The first museum, the Zippo Family Store and Museum, opened in late 1993. Aptly named, as it featured products for sale from the Zippo family of companies at the time: Zippo, W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company and Holgate Toys.
The original museum was quite small and quickly proved inadequate to satisfy the passion of collectors and curiosity of tourists who made the trip to Bradford. In 1995, plans for a brand new and greatly expanded store and museum were initiated. The grand opening of the Zippo/Case Visitors Center took place on July 18, 1997, coinciding with the company’s 65th anniversary celebration. It was the centerpiece of the 1997 Zippo/Case International Swap Meet. More than 8,000 people from around the globe attended the three-day event, inaugurating a flow of international visitors that continues today.
The Zippo/Case Museum now hosts more than 50,000 visitors annually. Collectors and tourists travel from all around the United States and many other countries including Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil to revel in their love of these two iconic American brands.