Driven By Passion
Mission
The Pacific Northwest Transportation Culture Foundation is working to establish a transportation museum and car culture center in Whatcom County that celebrates the vehicles, people, design, and stories that move the Pacific Northwest.
Through exhibits, car shows, guest speakers, guided cruises, and educational programming, the Foundation will create a year-round cultural destination that supports tourism, strengthens community connection, and provides a welcoming home for the region’s diverse automotive community.
We are building a community-rooted destination that honors the full spectrum of transportation that has shaped life in the Pacific Northwest.
From hand-carved canoes and mid-century family haulers, to rotating displays featuring the most iconic vehicles of yesterday and tomorrow, to the region’s role in aeronautics, fishing, and global shipping, this museum will invite visitors to explore how people have moved through, to, and from this land for generations.
Vision
We envision a place where motion becomes memory, where the machines that carried us across roads, water, rails, and sky become a way to understand who we are, where we have been, and what still lies ahead.
The future museum will be more than a collection of vehicles. It will be a living gathering place for wonder, craftsmanship, storytelling, and connection; a place where generations meet through shared memories, bold design, local history, and the enduring romance of the automobile. Rooted in the Pacific Northwest but open to the world, it will celebrate the vehicles and people that shaped our region while inspiring new curiosity about movement, innovation, and the road ahead.
Through exhibits, events, public programs, and unforgettable experiences, we aim to create a destination that feels alive: a place people return to, bring their families to, talk about, support, and feel proud to be a part of.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PNW Transportation Culture Foundation?
We are a Bellingham, WA based nonprofit corporation (501c3 Status Pending) that is raising money to build a transportation museum and car culture center in Bellingham or a nearby Whatcom County community. We were founded in 2026
Who is behind this?
The Foundation was organized and founded by Brian Corey, a Western Washington University grad and business owner in Bellingham. The founding board, which can be seen below, consists of local business owners, philanthropists, engineers and auto enthusiasts.
When will the museum open?
We are developing our plans and will have more information in the coming months. This is a multiyear project.
What will the museum be called?
The museum has not yet been named. The Foundation is intentionally leaving room for future branding, community input, and paid naming-rights opportunities.
What will be displayed?
We hope to display all types of transportation that has had an impact on the PNW. This ranges from canoes and horse drawn wagons to airplanes, boats, and trains.
Our primary focus will be on car culture, restoration and use of vehicles. We will be celebrating historic and meaningful cars, trucks, vans and SUVs from around the globe.
Where will the museum be located?
A permanent site has not yet been selected. The Foundation is exploring locations in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County, with an emphasis on accessibility, visibility, parking, vehicle access, and long-term growth potential.
Why does Whatcom County need this?
Whatcom County has a strong tourism economy, a rich transportation history, an active community of collectors and craftspeople, and a strategic location between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. A museum could create jobs, support local businesses, expand year-round tourism, and provide new educational and cultural opportunities while providing a dedicated gathering space for its growing community of car enthusiasts that are multigenerational and from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Who is supporting this?
As a nonprofit, we are reliant on support from public, corporate, and federal funding opportunities. Each donation will help us achieve our goal.
How can I help?
How will donations be used at this stage?
Early donations will help turn the vision into visible progress. Contributions will support community outreach, public events, partnerships, site exploration, planning, professional materials, and the systems needed to launch a credible, lasting institution. Every gift helps us introduce the project to more people, build momentum, strengthen community support, and move closer to creating a transportation museum for Whatcom County.
Are donations tax deductible?
The Foundation’s 501(c)(3) application is pending. Donors should consult their own tax professionals regarding deductibility, documentation, and how pending status may affect their contribution.
Board of Directors
Brian Corey
President, Treasurer
Cars & Copy Media Co.
Adam Gormley
Director
Farmstander
Shelby Harksell
Vice President
Muscle Car Beach
Dylan Cain
Director
The Import Guys
Dane Hansen
Secretary
Meta
A note from the President:
My aunt and uncle had a 1940 LaSalle when I was a kid. I called the Cadillac companion the "Big honkin' car." Every time I visited their house I would slink away into the garage to visit the behemoth as if it was a dear old friend. But it was something more. My heart would start to race as my fingers traced its bulbous fenders, heavy door handles, and shiny chrome grille. It's presence was mammoth. Not just in size or stature, but in what it represented, what it made me feel. At age six or so, I didn't quite yet understand what those feelings were, but as I grew into my automotive interests, they became familiar: nostalgia; passion; and community. For many, cars are more than transportation, they are connection, to each other, to the past and to the future.
Just about everyone has a car story like that, whether they are interested in vehicles or not. How many of us have memories about the cars our parents or grandparents drove (I am the proud caretaker of my grandfather's Karmann Ghia)? Or about the vehicle we got our license in or drove to prom in or left our wedding in? Or just those times we cruised around with friends with the windows down and the radio blasting?
The Foundation, beyond being an educational space, is dedicated to telling those stories and sharing the history of transportation in the PNW and beyond. It's about helping people feel rooted and connect through similar interests. It's about continuous learning and consistent community. It's a place for those who dream of owning a particular vehicle, and those who have a dozen dream cars tucked in a tidy garage. It's a place to create, wrench, touch and experience. It's a place to learn and to teach, because we all have something to contribute. The Pacific Northwest Transportation Culture Foundation is building a home for car culture to thrive and it will be located at the intersection of the mountains and the sea.
I am thrilled to be starting this journey with our founding board. We invite you to jump on this bus and encourage you to share your thoughts about what it can be. We know this will be a long journey, but we are committed to seeing it through. Thank you for your interest and we'll see you on the road!
(Above: My aunt and uncle's LaSalle was white, but a similar model is shown in green. Photo by David Berry)
