The International Towing and Recovery Museum inChattanooga, Tennessee features famous tow trucks, including the world’s largest wrecker, a WWII tank recovery tow truck, and the world’s oldest tow truck.

But equally engaging is the Tow Truck Wall of Fame honoring tow truck industry legends from around the world. Most touching is the Wall of The Fallen out front, with a large bronze statue of a driver lifting a mother and child from a nearly submerged car.

The Wall of the Fallen proudly lists 389 tow-truck drivers killed in the line of duty around the world. America’s first tow truck was built in 1916, about three miles away from the museum, at the Ernest Holmes Company.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE NPR PODCAST

Join correspondent Tom Wilmer in Chattanooga, Tennessee for a visit with Executive Director, Angela Roper for the Lowell Thomas Award-winning NPR Podcast, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer