International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum

The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum in Chattanooga is a transportation museum dedicated to the history and equipment of the towing industry. The building displays tools, documents, and vehicles that show how rescue operations have changed over many decades.

The museum opened in 1995 near where Ernest Holmes Company made the first tow truck in the early 1900s. This location is significant because it sits near the birthplace of the entire towing industry.

The museum honors towing professionals and shows through exhibits how vital their work is to road safety and emergency response. Visitors gain respect for the dangers these workers face and understand why they are valued in their communities.

The museum is easy to walk through with vehicles arranged in clear exhibition spaces that give plenty of room to move around. Plan to spend time reading the explanatory materials, as there is much detail about each vehicle and the industry to discover.

The museum holds a collection of miniature tow truck models alongside original uniforms and photographs documenting rescue operations from different eras. These smaller objects tell personal stories of people who worked in this profession.

Location: Tennessee

Inception: October 1995

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00; Holidays off

Website: http://internationaltowingmuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 35.01690,-85.32310

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:42