The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles is thrilled to host Guest Curator Tom Silknitter for a special exhibit this summer—Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads: A Back to the Future Tribute. The main feature of this exhibit is Mr. Silknitter’s tribute car—an exact replica of the DeLorean time machine used in the Back to the Future film trilogy, which he recreated using production notes and drawings. Mr. Silknitter’s remarkable attention to detail and in-depth research in recreating this iconic vehicle is on full display. Also part of this exhibit is Mr. Silknitter’s impressive collection of Back to the Future memorabilia—from toys to DeLorean models to skateboards. Rare concept art from the blockbuster film trilogy will be featured, as well as production notes and drawings Mr. Silknitter used to build his tribute car. The exhibit also features a ‘selfie station’ modeled after the 1955 Enchantment Under the Sea prom from the first Back to the Future film. Mr. Silknitter is the author of Build It With Some Style: Unauthorized Tales of the Time Machines from Back to the Future, which will be for sale in the Museum gift shop for the duration of the exhibit.
Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads will be celebrated with an opening reception with the Guest Curator on Thursday, June 22 from 5 pm to 7 pm. Pre-registration for this event is strongly recommended. Tickets for this event are $10 for Museum Members, $15 for Non-Members. The exhibit will remain on display through August.
Several other events are scheduled to coincide with this unique exhibit. On Saturday, July 22 at 1 pm the Museum will host a special screening of the 2021 documentary film 88 MPH: The Story of the DeLorean Time Machine, followed by a Q&A with director Tom Quigley and others involved in the making of the film. A second DeLorean time machine will be at the Museum that day, offering patrons the chance to sit in the car in exchange for a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This event is free with Museum Admission.
On Friday, July 28 the Museum will host a Trivia Night beginning at 6 pm. Participants will receive a special after-hours look at the Museum, enjoy light refreshments, and test their Back to the Future trilogy knowledge. Did you know the film earned $11,332,134 during its opening weekend in July of 1985? Pre-Registration is required for this event. Tickets for this event are $15 per person.
The Museum will host a book signing and paperback sale on Saturday, August 12 at 2 pm, Tom Silknitter will lead a discussion about the creation of his tribute car, his collection of memorabilia, and be available to sign his book. Copies of Build It With Some Style will be available to purchase at the book signing. This event is free with Museum Admission.
Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads: A Back to the Future Tribute is sponsored locally by Classic Auto Mall.
The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1965 by Paul and Erminie Hafer. The Museum, located at 85 South Walnut Street in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, preserves and displays examples of Pennsylvania’s road transportation history in the former factory buildings of the Boyertown Auto Body Works. Over ninety locally manufactured cars, trucks, carriages, bicycles, and motorcycles are on display, as well as two examples of roadside architecture–a 1921 cottage style Sunoco gas station and a 1938 Jerry O’Mahony diner. The Museum is open seven days a week, 9:30am-4pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and AAA members, and ages 15 & under are free. For more information, call 610-367-2090 or visit www.boyertownmuseum.org.
