history of the expo, mobile museums, art cars, & circus wagons
that have transported and hosted the
WLCoWSVoWLTs
for over 20 years!
From 2002 through 2009, the WLCoWSVoWLTs were housed in the very first Mobile Museum.
The inaugural California tour of sites led to excursions from west coast to east coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, with stops for donations to mechanics, camping, boondocking, and showcasing.
It was retired after one final excurtion to live for a bit in the Belger Art Center as a part of the “Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations” show.
Average MPG: 9
The inaugural California tour of sites led to excursions from west coast to east coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, with stops for donations to mechanics, camping, boondocking, and showcasing.
It was retired after one final excurtion to live for a bit in the Belger Art Center as a part of the “Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations” show.
Average MPG: 9
From 2004 through 2015, the WLCoWSVoWLTs traveled via trunk show and sideshow, pulled in a trailer by the Art Car “SCOUT”
Outfitted with a mural of Erika’s favorite WLTs from each state on the driver’s side, the hood and roof featured dinosaurs sinking into tar beds. Three Wonderhorses galloped along in the back bed area over a diorama of rural and urban roadways. SCOUT earned its moniker, covering over 360,000 miles before its untimely decommissioining in the Great Hail Storm of Aught Five.
SCOUT was to appear on Conan with Erika for a Christmas 2010 show, but was upstaged by the set decor.
The horses were outfitted with lights in their rears, wired into the indicator systems so their butts would blink along with the turn signals.
Average MPG: 28
Outfitted with a mural of Erika’s favorite WLTs from each state on the driver’s side, the hood and roof featured dinosaurs sinking into tar beds. Three Wonderhorses galloped along in the back bed area over a diorama of rural and urban roadways. SCOUT earned its moniker, covering over 360,000 miles before its untimely decommissioining in the Great Hail Storm of Aught Five.
SCOUT was to appear on Conan with Erika for a Christmas 2010 show, but was upstaged by the set decor.
The horses were outfitted with lights in their rears, wired into the indicator systems so their butts would blink along with the turn signals.
Average MPG: 28
From 2012 through 2020, another small selection of the WLCoWSVoWLTs were installed in the windows of a hybrid Scouting car and Mobile Museum. The Jeepalope also transported the Sideshow and Trunk Show.
The diver’s side featured a postcard mural of WLTs from every state, with the passenger side mural composed of roadsign shapes . A Jackalope perched atop, sporting roadstripe camouflage.
While the Jeepalope still exists, its last trip was to Seattle for the annual Fremont Solstice Parade and Art Car Blowout. It did not like the one-way rush-hour downtown traffic, so spent some quality time recuperating at a mechanic in rural Oregon.
Average MPG: 17
The diver’s side featured a postcard mural of WLTs from every state, with the passenger side mural composed of roadsign shapes . A Jackalope perched atop, sporting roadstripe camouflage.
While the Jeepalope still exists, its last trip was to Seattle for the annual Fremont Solstice Parade and Art Car Blowout. It did not like the one-way rush-hour downtown traffic, so spent some quality time recuperating at a mechanic in rural Oregon.
Average MPG: 17
From 2014 through 2017, select WLCoWSVoWLT collections traveled with a series of three circus wagons.
Originally commissioned by Wormfarm Institute for display at the Farm Art Dtour, the Wagons made a second appearance at ArtPrize 9 as a ‘featured installation’. In between, they graced the outdoor Promenade at the (then) World’s Largest Things home base.
In 2017 when we received the Expo space, the Wagons were moved there for storage, and gradually reconfigured once again, and incorporated into the Expo as safe housing for themed collections of WSVs.
Average MPG: 0, as they are trailer queens
Originally commissioned by Wormfarm Institute for display at the Farm Art Dtour, the Wagons made a second appearance at ArtPrize 9 as a ‘featured installation’. In between, they graced the outdoor Promenade at the (then) World’s Largest Things home base.
In 2017 when we received the Expo space, the Wagons were moved there for storage, and gradually reconfigured once again, and incorporated into the Expo as safe housing for themed collections of WSVs.
Average MPG: 0, as they are trailer queens
In 2017, local businessman Elmer Svaty donated a downtown storefront to WLT Inc., a 501(c)3. He was in need of a writeoff at the end of the year, so we decided to move the WLCoWSVoWLT into a space that would become a permanent way to explore the collection. It officially opened on April Fool’s Day in 2018.
Since then, the Expo has expanded with new displays, year by year, as the forward space develops. Originally open only by chance, the pandemic afforded an opportunity to reconfigure the offerings and develop a self-touring exhibition space.
The Expo is now open daily, 10 - 5 for self-tours during the tourist season, April 1st through October 31st.
Average MPG: 0, as it’s a building.
Since then, the Expo has expanded with new displays, year by year, as the forward space develops. Originally open only by chance, the pandemic afforded an opportunity to reconfigure the offerings and develop a self-touring exhibition space.
The Expo is now open daily, 10 - 5 for self-tours during the tourist season, April 1st through October 31st.
Average MPG: 0, as it’s a building.