One Of Washington’s Wildest Car Collections Hidden Inside A Former Military Academy
Car museums usually make me expect polished floors, neat rows, and a very serious voice telling me not to touch anything. LeMay Collections at Marymount feels much more unpredictable than that.
This Washington attraction spreads an enormous automotive collection through the historic grounds of a former military academy, with vintage cars, unusual vehicles, memorabilia, old gas pumps, dolls, signs, and enough unexpected objects to keep your eyes moving constantly.
The collection is so large that seeing everything in one quick visit is basically wishful thinking.
What pulled me in most was the setting. Cars fill buildings that once belonged to a completely different chapter of Washington history, giving the whole place a wonderfully strange personality.
If you like automobiles, roadside oddities, or places that refuse to fit neatly into one category, this one is dangerously easy to lose an afternoon inside.
A Military Academy Turned Car Paradise
Long before a single car rolled onto the grounds, this 88-acre campus at 325 152nd St E in Spanaway, Washington had a very different purpose. The Sisters of St. Dominic established it in 1919, and by 1923 it opened as a military academy for boys.
Young men studied here under active-duty officers who came from nearby Camp Lewis, which today is Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Catholic lessons mixed with military training filled these classrooms and dormitories for decades.
Over the years the property changed jobs. In the 1970s it became an English-as-a-second-language school, then a quiet retirement home for nuns.
Harold LeMay bought the campus in the late 1980s, and instead of tearing it down, he kept its history alive. Walking these halls today, I could still feel echoes of marching cadets and morning bells.
The blend of old academy bones and shiny automobiles gives the whole place a personality you simply cannot find anywhere else in the state.
The World’s Largest Private Car Hoard
Harold LeMay did not collect cars in a small way. He earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for owning the largest privately-held automobile collection on the planet.
At its peak, his stash reached roughly 3,000 vehicles. That is a jaw-dropping number when you stop to picture it parked all in one spot.
The Marymount location shows off about 500 vintage vehicles at any given time. I saw cars, trucks, buses, fire engines, and motorcycles crowded into every available space.
Most of these machines are American-made, and they stretch across an incredible timeline. Some date back to the late 1800s, while others were built as recently as the 2000s.
What struck me most was the sheer variety sitting side by side. You bounce from a rugged old work truck to a sleek chrome cruiser in just a few steps.
For anyone who loves automotive history, this is honestly a treasure trove that keeps surprising you around every corner.
A Collection Of Collections
Cars are only half the fun here. Locals call this spot a collection of collections, and after seeing it myself, I completely understand why.
Harold LeMay grabbed just about everything that caught his eye. I counted 70 motorcycles and learned there are around 400 boat motors tucked throughout the buildings.
The oddities kept coming. Brass hose nozzles, vintage signs, dolls, toys, antiques, farm equipment, and old radios fill shelves and corners in every direction.
My favorite discovery was the story of salt and pepper shakers found stashed inside a vehicle’s trunk. Little surprises like that make the visit feel like a real hunt.
Wandering room to room, I never knew what I would stumble upon next. One moment it was gleaming metal, the next a dusty toy from another era.
This mishmash of Americana turns an ordinary museum trip into a scavenger hunt through one man’s endless curiosity, and honestly, that unpredictable charm is what keeps folks talking about it.
Wacky One-Of-A-Kind Rides
Some vehicles here are so bizarre they made me stop and laugh out loud. LeMay clearly had a soft spot for the strange and the show-stopping.
Take the Gothik Coach roadster, a wild tribute to rock star Alice Cooper. Nearby sat an art car shaped exactly like a bright red stiletto high heel.
The Bunny Coach, a customized 1955 Chevy Nomad, added even more flash to the lineup. Each of these creations begs for a photo.
My personal jaw-dropper was a 1914 Chevrolet Baby Grand tucked cleverly inside an enormous garbage hauler. That one is a playful nod to LeMay’s waste management business.
A classic British double-decker bus and a vintage police transport van rounded out the parade of oddballs.
These are not the polished trophies you expect at a fancy car show. They are personality on wheels, full of humor and heart, and they perfectly capture the free-spirited fun that defines this whole unforgettable place.
Stepping Inside The 1920s Chapel
Not every highlight here has an engine. The special Marymount Historic Tour lets you explore the original academy buildings, and the chapel stole my breath.
Built in the 1920s, the Marymount Chapel glows with inch-thick stained-glass panels. When sunlight pours through them, the whole room lights up in rich, colorful patterns.
Above, a hand-painted ceiling fresco stretches across the space. Craftspeople from nearly a century ago poured real skill into every detail.
The historic tour also winds through old dormitories, classrooms, and the convent where nuns once lived. Standing there, I could picture students and sisters going about their daily routines.
This tour costs 25 dollars for adults, and I found it well worth the price. It adds a layer of story you would completely miss by only looking at cars.
Blending old-world beauty with automotive chaos, the chapel reminds you that this campus carried meaning long before it filled up with vintage machines and quirky treasures.
Learning To Drive A Model T
Here is something you rarely get to do at a museum: actually drive a piece of history. The Model T Experience program hands you the controls of a genuine early Ford.
These classes run about once a month, so you cannot just show up and hop in. Booking ahead is a must if you want a spot.
Driving a Model T is nothing like steering a modern car. The pedals, levers, and starting process take patience and a good sense of humor.
I loved watching first-timers grin as they slowly figured out the rhythm of these hundred-year-old machines. Instructors walk you through each step with plenty of encouragement.
It turns a quiet afternoon of looking into an afternoon of doing. You leave with a real appreciation for how tricky old cars once were.
If you want a memory that sticks long after the visit ends, sign up early and give this hands-on adventure a genuine try. Trust me, it is a blast.
The Annual LeMay Car Show
If you time your trip right, you can catch the biggest party this campus throws all year. The Annual LeMay Car Show lands on the last Saturday in August.
The lawns fill up with more than 1,000 vintage vehicles. Owners polish their pride and joy and roll them out for everyone to admire.
Walking the rows, I heard engines rumble and saw enthusiasts swap stories about their favorite makes and models. The energy is friendly and buzzing.
It is the kind of event where strangers become fast friends over a shared love of chrome and horsepower. Kids and grownups alike wander wide-eyed.
Between the permanent collection indoors and the sea of cars outdoors, that day gives you an almost overwhelming feast for the eyes.
Mark your calendar early, because a crowd this size means parking and tickets go quickly. Showing up for the August show is easily one of the best ways to experience everything this remarkable place has to offer.
Planning Your Visit
A little planning goes a long way here. The museum runs year-round, with doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Keep in mind that the last entry is 4:00 pm, so give yourself plenty of daylight to explore. Tickets must be reserved in advance, which saves headaches at the door.
You can wander at your own pace or join a guided tour. Those tours run anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours and are packed with stories behind each vehicle.
I recommend the guided route if you love details. The volunteers know the history cold and share little facts you would never guess on your own.
The campus also doubles as an event center for weddings, corporate gatherings, and private parties. Just remember this spot is separate from the LeMay America’s Car Museum in downtown Tacoma.
Book ahead, wear comfy shoes, and set aside a big chunk of your day.
A Barn-Find Feeling Like No Other
Forget spotless floors and velvet ropes. What makes this place stick in my memory is how gloriously crowded and unpolished it feels.
Folks describe it as a gigantic barn-find treasure trove, and that nails it. Vehicles are famously crammed together in every building, packed so tight you have to squeeze past.
I found cars parked in the most unexpected corners, including former gym showers. Seeing a classic auto tucked into an old tiled shower stall made me chuckle.
Rather than a curated gallery with a handful of stars, this is pure abundance. The overflow shows just how deep Harold LeMay’s passion for collecting really ran.
For car lovers, that wall-to-wall clutter is heaven, not a flaw. Every glance reveals something new hiding behind or beside another treasure.
By the time I left, my head was spinning with everything I had seen. If you want a museum that surprises you at every turn, this quirky wonderland delivers in a big, joyful way.