For more than 40 years, the home of the late collector Tom Hubbard has been the center of Franklin Automobile history. Featuring more than 25 antique and classic Franklin automobiles, as well as a collection of prehistoric artifacts collected by archaeologist Alice Carpenter, the museum is located in a quiet subdivision in the center of Tucson. Open from mid-October to mid-May, Wednesday through Saturday; 10A to 4P. Group of 9 or more are cordially requested to call ahead. The Franklin Auto Museum’s phone number is 520-326-8038. Regular admission is $12 and senior (62+) admission is $10 per person.

A luxury automobile comparable to a Cadillac in its heyday, the Franklin motor car has largely faded into obscurity. But enthusiasts have managed to keep the carmaker’s legacy alive at places like Tucson’s Franklin Auto Museum.

But like so many other businesses of the era, the Franklin Automobile Company was claimed by the Great Depression. Of the 150,000 Franklins manufactured between 1902 and 1934, approximately 3,700 remain. The H. H. Franklin Club was founded in 1951 to preserve the legacy of these unique cars. It has about 900 members and hosts an annual meeting in upstate New York. And thanks to one Tucson businessman, a sizable collection can be found in Arizona.

Thomas Hubbard was born in New York in 1925, but was raised by his aunt in Tucson. Every year Hubbard’s parents would make a cross-country trip to visit him in their Franklin, inspiring his love for the automaker. He stayed in Arizona and bought a Franklin of his own in 1953. Over the years, Hubbard amassed a collection of the cars and started running a restoration shop. By 1992, he had enough cars to fill three buildings, totaling 7,000 square feet. Hubbard wanted to ensure that his collection was preserved, so he created a nonprofit that would be able to carry on his work after his death.

The Thomas H. Hubbard/H.H. Franklin Foundation now maintains the museum, which holds 26 vehicles. Some of the highlights include a 1905 cross-engine (the only Franklin-made truck still known to exist), a 1910 Model G with just 6,000 miles on the odometer, and a 1927 sedan that’s been maintained but unrestored—a tribute to the many well-loved Franklin cars that have not survived quite so long.

The Franklin Automobile Company produced vehicles from the early 1900s until 1934. The manufacturer was responsible for many innovations in the automobile industry during that period, including air-cooled engines. The Franklin Auto Museum has expanded over time to include representative examples of all Franklin automobiles, numbering 30 vehicles to date, collected by the museum founder, Thomas Hubbard. In addition to the cars, visitors will find a library of Franklin Company research materials.

Located 5 miles north of Tucson down a dirt driveway in a residential area, the Franklin Auto Museum is open from mid-October to roughly Memorial Day, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Visits outside these times are available by appointment. Their webpage, with more info is: franklinmuseum.org

The museum receives positive reviews from its visitors, particularly if you consider yourself a dedicated car lover. Recent visitors suggested planning to spend around 90 minutes at the museum and warn that its hidden gem status comes at the cost of being located on a dirt road. Several recent reviewers also praised the knowledgeable docents.

The Franklin Auto Museum is located at 1405 E Kleindale Rd, Tucson, AZ 85719. Neighborhoods close to the Franklin Auto Museum include Campus Farm, Richland Heights East, Prince Village and Mountain View.

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