Eight Corvettes may have fallen through the floor at the National Corvette Museum, but overall interest in the museum has gone through the roof.

Since a well-publicized sinkhole swallowed eight Corvettes on February 12, the museum has seen a pronounced spike in traffic. According to Deb Eaton, guest services manager for the museum, February 13 through March 13, 2014 has brought about 700 more visitors than the same time period in 2013.

Eaton told WBKO in Bowling Green, KY that visitors are stopping by to check out the sinkhole and the five Corvettes that have been pulled from it so far.

“They see the first one and you hear, ‘Oh, that’s sad.’ As the cars are in worse shape leading up to the fifth car they extracted, you hear physical moans and they’re in pain for them. I saw a lady today who was actually in tears and shaking,” Eaton told the TV station.

Construction crews are working to remove the remaining Corvette (2001 Z06 with Mallett Hammer conversion) from the hole. You can get updates on the National Corvette Museum’s Facebook page and see before/after pics of all seven “rescued” Corvettes below.

IMAGES COURTESY OF NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM.

2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette

8a992b70-9408-11e3-9308-dd3d799ae5ce_IMG_7265_detail

988819_10151986561707441_121862912_n

1993 ZR-1 Spyder

 93_zr1_spyder

10173651_10151982409347441_83130536_n

2009 “Blue Devil” ZR1

Presentation4

 

1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette

Presentation5

1962 Black Corvette

Presentation6

1984 PPG Pace Car

Presentation2

1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette

Presentation1

Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.