Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/476554
2 6 | BULLDOG | 2 0 1 5 V 1 TAILLIGHTS Restoring history Y ou walk out of the Mack Trucks Historical Museum looking at the world of trucking a little differently than when you entered. The Mack museum curators say they get a kick out of seeing everyone from wide-eyed Cub Scouts to jaded truckers light up with delight as they view the display of 30 vintage trucks, thousands of pieces of memorabilia and photographs of not only the history of Mack Trucks but also a deep dive into trucking's role in America. Visitors new to trucking love the approachable nature of the exhibits and the opportunity to climb on and, in some cases, go inside vehicles that are on display. "My biggest 'woo hoo' moment was actually crawling into a full cab complete with a sleeping compartment," one visitor posted on a social media tourism site. Highlights of the tour include the opportunity to view the oldest existing Mack vehicle, a sightseeing bus built by Jack and $XJXVWXV0DFN%XLOWLQWKHƄUVWGHFDGHRI the 20th century, the gasoline operated, open-air bus transported tourists around the streets of Chicago and New Orleans for 25 years and more than a million miles of service before retiring to anchor the antique truck collection. "Techie" types like to gawk at the soundproof room that was once used by Mack engineers to perform noise reduction work (the museum is housed in a former Mack engineering facility). Because of the VRXQGSURRƄQJPDWHULDOXVHGLQLWV construction, there are virtually no echoes in the room. It displays four B Series trucks that illustrate the wide range of B Model FDSDFLWLHVWKHƄUVWDQGODVW&)0RGHOƄUH trucks and two western style conventional trucks, an RW and an LT. Several AC Model trucks are also on display; the AC Model gained its fame on the EDWWOHƄHOGVRI:RUOG:DU,,WZDVDWRXJK tenacious work truck that powered through EXOOHWVDQGPXGG\)UHQFKEDFNURDGV delivering supplies to the front. The truck's blunt-nosed design reminded British troops of their pet bulldogs from back home, and the nickname stuck. Don Schumaker, the museum's curator and a Mack retiree, enjoys recounting these stories and others. He loves showing visitors around and says it's an honor to be the keeper of such an extensive collection and to connect enthusiasts to the rich Mack legacy. 6FKXPDNHUƄUVWMRLQHG0DFNLQDQGKH and seven other Mack retirees do archival work at the museum and sometimes give tours to supplement those given by four tour guides who also are former Mack employees. Schumaker says one of the reasons visitors Take a tour through trucking's past at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum Story by Denise Rondini Photos by Kirk Zutell "This place went well beyond my expectations and even my wife who is the furthest thing from DWUXFNDƄFLRQDGRZDVGHOLJKWHGDQGWKRURXJKO\ enjoyed our visit." Don Schumaker begins a tour of the Mack Trucks Historical Museum ZLWKWKHƅDJVKLSSLHFH an early 1900's tour bus. Comment from www.tripadvisor.com