Program

Hometown Heritage®

Subject

Site

Location

500 S Ludlow St, Dayton, OH 45402, USA

Lat/Long

39.753406, -84.19167

Grant Recipient

America's Packard Museum

The Cincinnati-based Citizens Motor Car Company became a successful dealer of Packard automobiles and trucks in the early 20th century, leading to the establishment of a branch in Dayton in 1917. Architectural firm Pretzinger & Musselman designed a new three-story building for the Dayton location using concrete, stone, and steel to ensure a fireproof structure. Constructed at an estimated cost of $80,000, the building featured a basement for vehicle storage, a first-floor showroom and service department, offices on the second floor, and a vehicle-sized elevator.

The Citizens Motor Car Company operated at the Dayton site until 1937, when Knupp Motors purchased the location. In 1940, the dealership ceased selling Packard vehicles, and a Pontiac dealership occupied the space. A Buick dealership subsequently owned the building from 1964 to 1974, followed by an auto parts store that operated from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. In 1991, the property was acquired, restored to its original Citizens Motor Car era design, and opened as America’s Packard Museum.

The museum operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Packard vehicles. The Packard Motor Company produced approximately 1.6 million luxury automobiles between 1899 and 1956, and an estimated 10,000 of those vehicles still exist as of 2026. Notably, Packard was the first automotive manufacturer to offer factory-installed, built-in air conditioning.

Links

• Americas Packard Museum