The Future Home of Miles Through Time: Building a Legacy for Generations

Founded in 2017 with just one car—a 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville passed down from founder Sean Mathis’s grandfather—Miles Through Time Automotive Museum has grown into one of Georgia’s most unique and beloved destinations for classic car enthusiasts. Over the years, it has become a hub for automotive history, memorabilia, and community engagement.

Now, the museum is preparing for its most ambitious project yet: the construction of a new, permanent campus that will allow it to expand, improve the visitor experience, and preserve automotive heritage for decades to come.

Visitor will be able to visit, learn, shop, eat, and stay. Members will even be able to store their prized rides and enjoy the atmosphere that comes with being on the Miles Through Time Campus.

A Nonprofit Automotive Museum With a Mission

After opening in an 8,000-square-foot former Ford dealership in Toccoa, Georgia, Miles Through Time moved to its current home inside the Old Clarkesville Mill in 2019. The relocation meant starting over from scratch, with Sean rebuilding the museum in an unused portion of a flea market.

When that space became unavailable, Sean launched Vintage Garage Antiques in 2021 to financially support the museum. This also allowed for the first major expansion of the museum. As of 2023, Miles Through Time and Vintage Garage Antiques now span more than 50,000 square feet, featuring over 100 full-size vehicles, 5,000+ model cars, pedal cars, vintage bicycles, motorcycles, and historic artifacts.

However, the space has reached its limits—and it’s time for the museum to take the next step.

The Future: A Purpose-Built Museum and Visitor Destination

To ensure long-term sustainability and continued growth, the museum will be moving to a new, custom-built location on 10+ acres along Hwy 365, just minutes from its current site in Clarkesville, Georgia.

This move eliminates reliance on landlords and provides the opportunity to build a fully optimized facility designed to enhance both museum operations and the visitor experience.

Planned Features of the New Miles Through Time Campus

The future Miles Through Time campus will include:

• 45,000-square-foot museum space with expanded displays, immersive dioramas, and rotating exhibits

• 25,000-square-foot Vintage Garage Antiques market to continue supporting the nonprofit museum

• 30,000-square-foot museum vehicle storage facility capable of housing over 100 cars, which will help allow vehicle rotation and protect valuable donated vehicles

• Dedicated event venue and automotive research library for educational programs, car club gatherings, and private rentals

• RV parking and electric vehicle charging stations to accommodate traveling visitors

• A nature trail and outdoor pavilion to host seasonal events, concerts, and cruise-ins

• Full-service automotive-themed restaurant, creating a true destination experience for families, tourists, and car clubs

• Private vehicle storage condos, giving car collectors and driving enthusiasts the ability to store their vehicles with convenient access to nearby scenic drives, including routes to the iconic Tail of the Dragon

• On-site lodging options, such as vintage-style motels or tiny homes, for out-of-town visitors seeking a unique overnight experience

This carefully planned expansion will turn the museum into a multi-purpose tourism and cultural destination in northeast Georgia.

Why This Move Is Critical

Miles Through Time is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) museum that runs entirely on donations, volunteers, and community support. Exhibits are contributed by collectors and enthusiasts who believe in preserving the stories and artifacts of America’s automotive past.

The current facility has provided invaluable insights into what visitors want—such as the success of the antique market as a retail support system. But continued growth depends on securing a permanent home designed for both function and guest engagement.

By building a new facility, the museum can improve visitor access, host more events, expand its collections, and serve as an economic and cultural asset to the region.

How to Support the Project

Miles Through Time is actively seeking donations, partnerships, and investor support to help bring this vision to life.

Visitors and supporters can:

• Make a tax-deductible donation to support the museum at www.milesthroughtime.com/donate

• Share the project with car clubs, history lovers, and philanthropists who care about preserving American culture

• Follow the museum’s journey on social media and sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about the build and fundraising milestones

This next chapter is about more than growth—it’s about building a legacy that future generations can enjoy.

Miles Through Time Automotive Museum started with one car and a dream. Today, it’s a thriving destination visited by thousands of people each year. With your help, it will become a world-class museum campus where history lives, enthusiasts connect, and memories are made.

Donate today at milesthroughtime.com/donate
Know an investor or want to partner? Contact us here

Every dollar and every connection helps us build a destination that future generations of car lovers can enjoy.

Let’s build the future—together.