Tanya Bailey-Smith volunteered to head up publicity efforts for the Great Savannah Races Centennial four years ago because of her interest in auto racing, history and her adopted hometown.
Somewhere along the course, her interest became a passion. Her collection of old newspaper clippings, photos and knick-knacks connected to the races took over a room in her and her husband’s house on Calhoun Square.
The couple decided earlier this year to take that private museum public. They moved the memorabilia from their home to an adjoining building along Abercorn Street across from Clary’s and spent the summer designing a “micro-museum” — a one-room time capsule transporting visitors back a century to relive the races staged here by the Vanderbilt family and the New York-based Automobile Club of America.
The Great Savannah Races Museum opened Wednesday.
“I had all this material — I figured, why not share it?” Bailey-Smith said.
The museum includes a collection from the Automobile Club of America, and Bailey-Smith reserved floor space in hopes of one day acquiring one of the race cars from the 1908, 1910 and 1911 races. The events drew spectators from across the country, with the railroad operating a “Wall Street Special” to bring New Yorkers to Savannah.
The final race in 2011 attracted an estimated 500,000 onlookers, helped by special deals run by newspapers like The Atlanta Journal. A ride to watch the 2011 race was included with new annual subscriptions to the newspaper.
“Savannah was the center of the racing world at a time when the sport was just starting to grow,” Bailey-Smith said.
The museum, which includes a gift shop, is open from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. Thursdays. The admission fee is $3 per person.
The space can also be available for rent for weddings, meetings and parties.