The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund

A Living Legacy: The Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund

Inspiring curiosity. Supporting experiential learning. Investing in the future. Empowering leaders of tomorrow.

The Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund ensures that education remains a driving force behind everything we do at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Established through the generosity of the Linn-Henley Charitable Trust, in honor of the museum’s founder, George W. Barber, Jr., this fund provides long-term support for hands-on, curiosity-driven learning experiences that connect motorsports history with STEM, innovation, art, and design.

From the beginning, George Barber believed the museum should be a place of discovery. He envisioned a space where stories, machines, ideas, and people spark curiosity and inspire learning. His commitment to hands-on education, mentorship, and innovation remains deeply woven into the museum’s programs and culture.

Why This Fund Matters

Education has always been central to the museum’s mission, but sustaining and growing impactful programs requires thoughtful, long-term investment. The Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund will solidify the museum’s position as a leader in innovative STEM education and provides reliable, ongoing support that allows the museum to:

  • Expand program capacity and quality
  • Reduce cost barriers for schools
  • Maintain high-quality materials and equipment
  • Support innovation and future learning spaces
  • Identify pathways for STEM careers

Unlike one-time gifts, an endowment like this creates lasting impact by supporting education year after year, for generations to come.

What the Fund Supports

The Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund directly supports the growth and evolution of the museum’s education programs, including:

Grades 3-12 Field Trips

Immersive, interdisciplinary, standards-aligned learning experiences that bring STEM, history, art, and design to life.

Summer Camps

Engaging, project-based learning focused on engineering, mechanics, design, physics, and motorsports principles that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Scout Merit Badges

STEM-aligned programs that teach practical mechanical and design skills through engineering and automotive lenses.

Undergraduate Internships

Paid opportunities for future educators, curators, designers, and engineers to gain real-world experience, mentorship, and professional development to support career readiness.

How You Can Be Part of the Legacy

You can help grow and support the educational initiatives and ensure that learning continues to thrive at the museum.

Ways to Contribute:

Every contribution, large or small, helps spark curiosity, creativity, and opportunity for future generations.

Learn More

Interested in learning more about supporting our programs through the Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund?

Contact Dr. Liz Johnson: education@barbermuseum.org

https://www.barbermuseum.org/edu/