The mission of the Friends of Auburn Heights is to connect generations and foster excitement for Auburn Valley State Park, steam-era technology and American life at the dawn of the automotive age.

The Auburn Heights estate (within Auburn Valley State Park, formerly Auburn Heights Preserve) includes the Marshall family home and carriage house listed on the National Register of Historic Places, site of the first Stanley automobile dealership in Delaware; the Marshall Steam Museum, housing a world-class collection of vintage automobiles; a 1/8-size live steam railroad operating on the property; and approximately 456 acres of surrounding park land.

Each year, visitors from around the world come to the museum for tours of the property, collection, and buildings at Auburn Heights, drawn by the opportunity to ride in one of the largest collections of operating Stanley Steamers and be inspired by the magic age of steam. 

Caring for an operational collection such as ours isn’t easy. The museum relies on the generous support of a community of volunteers and donors to achieve its mission. These volunteers keep the knowledge of steam engine operation, maintenance, and repair alive through regular trainings, work sessions, and driving opportunities. How much a vehicle is used is the result of careful calculus, balancing each drive and training opportunity with the vehicle’s conservation and maintenance needs. Our volunteers say that you drive a steam car with all your senses—what the car smells like, feels like, and sounds like is just as important as what’s on the road ahead of you. Without operation, a key element of this era of history is lost.

Your contribution to the Marshall Steam Museum today supports the preservation of this intangible heritage by helping us purchase parts and tools that are key to keeping our collection running smoothly for many generations to come.