Driven By Passion
Mission
Founded in 2026, the PNW Transportation Culture Foundation is dedicated to building a transportation museum and experience center that fuels our community across generations and drives tourism, while catering to the diverse car community of the region.
To achieve this mission, our primary goal is to raise the funds necessary to build a space to preserve and celebrate the history, design, and cultural impact of transportation that doubles as a vibrant community hub for creativity, storytelling, and education.
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 gathering space rooted in history, education, and movement; one that invites people of all ages and backgrounds from near and far to experience the means of transportation that have shaped the PNW region and bred the global love affair with the automobile. It will be a place to learn, a place to grow, and a place to gather.
By showcasing locally and internationally significant vehicles alongside public programs, exhibits, and events, we aim to inspire curiosity, connect generations, and spark new ideas through the lens of motion and memory.
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 possible naming-rights opportunities.
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.
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)
