Our Early Beginnings
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum grew out of a Sunday tradition by wealthy socialites Larz and Isabel Anderson in their Brookline Massachusetts home. The Anderson would open the doors to their spectacular carriage house on Sunday afternoons and share the marvel of a mounting collection of antique American and European vehicles.
The Anderson's collection of Vehicles began with the purchase of the Anderson's first vehicle, an 1899 Winton 4-hp runabout. Today, this vehicle remains on permanent display in the museum's lower gallery. Throughout their life, the Anderson continued to purchase and subsequently retire vehicles to the carriage house until the death of Isabel Anderson in 1948. The Andersons purchased a new car nearly every year, acquiring thirty-two brand new motorcars during the course of their life. 14 of these vehicles and many of the original horse drawn carriages remain in our permanent collection.
The Carriage House
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum is located in the original Anderson carriage house located on the grounds of Anderson estate, now Larz Anderson Park, in Brookline Massachusetts. The Carriage house was constructed in 1888 and was built to mimic the French Chateau, "Chateau de Chaumont-Sur-Loire".
Today, it is on the National Register of Historical Places and considered a landmark within the collector car community. The Building was constructed to house a working stable and later, the routine maintenance of the Anderson's mounting car collection. The Carriage house's third floor, today our administrative offices, were once home to the 10+ carriage house employees and their families.
After the death of Isabel Anderson, the carriage house was given to the Veteran Motor Car Association of America who first opened the building as a museum in 1949. Today, we continue this tradition by offering new exhibits, educational forums, an archive of early automotive material, the exhibition of the Anderson vehicles, and Lawn events throughout the year.
The Grounds
The Grounds of the museum include an incredible skyline view of Boston. There is a romantic pond built by Isabel Anderson and acres of open space to relax and enjoy the outdoors. There are walking paths around the museum, grills for cookouts, a baseball diamond, and an ice rink open to the public during the winter. You will enjoy not only a visit to the museum but the grounds and the picturesque setting and open spaces left by the Anderson family.
