Carr's museum holds an eclectic selection of items, with a focus on celebrity automobiles, including JFK's personal 1962 Lincoln Continental, Jackie Gleason's 1968 limo, Elvis Presley's 1973 Lincoln Mark IV and a Silver Streak 1979 Lincoln Versaille.
It's an interesting mix of historic, artistic, campy and just downright weird, an offbeat treasure that you will either love or hate. The museum's owner, Mr. Carr, mans the admission booth and serves as ad hoc tour guide. If you arrive when no one else is there, as I did, Carr will lead you to a darkened room, illuminated only by a sparkling ballroom light rotating from the ceiling, sending tiny beams of light around the room.
With the lights on, and when he has time, Carr is happy to show visitors his collection. To a background of music recorded by Elvis Presley and Jackie Gleason, Carr shows off the museum's most prized possessions, his collection of 1960s and 70s cars once owned by celebrities.
Unlike most classic car collections, where a "do not touch" sign seems to spring up everywhere a curious hand might reach out, at Carr's you're encouraged to touch, and even sit in, the seats once warmed by famous backsides. As much as I like to pretend I'm not starstruck, sitting the driver's seat where Elvis once sat was the highlight of my visit.
The rest of the museum's collection is an odd mixture of items, with the unifying characteristic of having stimulated to Carr's acquisitive nature. The skin of an electrocuted boa constrictor hangs across the room from Chinese vases, and stuffed frog-shaped bean bags, plastic toys and other oddities occupy otherwise-empty spaces in between.
Apparently, Carr solicits donations for his collection from time to time, and I found a letter on the wall from actor Paul Newman, stating: "The only special vehicle I had was a Volkswagen with a 351 cubic inch Ford engine that has already met its maker." Too bad Mr. Carr didn't get there before it did.
Getting to Carr's One of a Kind Museum
Carr's One of a Kind in the World Museum5225 N. Freya
Spokane, WA
509-489-8859
