The Petersen Automotive Museum's latest exhibit, "Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution," has officially opened to the public and is a must-see for Tesla and EV fans alike.
The in-depth experience is not to be missed and looks at the company's history, tremendous growth, and even its earliest inspirations. Those thinking it's merely a display of vehicles like the Model S and Model Y couldn't be more wrong; attendees will be able to get up close to trailblazing machines like the 1908 Columbia Victoria Phaeton.
While the Columbia brand no longer exists, the company is credited for having designed a fleet of upmarket electric vehicles that were very popular with early 20th-century Americans. Other notable displays include the AC Propulsion tzero, considered the predecessor to the current Tesla range.
The second-generation Lotus Elise, the car on which the original Tesla Roadster was based, also forms part of the exhibition.
A particularly interesting display revolves around early prototypes of the Roadster. Cynical quotes from media outlets are projected around the vehicle. One reads, "electric cars are an extraordinarily bad idea," while another says, "sorry, but electric cars are a waste of space."
These quotes have aged rather badly, as the electric vehicle revolution, spurred on by Tesla, is stronger than ever. Many legacy automakers - such as Bentley and General Motors - are planning to ditch ICE technology and hope to emulate Elon Musk's success in the arena.
Of course, those in attendance will also get a close look at the Cybertruck and the next-generation Roadster. While the former is finally heading into production, the latter's arrival is still up in the air. Speaking of Roadsters in the air, fans of space travel will revel in the recreation of Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster that was sent into space.
In 2018, the eccentric billionaire decided to launch the vehicle into the cosmos as a dummy payload for the Falcon Heavy test flight. Starman, a dummy dressed in a space suit, occupies the driver's seat.
"Tesla has revolutionized the automotive, EV, technology, and manufacturing spaces within a relatively short time span, begetting the question, 'How did they do that?'" said the museum's Executive Director Terry L. Karges. "This exhibit strives to be a holistic walk-through of how the brand became a global phenomenon and further details what lies ahead."
Aside from the automotive delights, there's plenty to amaze non-gearheads, too. Several displays center around Musk's infrastructure business, The Boring Company, while the Tesla Optimus robot will also be on show.
If you're interested, admission is $19 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $12 for children between 4 and 17. Personal care attendants, children under four, and active military members with ID are eligible for free entry.