From the Curator: Trucks

This month at KCAM, we’re tipping our hats to a true American classic — the pickup truck. Reliable, rugged, and ready for anything, pickups have long been the backbone of daily life across the Midwest — and nowhere is that more true than right here in Kansas City.

From hauling feed on family farms to towing trailers down I-70, pickups have always done the heavy lifting. But beyond their utility, they’ve become part of the fabric of Kansas City’s identity — tailgating at Arrowhead, working union job sites, and making memories on back roads and long weekends. Whether brand-new or passed down through generations, trucks tell a story of hard work, pride, and connection.

Kansas City also has deep roots in the trucking industry. As a major hub for transportation and manufacturing, the region helped shape how goods and people move across the country. And while semis and freight lines are a key part of that story, it’s the pickup truck that people here have always called their own.

This month’s Drive-In Exhibit highlights an incredible lineup of pickup trucks, from postwar classics to modern builds. Each one reflects the spirit of the people who drove them and the lasting role pickups continue to play in American automotive culture.

Coming next month: We’re throwing out the rulebook and showcasing the wonderfully weird with “Oddball” Cars — a collection of vehicles that broke design norms, turned heads, and made people ask, “What is that?” Get ready for the unusual, the experimental, and the unforgettable.

See you soon,
Butch Papon
Curator, Kansas City Automotive Museum