The so-called “newspaper of record” has published a prominent story about the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois.
The New York Times posted the story by reporter Valerie Schremp Hahn and St. Louis photographer Bryan Birks in its Fine Arts and Design section on Wednesday. It contains a lot of information about the museum’s genesis and the history of Muffler Men.
The Times generally requires a subscription, but a free version is available here.
Bill Thomas of the Atlanta Betterment Fund, who was largely responsible for bringing the museum to the Route 66 town, stated in a news release:
Valerie Hahn visited Atlanta (IL) in July of this year to tour the museum and learn more about the American Giants Museum, which opened its doors to the public for the first time in July of 2023. After talking with museum curator Bill Thomas and giant collector Joel Baker, the decision was made that it was worthy of space in the bi-annual Museums: Special Section of the New York Times.
Thomas also stated the feature “may be the most prestigious attention received among a wide variety of publications” that have published stories about the museum. That includes “CBS Sunday Morning” and a CBS-TV affiliate in Chicago.
As of May, the New York Times totaled 10.8 million subscribers.
Thomas says the museum also soon will be featured on Andrew McCrea’s “American Countryside” program from Farm Journal, whose three-minute features are shared on radio stations nationally and on SiriusXM’s Rural Radio.
The American Giants Museum will also be included in the next publication of Fodor’s Travel Guide.
The museum will be open by appointment only in November, December, January and February. Those who wish to make arrangements should call (217) 650-7117.
Museum co-founder Joel Baker also will appear at the museum from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2 and from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 3 after he gives his keynote speech at the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois.
(Screenshot of the New York Times article about the American Giants Museum courtesy of Bill Thomas)