groups and handicapped visitors.

The museum is available for rental and it hosts many activities throughout the year, such as the summer’s Tuesday evening “Cruise Nights,” which will be held this year on July 11 and August 8, from 5:30 until 8 pm.

For information, call the museum at 203-577-2181 or visit GoldenAgeTruckMuseum.com.

The museum is at 1101 Southford Road.