Ransom Eli Olds built his first car in Lansing in 1897, and this museum tells that story well. The centerpiece is that original Oldsmobile curved-dash runabout, which looks startlingly frail for something that launched one of America's great car brands. Also on display are early REO trucks, Stars, and a large collection of automotive advertising art that doubles as a record of American consumer culture from the 1900s onward. The museum is modest in size — an hour is plenty — but the density of actual early vehicles makes it worth the stop if you have any interest in automotive history.
R. E. Olds Transportation Museum
Birthplace of the Oldsmobile, with the original 1897 model
| Address | 240 Museum Dr., Lansing |
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