International Towing & Recovery Museum — Attraction in Chattanooga

I've been waiting to go here since i saw it in TowTimes magazine in late 80s or early 90s. It was definitely worth the wait if you love Heavy Duty wreckers, and everything about them, like I do. Wall of the Fallen is sad but it's something that needs to be seen. I spent most my life running HD wrecker and luckily was only clipped by a car 1 time and it obviously wasn't that bad cuz I'm here writing this but now I work @ PennDot and I keep hearing about safety and how many police, fireman and state workers are killed in line of duty cuz they're 1st responders but rarely do I ever hear a mention of the wrecker driver. Bad part of that is wrecker drivers are killed at rates comparable to the other 3 jobs. I make sure, any time I hear ppl talk about road side deaths, I mention the wrecker operator. Not because wrecker operator lives are worth more than the others but because they are worth just as much as the others. Be smart out there ppl! Slow down and move over! It's real simple. There was a plethora of different sizes, ages and styles of wreckers from the smallest, which was the Cony w 2cyl engine and a 1200 Holmes Commander boom with Century looking body, to the biggest mechanical wrecker ever built. The Beast as it is known was 1 of 4 W70 Holmes 70 ton wrecker beds made in the early 1950s for the military. For whatever reason the military did not order any more and no more W70s were ever built but this one was sold to a man named Earl Shade in 1960 who then mounted her on a 61 Autocar w 180 Cummins 5spd main and 4spd aux trans. The rest is in the pics if you want to read a lil more but I think it would be great to have some old 750s or 850s with a few of the extras the W70 had like PTO power swing, boom and extension. One small negative would be trying to drag 500' of 7/8" cable. Haha! I could go on and on forever but take a look for yourself and definitely go for...

Just visited the International Towing Museum in Chattanooga, TN — and I left with a whole new respect for tow truck operators. 💪🚛

This place honors the origins of the tow truck, which was actually invented right here in Chattanooga back in 1916. It all started when Ernest Holmes Sr. created the first tow truck using a modified Cadillac after watching a car get pulled from a creek. That invention led to a global industry that’s been coming to people’s rescue for over a century.

But what hit me hardest was learning how dangerous this line of work still is. Tow truck drivers have three times more fatalities than other first responders. That’s a brutal fact. They’re the first on the scene and often the last to leave, working just feet away from high-speed traffic, rain or shine, day or night.

The job isn’t just hard—it’s deadly. And yet, many people still don’t slow down or move over when they see those flashing lights. “Move Over” laws aren’t just good advice—they save lives.

So next time you see a tow truck on the shoulder, remember: Slow down. Move over. Respect the hook.

🛠️🚨 Big thanks to the museum for keeping this history alive and reminding us of the real risks behind the job.

#InternationalTowingMuseum #Chattanooga #TowTruckHistory #MoveOver #RespectTheHook...

This is a great little museum. I'm not sure how it survives but it was hoping the day we were there. It starts with a brief film about the history. Then you enter the first room. They have trucks from all over the country in all different sizes. The model tow trucks along the walls was cute too. We loved the antique gas pumps they had all around. This main room was filled with lots of information to read. The second room was not child friendly. It was rows and rows of photos of people who have earned recognition in the towing world. We walked right through this room. You reenter the gift shop in the back order. There they finally have a tow truck you can sit on. This was the highlight for my child. You climb in the cab and can turn on the lights. If you climb out you can work the tow with a remote. Great picture opportunity. No tow museum would be complete with out Mater. They have a cutout for more photos. The gift shop is cute but doesn't offer a great selection. Overall this was...