Worlds Await at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California

The Blackhawk Museum is a subsidiary of the Behring Global Educational Foundation founded by Kenneth E. Behring. Courtesy of Karen Gough

A world of wonders awaits at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California. Five galleries, each more compelling than the last, entice visitors to stay and marvel.

The exhibits are so rich in detail that a person could spend his or her whole visit exploring just one gallery. Take, for instance, the Classic Car Collection.

The Classic Car Collection

The Blackhawk Museum opened in September 1988 with the Classic Car Collection. Co-founders Ken Behring and Don Williams designed it to showcase the automobile as an art form.

As I walked through the gallery, there was no doubt in my mind that they succeeded.

The Classic Car Collection includes a rotating selection of rare and classic automobiles. Courtesy of Karen Gough

Over 50 cars from six different countries, featuring a range of over 130 years from oldest to newest, are displayed in a specially built room. The tiled floor and the room’s lighting system highlight the polished chrome and colors of each car.

An advanced HVAC filtration system removes all traces of dust. You’ve never seen cars this shiny and beautiful.

A 1929 Cunningham Series V-7 All Weather Cabriolet. Courtesy of Karen Gough

The Classic Car exhibit includes some manufacturers that are still in business; but others, like the Delahaye automobiles and the Cords, Packards, and Duesenbergs, went out of business decades ago.

A 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton that was once owned by vaudeville and movie entertainer Al Jolson. Courtesy of Karen Gough

A sign gives more details about Al Jolson’s Supercharged Phaeton. Courtesy of Karen Gough

The American-made Duesenberg automobile was popular among celebrities in the 1930s. It had a limited production, was one of the most expensive cars of its time, and could be custom-built to the buyer’s specifications.

While most Model A Fords cost less than $500, the Duesenberg cost around $7500 just for the chassis (load-bearing part of the frame), car frame, and engine. Add in the custom body work, and the final price could be as high as $20,000 (around $450,000 today).

A 1930 Duesenberg SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria that was once owned by big-band leader Paul Whiteman. Courtesy of Karen Gough

According to long-time museum volunteer Brad Hock, who supplied much of the above information, the Duesenberg’s main claim to fame was its engine. In the 1930s, the typical car engine had a horsepower of 120–140 hp. The Duesenberg had a horsepower of 250 hp.

In fact, the company’s marketing slogan was “The only thing that passes a Duesenberg on the highway is another Duesenberg.”

Art of Africa

As difficult as it might be to tear yourself away from the Classic Car Collection, other galleries await, such as the Art of Africa Exhibit.

Unlike other museums that might display ancient African artifacts, the Blackhawk museum chose to showcase not only original artifacts, but also contemporary works of art. Much of the art was made by African artists who were trained in methods passed down from father to son.

The result is a gallery brimming with amazing traditional art.

Contemporary artists made these traditional masks hailing from sub-Saharan Africa. Courtesy of Karen Gough

Three main displays include Makonde wooden sculptures that were carved by artisans originally from Mozambique, but now living in Tanzania; ceremonial masks that express religious and spiritual beliefs; and musical instruments that are used to celebrate various rites of daily life. Percussive music plays in the background, fully immersing the visitor in the sounds of sub-Saharan African culture.

A Mangbetu harp from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 19th century. Courtesy of Karen Gough

Into China

The Into China exhibit showcases beautiful works of art and authentic reproductions that are rarely found outside China.

Museum co-founder Ken Behring’s international philanthropic activities, such as his Wheelchair Foundation, helped him make valuable contacts overseas. As a result, Behring was able to import extraordinary artifacts for the Blackhawk Museum.

The head of a wooden 24-foot-long imperial dragon holds a “pearl of potentiality.” Courtesy of Karen Gough

A close-up of a dragon vase carved from shells. Courtesy of Karen Gough

The Terracotta Warriors

Perhaps the most surprising display is the wonderful collection of authentic replicas of original terracotta warriors from Lishan, near the city of Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi Province.

Authentic replicas cast from the original terracotta warriors in Xi’an, China. Courtesy of Karen Gough

In 1974, farmers discovered some of the terracotta warriors while they were digging a well. Subsequent excavations by archaeologists revealed that the warriors—8,000 in all—were located in a huge underground tomb dating from 221 B.C. and belonging to Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China.

Every terracotta warrior appears unique due to the different details carved in each face. Though the original warriors were brightly painted, their colors have faded over time, as can be seen in the replicas at the Blackhawk Museum.

A Scale Model of the Forbidden City

Within the Into China exhibit is a wooden 19-by-23-foot scale model of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Construction on the original Forbidden City was begun in 1406 on the orders of Yongel, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Entrance to the Forbidden City was barred to most of the emperor’s subjects.

Today, the Forbidden City is a world heritage site that can be visited by tourists, or you can visit the Blackhawk Museum to see its detailed scale model.

An accurate scale model of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Courtesy of Karen Gough

Spirit of the Old West

The Spirit of the Old West exhibit tells the story of both Native Americans and western settlers of the American West. The exhibit includes authentic Native American artifacts as well as tools and objects once owned by frontier settlers.

Detailed dioramas and thousands of miniatures by collector Jerry Fick of Cody, Wyoming, are also on display throughout the gallery.

The Spirit of the Old West is a popular destination for children on field trips. Many of the second- and third-grade students are learning about the old West from textbooks. However, as volunteer Brad Hock said, “When you see a teepee ... it’s a lot better than reading about it in a textbook.”

A bison highlights the entry into the Spirit of the Old West gallery. Courtesy of Karen Gough

World of Nature

Visitors enter the World of Nature through a small upstairs gallery representing the undersea world, before heading downstairs to view large dioramas of African and Australian wildlife.

In the upper part of the exhibit, they feel like they are in a fantastic undersea world. Shifting lights on a blue background mimic sunlight streaming through the water. Mounted sea creatures engage the eye while a computer screen beckons people to learn more about individual species.

A great white shark dives through a “wave” in the undersea portion of the World of Nature gallery. Courtesy of Karen Gough

Below, visitors can hear ambient recordings of the sounds of nature from Africa and Australia. More than 600 species are displayed in realistic settings. It is truly a marvelous exhibit.

Below the sea lies the African portion of the World of Nature exhibit. Courtesy of Karen Gough

For More Information

The Blackhawk Museum is open to the public Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the week, they offer school field trips and private tours.

For more information, please visit their website at https://blackhawkmuseum.org/ or call [phone].

A hammerhead shark glides through the World of Nature undersea exhibit. Courtesy of Karen Gough