Chattanooga’s Tow Truck Museum’s “Wall of the Fallen” honors tow truck drivers killed while on duty

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Antique Holmes Wrecker. Photo Credit: Thomas Wilmer
Antique Holmes Wrecker.
Photo Credit: Thomas Wilmer

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.

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Angela Roper International Towing & Recovery Museum
Correspondent Tom Wilmer with Executive Director of the International Towing & Recovery Museum, Angela Roper

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

 

WWII military tow truck
WWII Army tow truck brought back from France after the war. Now on display at International Towing & Recovery Museum. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
Wall of Fame at International Towing & Recovery Museum
Wall of Fame honors the hundreds of tow truck drivers who have been killed while on duty. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
Wall of Fallen poster
Photo Credit: Thomas Wilmer
Old fashioned tow trucks in Chattanooga showscased
History of tow trucks in America is showcased at International Towing & Recovery Museum. Photo Credit: Thomas Wilmer
Wall of Fame at International Towing and Recovery Museum
Hall of Fame at tow truck museum in Chattanooga honors legendary tow truck drivers and owners. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
Mammoth tow trucks in Chattanooga
Big Bruiser tow trucks on display at International Towing & Recovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Photo Credit: Tom Wilmer
Holmes Wrecker
Holmes Wrecker–manufactured in Chattanooga, Tennessee