Bowling Green, KY — After a nearly 12-week closure, the National Corvette Museum has opened to the public, offering two completely remodeled galleries, along with one new exhibit and one refreshed exhibit.

“We kicked off renovations last November, and have been hard at work on the new E. Pierce Marshall Memorial Performance Gallery ever since,” said Museum Director of Collections & Curator Derek E. Moore.

The Gallery now features digital projection, interactive touch screens paired with artifact display cases, 180-degree video footage, and an impressive lineup of cars. Highlighted in the exhibit is Pierce Marshall Jr.’s C7.R.

“I think the renovation to the museum is extremely timely,” said Pierce, who sponsored the exhibit in honor of his late father. “To have something more interactive that will engage younger people will ensure future generations will be able to learn how unique Corvette is in America’s car culture and its racing history.”

The Corvette Indy concept car on display as part of the new ‘Vision Realized’ exhibit. Photo: NCM

Also newly remodeled is the Design and Engineering Gallery, now featuring “The Vision Realized: 60 Years of Mid-Engine Corvette Design,” on display until April 2021. The exhibit tells the story of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dream of one day having a production mid-engine.

“General Motors approached us about an exhibit they were developing, which focuses on the key vehicles that built the foundation for the 2020 Corvette Stingray,” Moore said. “It features original renderings from our museum alongside photographs, artifacts and ephemera from both the GM Design Archive & Special Collections, and GM Heritage Center. We are excited to be the first location to display the exhibit.”

Cars on display include Corvette Indy, a C8, and the experimental two-rotor Corvette known as XP-987 GT — recently acquired by the Museum thanks to the fundraising efforts of Lone Star Corvette Club and Texas Corvette Association. The cars will be joined this summer by CERV-1, CERV-II, Astro II, the Reynolds Aluminum Corvette and XP-819 a rear-engine Corvette known as the ‘ugly duckling’.

Visitors will also discover a new “Entombed Corvette” display in the Nostalgia Gallery of the museum, showcasing the iconic 1954 Corvette that had been cemented in history for 27 years.

“The previous owners, who wish to remain anonymous, donated the car in 2019 so that we could continue in the preservation of both the car and its amazing story,” said Moore.