Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts

Nestled in a residential neighborhood, slightly northwest of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum, lies Larz Anderson Park. Despite its modest size, the park boasts a magnificent Victorian-era carriage house that houses the United States' oldest automotive collection, predating the 20th century. This collection is named after Larz Anderson, a French-born American diplomat with an extensive career serving in the UK, Italy, Belgium, Japan, and a brief stint during the Spanish-American War.

Anderson was also married to Isabel Weld Perkins, an heiress who, along with her husband, amassed a vast collection of antique vehicles during the early 20th century.

Anderson's love for automobiles was evident in his lavish spending on cars and carriages from 1899 until his death in 1937. Together, they owned 32 cars, 24 carriages, and 6 horse-drawn sleighs, showing a keen interest in acquiring a new vehicle each year. Today, 14 of these vehicles remain in their original, untouched state, serving as rare historical artifacts. These vehicles, ranging from the 1899 Winton Phaeton to the 1926 Lincoln Limousine, offer a unique glimpse into the automotive world of the early 1900s.

The Andersons began displaying their collection to the public in 1927, and the museum was officially established post-Isabel's death in 1948. Though not the largest automotive museum, the Larz Auto Museum holds the distinction of being the oldest in the United States, thanks to its continuously maintained, pre-World War I collection.

The carriage house, with its grand and magnificent interior, provides an ideal setting to appreciate these historical automobiles. For enthusiasts of vintage and antique cars, the museum is undoubtedly a visit worth making.