MotorCities National Heritage Area is teaming up with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislative Auto Caucusto declare Wednesday, November 8 as the 10th annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day throughout the state.
Michigan Automotive Heritage Day began in 2014 and has become an annual opportunity to celebrate the story that can only be told in Michigan: how this area "Put The World On Wheels." Our state has the largest concentration of auto-related sites, attractions and events in the world, attracting millions of visitors each year.
MotorCities, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, is a nonprofit corporation that is part of the National Heritage Area System of the National Park Service that serves 16 counties representing a population of over 6.5 million. Its mission is to preserve, interpret and promote the region’s rich automotive and labor heritage while enabling, supporting and respecting its diversity, equity and inclusion. Regional programs inspire residents and visitors with an appreciation for how the automobile changed Michigan, the nation, and the world.
Established in 1998 and headquartered in Detroit, MotorCities generates $489.7 million each year in economic impact, supporting 5,343 jobs and producing $40 million in tax revenue in Michigan. Over its 24-year history, MotorCities has awarded more than 300 grants for a total investment in local programs of more than $1.6 million.
See the 2022 Governor's Proclamation and a Tribute from the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives.
· Click here for photos from the 2021 event.
The annual MotorCities National Heritage Area Awards of Excellence recognize organizations and individuals who have delivered oustanding projects in the areas of auto or labor heritage tourism, education/interpretation and revitalization. In our 25th year, the organization is calling for nomination from all projects from 1998-present. Past receipients are eligible to receive this special anniversary edition of the award.
The finalists for our 25th Anniversary Awards of Excellence are:
In the Heritage Tourism category, the finalists are:
In the Interpretation/Education category, the finalists are:
In the Revitalization category, the finalists are:
The winners in each of these three categories will be announced at MotorCities' 25th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, November 8 at Ford House.
Also, the recipient of MotorCities Milestone Award, which will also be presented at the Gala, is William R. "Bill" Chapin (pictured). Some Michigan natives can say that the auto industry is in their blood, but for Bill Chapin there is no denying the lineage from his Grandfather Roy Chapin Sr. (a co-founder of the Hudson Motor Co.), his father Roy Chapin Jr. (past CEO of American Motors) to forgin g his own legacy, mostly in automotive marketing. Bill was just finishing up work on the launch of the "Motor City" exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum in the mid-1990s when he realized that the stories told there were relevant to today. Namely, the stories of industry leaders and rank and file workers were all there to inspire generations to come. Around the same time, he became aware of the efforts to create a National Heritage Area centered on the automotive and labor history of the region. Chapin was there when the bill was signed by President Clinton in 1998. He signed the articles of incorporation, served as board chair and continues as a member of MotorCities' Leadership Council. Finally, between 2010 and 2017, Chapin served as President of the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn.
The ribbon cutting at the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park in October 2020 
Representatives from the Winners of the MotorCities 2021 Awards of Excellence: from left to right, Bill Pringle, Assistant Curator, Detroit Historical Society, who accepted the award in the education & interpretation category for the Detroit Historical Museum’s recently opened “Body by Fisher” exhibit; the R.E. Olds “Big Head,” since the event was hosted at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing; Clare Pfeiffer, Director of Communications & Engagement, Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, who accepted the award in the heritage tourism category for the attraction’s new visitors center; and Dr. Paul Draus, Professor Sociology, University of Michigan-Dearborn and a member of Fort-Rouge Gateway (FRoG) Partnership, who accepted the award in the revitalization category for the building and opening of the Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park in southwest Detroit.
2023 Sponsorship Levels
Visionary-$10,000
This sponsorship package includes:
Your Company/Organization's Ad in all 52 weekly issues of our weekly e-newsletter, "You Auto Know"
Exclusive Company/Organization Feature as a Story of the Week in an issue of our weekly e-newsletter (Over 5,000 distribution)
Half page ad in both our printed and online Passport booklet (7,500 distribution)
Half page ad in both our printed and online MotorCities tri-fold brochure (10,000 distribution)
Quarterly spotlight posts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, with over 18,000 unique followers
Your Company/Organization's Ad in 4 of our "MotorCities On The Road" Webinars
Recognition at our annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day and Awards of Excellence
Company logo and link on our website
Acknowledgment in press releases
Company name in our annual report
Champion- $7,500
This spsonsorship package includes:
Half page ad in both our printed and online Passport booklet (7,500 distribution)
Half page ad in both our printed and online MotorCities tri-fold brochure (10,000 distribution)
Quarterly spotlight posts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, with over 18,000 unique followers
Your Company/Organization's Ad in 4 of our "MotorCities On The Road" Webinars
Recognition at our annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day and Awards of Excellence
Company logo and link on our website
Acknowledgment in press releases
Company name in our annual report
Racer- $5,000
This sponsorship package includes:
Quarter page ad in both our printed and online Passport booklet (7,500 distribution)
Quarter page ad in both our printed and online MotorCities tri-fold brochure (10,000 distribution)
Quarterly spotlight posts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, with over 18,000 unique followers
Your Company/Organization's Ad in 4 of our "MotorCities On The Road" Webinars
Recognition at our annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day and Awards of Excellence
Company logo and link on our website
Acknowledgment in press releases
Company name in our annual report
Marathon - $2,500
This sponsorship pacakge includes:
Quarterly spotlight posts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, with over 18,000 unique followers
Your Company/Organization's Ad in 4 of our "MotorCities On The Road" Webinars
Recognition at our annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day and Awards of Excellence
Company logo and link on our website
Acknowledgment in press releases
Company name in our annual report
Rally - $1,000
This sponsorship package includes:
Recognition at our annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day and Awards of Excellence
Company logo and link on our website
Acknowledgment in press releases
Company name in our annual report
Click here for a list of our 2022 sponsors.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership, Inc. as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts tax deductible in the U.S.A. Our Federal Tax ID # is 38-3489636
Volunteer for MotorCities
Are you passionate about auto culture and history? Are you interested in engaging with folks about our rich automotive heritage and how ‘We Put the World on Wheels?’ MotorCities has a perfect volunteer opportunity for those interested in car culture and local history.
NOTE: Due to the pandemic, we are not seeking new volunteers at this time.
Please contact us at 313.259.3425 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Ambassadors are asked to speak on MotorCities’ behalf at special events throughout the year. Volunteers must be prepared to promote the MotorCities NHA and our mission, as well as engage with the public about the region's rich automotive heritage. Whether helping at an event such as Michigan Auto Heritage Day, or presenting to community groups about storied automotive past, your time and talents would be valued.
Benefits of volunteering for the MotorCities include:
Forms and resources
All volunteers must complete and return a liability waiver form; please click on the link below to print out the form:
Volunteer waiver form
For more information on joining the MotorCities Ambassador team, please read the following resources:
Volunteer position description
Training Presentation
To get started, please fill out the volunteer registration below: