The creation of the National Corvette Museum was a true grassroots effort. Members of the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) sought to create a technical library for preserving Corvette-related documents and literature. This idea blossomed into support for a museum, and the NCRS found valuable allies at Bowling Green Assembly and the city’s Chamber of Commerce. The NCRS accepted the city’s donation of about 33 acres of land along Interstate 65 near the Corvette plant. Bowling Green was on its way to becoming the center of the Corvette world.
Once the NCRS had their land for the museum, the next question was what kind of building to create. One suggestion was to shape the Museum like the Chevrolet bowtie, but this idea was scrapped when it became obvious that people would only recognize the design from overhead. Another possibility for the museum was a large, rectangular building that resembled an Incan temple. However, the idea that stuck was to create a building with a sleek, curving exterior and an industrial shine. The design represents speed, innovation, and performance, themes that characterize the history of the Corvette.
The most iconic feature of the National Corvette Museum building is the Skydome. Constructed in 1994 as part of the original Museum, the Skydome opened as the home of the “Corvette Salon” exhibit. Today, it still serves as a place for exhibitions, receptions, and other special events. As plans for the Museum came together, architects wanted to add something that looked futuristic and easily recognizable. The Skydome’s round shape complements the curvature of the museum building and even resembles the speedometer on a Corvette dashboard when viewed from overhead. Its bright yellow paint and dramatic height make the Museum easy to spot for travelers on I-65.
Despite its name, the Skydome is not technically a dome. The structure consists of a conical base with the top portion of the cone removed, creating a sloped surface. Architects refer to this type of shape as a frustum. A red spire pierces the Skydome through the top of the frustum, reaching 128 feet high. As a feature of the Museum’s award-winning architecture, the Skydome captures the excitement that makes Corvette, America’s Sports Car, known worldwide.
