Turns out, it was the annual visit from the Horseless Carriage Club of America, a group dedicated to preserving, restoring, and enjoying early automobiles—specifically those built before 1916.
About two dozen pre-1916 cars made the scenic drive from the @gilmorecarmuseum to Holland, Michigan, as part of their yearly trips. Their destination? A ride aboard the Holland Princess, a 65-foot Victorian-style paddle-wheel riverboat, where members enjoyed a lunch cruise on Lake Macatawa.
The club makes this trip every summer, and today’s weather couldn’t have been better for a joyride through West Michigan’s lakeshore towns.
The club makes this trip every summer, and today’s weather couldn’t have been better for a joyride through West Michigan’s lakeshore towns.
These vehicles, known as Brass Era cars, featured prominent brass headlamps, radiators, horns, and trim—symbols of craftsmanship from an era before mass production streamlined away such flair. The event draws enthusiasts, collectors, and history buffs from across the country to admire these rolling works of art, participate in countryside tours, swap parts, attend seminars, and dress the part in period fashion.
Eric McKee is a lifetime resident of West Michigan. Married with two energetic boys, he spends his days balancing work with dad life. Also, a firm believer that Almond St. Claus Windmill Cookies are the ultimate snack (and maybe a little too good).
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