Northwest Vintage Car & Motorcycle Museum (NWVCMM)

The museum supports life-long learning and community involvement. For the last 20+ years the Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum has made its home at Powerland Heritage Park, in Brooks, Oregon.

Our displays include vehicles from 1909 to 1980. See the oldest (100 year old) unrestored school bus in the nation, or a “Coffin Nose” 1936 Cord, a car so advanced it caused a national sensation, and enjoy many more including a very rare 1927 Indian Ace 4 cylinder motor cycle.

Visit our 1938 vintage Texaco Station and period Restoration shop where our high school students restore classic cars. Over 350 students have benefited from our “Speedster Program” learning character, teamwork and automotive skills.

The Smith-Unit Pipe Organ at the Northwest Car and Motorcycle Museum

The organ was built in Geneva Illinois in the 1924, and later shipped from Chicago to Tillamook Oregon’s Coliseum Theater in 1926 to be used for the background music for silent films. Sometime in the 1930s, the theater had a fire. The organ was removed during the building repairs and put into storage for about 20 years.

It was purchased in 1973 by Ron Johnson, resident of Portland Oregon, where he had it up and operating in his home by 1976. Unable to properly maintain the organ, Ron sold it to Tony and Judy Kraxberger in 1997. They were hoping to install the organ in their own home. Tony had it crated and stored for 21 years in a dry, warm environment, with all of the pieces and parts kept together.

As time and years passed, Tony and his family realized they would not be able to restore the organ, so they donated it to the Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle museum in 2018 to be restored and housed for the public to enjoy.

During January 2019, the restoration group began working on the massive project with the initial donation of time, money, and materials by those who started the work, progressing at a steady devoted pace. A very limited portion of the organ played again for the first time in April 2019 and later during The Great Oregon Steam-Up in 2019.

Since then, more work has been accomplished with the pipe chests, pipes, and non-tuned percussion all being placed on racks overhead to be seen and enjoyed. The mechanical parts and the blower, which powers the instrument, are on ground level. The love, time, and patience has been done by a small group with the generous support of volunteers, donors, and the membership of the museum.

The organ in its new home will be enjoyed for many years. Visit the organ within the Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum.

Come visit, and participate by becoming a member and enjoy this wonderful community resource. Follow the main road to the end at the Texaco sign!