Tucson transportation museums collaborate on new historic route

The museum includes several historic trolley cars and buses that were once commonplace in Tucson.

He says preserving the equipment is important for future generations.

People from around the world have come to the museum to admire the collection, he said, and it helps introduce younger generations to how things were when streetcars ran.

Tucson’s Rolling Thru Time Auto Museum is also on the trail and showcases several classic cars from the 1960s and 1970s. The museum also has a dedicated section of fire trucks and ambulances from throughout the last century.

Preserving historic cars and fire trucks showcases how automotive equipment worked in what seemed like a simpler time, said Joe Findysz, owner of the museum.

“It keeps the history of automobiles in Tucson alive,” he said. “A lot of our exhibits are centered around Tucson.”

A majority of the items in the collection are classic Ford products, including Shelbys, Mustangs, Model Ts and Model As.

Findysz said he wanted his museum to be part of the trail because it gives the public a chance to see a wide variety of historic Tucson transportation.

Visitors interested in touring the transportation trail can pick up a flyer at any of the six participating museums. It includes a map of each museum’s location, contact details and hours, and a brief description of each museum’s part in Tucson’s transportation heritage.

Two of the museums on the trail, the Franklin Auto Museum and the Tucson Wagon and History Museum, are closed during the summer months.