Ten display cars carried artifacts on the 1975–76 American Freedom Train.
The American Freedom Train used converted New York Central and Penn Central baggage cars to create a traveling museum. Ten of those cars held the main exhibitions, while two additional showcase cars displayed selected objects through large windows on both sides.
The collection contained more than 500 items connected with American history and culture. Examples included George Washington’s copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase document, Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz, Martin Luther King Jr.’s pulpit and robes, and a rock from the Moon.
The number of display cars is easy to confuse with the train’s total length or its showcase cars. The complete train had 26 cars, but ten were the primary enclosed exhibition cars. Its size helped the project travel widely while presenting a large national collection.