Sometimes the smallest discoveries make the biggest impression on a road trip.
If your travels along US Route 6 bring you through Nebraska, consider this your invitation to explore the International Model Car Builders’ Museum collection in its new home at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln.
The collection’s grand-opening celebration took place July 23 through 25, 2026, with a ribbon cutting on July 24. This is a newly opened museum experience within an established attraction: the model museum’s collection moved from Utah and became part of the Museum of American Speed.
For travelers who enjoy automotive history, creative craftsmanship, or a little childhood nostalgia, it offers a fresh reason to put Lincoln on the itinerary.
Small Cars With Stories to Tell
The collection includes thousands of model cars from around the world. Behind those miniature vehicles is a hobby shaped by patient builders, imaginative designs, and a lasting fascination with automobiles.
You do not need to be a model builder to enjoy looking closely. Think about the work involved in recreating a favorite car at a fraction of its size. Consider the patience required to turn separate parts into something that captures a vehicle’s character.
Did you build model cars at the kitchen table? Did someone in your family keep a prized miniature on a shelf? Bring those memories along. A visit can become a conversation between generations about the cars people loved and the things they made by hand.
A New Home That Helps Preserve the Hobby
The move to Lincoln also tells a preservation story. Founder Mark Gustavson explained that protecting the collection’s long-term future was an important reason for joining the Museum of American Speed.
That makes this stop especially fitting for people who value historic highways. Preserving travel history includes the objects, skills, and personal stories connected with life on the road.
The US Route 6 Tourist Association’s Nebraska page featured the opening and provides links for learning more about the collection. Use it as another starting point when planning your Nebraska travels.
Make Time for the Larger Museum
While you are there, allow time to explore the Museum of American Speed’s broader automotive collections. Its website highlights historic vehicles, engines, and land-speed displays, giving visitors more to discover beyond the miniature cars.
Make this a Lincoln side trip from your US Route 6 journey. Plan your drive to the museum’s Oakcreek Drive address, then leave room in the day for a local meal and an unhurried visit.
Plan Your Visit
- Destination: International Model Car Builders’ Museum collection at the Museum of American Speed
- Address: 599 Oakcreek Drive, Lincoln, NE 68528
- October through April hours: Monday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday
- Phone: 402-323-3166
- Official website: Museum of American Speed
Hours listed above were checked October 8, 2026. Confirm current admission prices, holiday closures, and exhibit access with the museum before setting out. [4]
You’re Invited to Take a Closer Look
Bring your curiosity, invite a fellow traveler, and discover how much history can fit into a small-scale automobile.
Whether you remember your first model kit or are discovering the hobby for the first time, this new Lincoln museum experience deserves a place on your Nebraska travel list.
Plan your visit, support a local business while you are in town, and keep discovering the people and places connected with US Route 6.
Have you ever built or collected model cars? Share your favorite memory in the comments.
Support the US Route 6 Tourist Association
Your donation helps preserve the history of US Route 6, promote communities along the highway and inspire travelers to discover the people, places and stories that make the journey meaningful.
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