Our Visit to the Canton Classic Car Musum

With about a 2 hour layover in Canton, OH during the first ever Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Total Track Tour on Saturday, September 29, 2007, Chuck and I decided to check out the Canton Classic Car Museum. We both like classic cars and other transportation history, but this place was so much more than that.

The general manager was a very enthusiastic spokesperson for the museum and spent the entire time of our visit going from one exhibit to another to speak about various cars and other items within the collection. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and very happy to have over 100 guests come in at one time.

Char, the museum manager, stands on one of the oldest cars to address
our tour group. It's a 1901 Oldsmobile curved dash in running condition!

After a brief orientation from Char, Chuck and I made our way slowly through the museum. The background of the museum is that the owner of the cars had a wife who wasn't as interested in cars and felt there should be more for people to look at than old cars. She collected all the other great stuff found in the museum.

Some of the wife's eclectic collection has to do with automobiles such as gas station memorabilia, old advertising signs, fantastic hood ornaments, and toys. There are also old bicycles in pristine condition, antique rugs that cover a lot of the floor area, and many interesting artifacts of all kinds throughout the entire museum including tools, electrical items, and vintage clothing. Many McKinley collectibles and commemoratives are found in several display cases too.

Old advertising tin signs are everywhere inside the museum.

Some of the cars, antique rugs, and shelves full of collectibles are seen above.

More classic cars with period dressed mannequins line the path.

This car was built for a wealthy woman who grew up in an Amish
family and she wanted the passenger area to resemble a buggy.

One of my favorite lamps of all time is seen above.

Chuck stopped long enough between rooms for a picture.

This museum is SO much more than classic one-of-a-kind cars! If you ever get the chance to go to Canton Ohio, make a point of stopping in the Classic Car Museum. If you like cool old stuff, you will LOVE this place!

Cuyahoga Scenic Valley Railroad and Saint Lucie Sound

When we arrived at Rockside Station, the main passenger boarding point for the Cuyahoga Scenic Valley Railroad, there were only a few people. The fog was still heavy in the valley beyond.


Our departure time was scheduled for 9:00 AM but we arrived about 8:20 AM. Over time the crowd grew in anticipation of the train ride to come.

Boarding was to begin 1/2 hour before departure but the train arrived just before 9:00 AM. Everyone boarded and we were on our way shortly.

The Saint Lucie Sound car was very nice. There is seating for 18 people in the observation area, three private rooms with toilets and sinks, a bar area and lounge. 10 of the 18 people on this trip were there because one of them had won 10 tickets in a charity auction. They were all locals so this trip was a real lark for them. I don't think they were really railfans, but they seemed to have a lot of fun amongst themselves.


The engine was pulling the train south and was hooked directly onto the Saint Lucie Sound car all the way to Canton. We were sitting in a little area at the back of the car with seating for 8 on four roomy love-seats. Our traveling companions back there were railfans from IL and OH. Well, more precisely, the men were railfans and their wives were there to share the ride. They were a lot of fun though, and we talked about a lot of things that had little to do with trains.

A three hour layover in Canton was planned with a choice of tours available. Chuck and I went to the Canton Classic Car Museum and our immediate seating companions all went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We had visited the Football Hall of Fame a few years ago. The 10 in the forward section beyond the etched glass partitions all went to a bar for the entire time.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Total Track Tour

Chuck and I are leaving in the wee hours tomorrow morning and heading for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio. We're booked on board the St. Lucie Sound in executive class for the Total Track Tour. We have never been to this excursion railroad before so we're looking forward to a new experience and seeing the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley just as fall colors are starting.

The St. Lucie Sound Car on the CVSC

This is the first time the CVSR is doing the Total Track Tour and it includes a 3.5 hour layover in Canton, OH where we are planning on visiting the Classic Car Museum. Chuck wanted to go back to the Football Hall of Fame but we were there before and we both love classic cars, so I actually won the debate on this one. A rare feat indeed!

We're driving this trip even though Amtrak goes to Cleveland. It would cost us over $400 each way for a bedroom and we would have to leave Cleveland at 2:30 AM or 3:45 AM on Sunday to return. As much as we hate driving through Chicago's interstate system we are choosing to drive for this trip. We would have to rent a car in Cleveland anyway or take a taxi to Independence, so it would be very expensive to go via Amtrak this time.

The price of Executive Class for the Total Track Tour is low compared to the 2816/261 steam double header we just completed two weeks ago at only $130 per person. Our executive seating on the Minneapolis to LaCrosse round trip was $299 each, but well worth it.

Expect a report and images to follow. I'm still working on the videos for YouTube from the 2816/261 excursion but we're heading for Duluth on October 5th for another rail excursion to Two Harbors and back on a steam train, so the videos will start coming out after that.