As the mother of two young boys and calendar coordinator for her Mom’s Cub, Jennifer Jones has become somewhat of a regular at America On Wheels in Allentown. As her sons marveled at the room-sized, ‘O-Gauge’ model train platform in a second-floor gallery at the museum of over-the-road transportation, Jones said she keeps abreast of new exhibits and visits several times a year.

“We love it,” she said as the boys watched the trains and checked out the historic Soap Box Derby cars mounted on the nearby wall. “We enjoy it especially at this time of years, with the trains. It’s everything they could dream of seeing in a day.”

From the taxi used in the Christmas movie classic “It’s A Wonderful Life” to a panorama of model train exhibits throughout the building, America On Wheels is fast claiming a name as a “must-see” stop in the Lehigh Valley.

Pip The Mouse, an icon from Allentown's retail heyday when he was part of the window display at Hess's Department Store, stands by the taxi from the Jimmy Stewart holiday movie classic "It's A Wonderful Life."

The Train Time Charity Holiday Exhibit features a dozen different model train exhibits in various galleries, all operated by “engineers” during regular business hours. This is the second year that America On Wheels is working with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on its traditional Toys for Tots collection campaign to benefit underprivileged children. Visitors are encouraged to bring a wrapped toy and place it on the Mack Truck driven by Santa Claus that is on display in the lobby.

Exhibits include everything from Thomas the Tank Engine chugging along tracks under an old, flatbed Mack loaded with toy donations to a full-scale Lego exhibit created by the Pennsylvania Lego Users Group, which is comprised, according to club member Joel McConnell of Allentown, of literally hundreds of thousands of the little plastic blocks that make up a full village and city scape and multiple trains running on the tracks.

“I think this is really awesome,” said 10-year-old Katie Rostek of Pittsburgh, viewing the layout with her brother, cousin, parents and grandmother. “I would really like it if it was bigger.”

The Rostek family from Pittsburgh eyes the giant Lego model train exhibit.

Opened in April 2008, America On Wheels is the keystone to Allentown’s redevelopment plans on the Lehigh River. Housed in part of what was once the Arbogast & Bastian Meat Plant at Hamilton and Front streets, the museum is a bit removed from the rest of the city’s cultural district but easily accessible from Route 22, Route 222 and Route 145.

America On Wheels features the history of motor transportation in the United States, from early cars such as the Nadig, produced in the late 1890s, to the mighty Mack Trucks that helped build a nation and make the bulldog an American icon. The North Gallery features the evolution of motor vehicles, including Model T’s and A’s, a Stanley Steamer and some of the original electric cars produced at the end of the 20th Century.

The South Gallery houses several full-size Macks, from a UPS tractor-trailer to the huge construction dump trucks that helped build highways, roads, bridges and buildings.

In addition, a full calendar of special events and offers are scheduled throughout the holiday season ranging from a “Meet The Marines” day to free admission offers to a holiday wreath decorating contest.

“We were very proud last year to work with the Marines on this terrific annual effort to help make Christmas better for so many children and we look forward to an even more successful campaign in 2010,” said America On Wheels Executive Director Linda Merkel. “We really have something for everyone this holiday season.”

“The British Are Coming!” features a selection of automobiles that highlight the sportiness, durability and luxury of vehicles from across the pond and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” an art exhibit featuring the work of nationally recognized painters James Doddy and Charles Vlasic, runs through Feb. 1 on the second floor of the museum.

“I put this on our calendar every month,” said Jones. “It is such a sparkling little jewel.”

What To Know: America On Wheels’ newest attraction, The Hub Cap Café, opens this weekend. It is an authentic 1950’s-style soda fountain transported from Lyons, Indiana and reassembled on the second floor of the museum.

If You Go: There is a full calendar of special events slated for the remainder of the holiday season. Go to www.americaonwheels.org and click on “Upcoming Events” for the latest. America On Wheels is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students ages 13 to 16. Children 12 and under are admitted free for this special holiday exhibit.

Facts: The taxi from “It’s A Wonderful Life,” on display in the lobby, is a pre-1946 General Motors cab on loan to America On Wheels from the collection of famed Italian jewelry designer Nicola Bulgari. The museum will show the movie on Dec. 12, 17 and 28 in the South Gallery.