Forney Museum of Transportation, Denver

The Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver is a unique and expansive transportation museum named after its founder, J.D. Forney. It traces its origins back to a private collection that began with a single 1921 Kissel, gifted to Mr. Forney by his family. This car held special significance as it was the same model he used to court his wife, Rae. What started as a personal interest in antique and classic cars soon grew into a vast collection that included a wide variety of transportation artifacts.

Today, the museum boasts approximately 800 exhibits, showcasing an incredible array of transportation modes. While it initially focused on antique automobiles, the museum's scope has expanded significantly over the years. Its collection now includes vehicles of all kinds-automobiles, buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, and public transportation, among others. The museum's slogan, "Anything on Wheels," aptly reflects its diverse collection.

Some of the most notable items in the collection include the Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug,' a Forney Locomotive, a 1923 Hispano-Suiza, and an 1888 Denver Cable Car. Additionally, the museum features a 500-piece Matchbox collection, a comprehensive display of Indian motorcycles from 1913 to 1953, and a variety of vintage apparel and toys.

The Forney Museum of Transportation operates as a non-profit organization with a mission to collect, preserve, and exhibit items of artistic, historical, and technological interest related to transportation. It serves as an educational resource and a source of personal enrichment for visitors, offering a glimpse into the history and evolution of transportation in the United States.