The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky is acknowledging the ten-year anniversary of a cave-in that damaged the museum swallowed up eight Chevy Corvette sports cars. Known as the National Corvette Museum sinkhole, the event occurred on February 12th, 2014, around 5:38 a.m. local time and gained worldwide attention. Now, the museum will launch a new exhibit that documents the cave-in.
“The National Corvette Museum captured the attention of the world a decade ago, and we’ve spent the last decade turning misfortunes into hard-fought and well-earned triumphs,” said museum Board Chair, Kaye Wagner. “With over 15 major exhibitions, tens of millions of dollars in renovations and improvements, the creation of a STEAM-focused education gallery, the addition of a world-class Motorsports Park to our campus, and countless other advances in the last ten years, the National Corvette Museum is proud of our journey.”
The cave-in occurred in the museum Skydome structure and created a 40-foot-by-30-foot hole in the floor. Video and still images of the event went viral, bringing international attention to the museum. Repairs cost a whopping $3.2 million, although the event didn’t lower attendance – in fact, attendance increased.
Now, the museum is poised to open a new exhibit that documents the event. Called “Ground to Sky”, the exhibit will include “the moments, memories, and machines that made history that fateful day, while focusing on the accomplishments of countless Museum staff and supporters who built back and reimagined a National Corvette Museum that continues to evolve,” the museum states.
The new “Ground to Sky” exhibit will open Friday, June 14th, 2024, and will run through September 15th, 2024. The exhibit will feature two fully restored vehicles recovered from the sinkhole, including a 2009 “Blue Devil” ZR1 and the 1 Millionth Corvette produced (1992 model year, white exterior).
The National Corvette Museum is located just down the street from the GM Bowling Green Plant in Kentucky, the exclusive producer of the Chevy Corvette since 1981.
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Scheduled for a Spring 2025 launch.
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As a GM fan and Corvette C4 convertible owner, it's time for me to visit the Corvette Museum again this year.
Happy carnival worldwide...
If I visit the NCM I have to shake hands with Shayne - The only source of accurate info when your C8 is about to be built. Corvette Concierge is a joke and those clowns should be fired. GM should care that Corvette Concierge is a pitiful joke with zero customer service.
I found that not only Shayne (and ALL of the staff ) at the NCM, as well as the GM Corvette Concierge staff, to be exceptionally helpful in 2021 while awaiting the 14 month order-to-NCM-delivery of my 2021 C8 convertible.
It was always such a shock to call GM and have a LIVE PERSON answer the phone by the second ring, AND immediately look up the answer you sought.
Unlike my local dealer and salesperson in Palm Springs, CA, who only gained knowledge of when my unit began and finished production, via ME informing THEM… after consulting with the Concierge staff. That was shocking.
As a former owner of 3 1972 Corvettes and present owner on 3 first gen Camaros, including an all original Z/28, I think this would be a good year for a trip to the museum
National Corvette Museum or NCM is having a 30th anniversary event August 29 to Aug 31.
I signed up already, and will drive 2,000 miles in my C8 to be there for my very first time seeing the museum.
Should be quite an event. Join Us!
book your hotel now.
We toured the NCM twice. The first time was 2004 and the second time was February 25, 2014. We saw the great 8 Corvettes on display complete with mud and damage from sliding into the sink hole. It was an incredible exhibit. The employees at the NCM were very informative and friendly and fun! We will be attending again…!!!
Planning a trip this summer. We have visited many times and toured the plant. My nephew and I were at the museum when it first opened.
Having sold my Corvette, I am actively looking for a new one, but for now I'll just have to drive my 2020 Cadillac CT6.
The Museum Delivery and the Corvette Performance Driving School are truly outstanding options that every new Corvette buyer should consider taking advantage of, especially if you have children and grandchildren who will also learn so much about these cars at the Plant (when it reopens) as well as the Museum. Everyone we met at both facilities could not have been more courteous and helpful and my assigned "Instructor" for our '23 Coupe was exceptionably knowledgeable and spent all the time I could absorb checking me out on my first new Corvette since 1978. However, the prep on the car was less than desirable. I have sent letters to the now former CEO and the Operations Director trying to find out where the off-color spots on the back of the car in front of the Z51 spoiler came from, where the excessive grit (small gravel) and grime on the chassis of my 7 mile car came from, and what happened to the plastic seat coverings that my representative graciously put in the rear storage area at my request just before closing time the night before my official delivery the next morning. It was removed sometime later. In spite of my very positive ratings for everyone that we met, I still have not received any answers and only one letter that was from the Director who said she would forward my letter to Shayne and he would be contacting me. That was last summer and I haven't heard anything yet. I understand Shayne's office faces the Lobby but he never came out when the small crowd gathered around the back of my car while the Detailer powerfully applied rubbing compound and finally removing the spots. I don't know who is responsible but the hypersonic gray paint also had water marks all over the car but our rep took care of these. As a kid working for a Pontiac dealer after school many years ago and assisting with many PDIs, I would have been fired for the way this car looked when it was driven into the lobby.
I remember going to the Museum a few years ago after the sink hole incident and saw the cars after being removed from the sink hole so it would be nice to see them again after being fully restored. Btw they also sold a little piece of history at that time when you could buy a bottle with some of the dirt from the sink hole in the gift shop!