By KENDRA KLINK
Chief Operating Officer
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

AUBURN — The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum has the privilege of displaying an automobile owned by the famous American gangster, John Dillinger. This automobile will be on display until April, 2016.

Sunday, Sept. 6, visitors to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will not only be able to view this Essex Terraplane, they will also get to hold a piece of history. Offered for the first time publicly, the Auburn Police Department will be on hand to let visitors hold the Tommy gun gifted to the department by the FBI in 2014.

“This is piece of American History has had an impact on Auburn, Indiana,” said Police Chief Martin McCoy. On Oct. 14, 1933, Dillinger’s men barged through the unlocked front door of an Ohio jail to break Dillinger from his cell, locking the police office behind bars instead. The gangsters made their way to Auburn, where they stole three bulletproof vests, six pistols, two rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a Thompson submachine gun, or “Tommy gun,” from the Auburn Police Department.

“Though valuable, the Auburn Police Department will not sell the gun,” McCoy said. “It is a piece of the town’s history and we look forward to it eventually being on display for visitors at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.”

“While thinking about unique experiences we could offer visitors over the Labor Day Festival, we thought that having the Tommy gun here with Dillinger’s car would be a unique experience,” Kendra Klink, the museum’s chief operating officer, said. “To further that experience, Chief McCoy offered the opportunity for visitors to be able to hold the gun in front of the car for a photo.”

McCoy and Captain Mark Stump will be on hand to ensure the safety of the artifact and the visitors. “A donation of $20 will be asked for the opportunity to have a photo holding the gun. All of these donations from the photo opportunity will support the construction of the Auburn Police Department’s training facilities,” McCoy said.

This unique photo opportunity will be available 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4.

The museum is located in the original 1930s international headquarters of the Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, year-round. Last admission is one hour before closing. For more information, visit automobilemuseum.org.