POTSDAM — The Potsdam Public Museum's latest exhibit, which focuses on the history of the automobile in the village, might leave you both nostalgic and envious.

With the fresh pain of paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump, you can reminisce about the days — in 1907 — when gasoline cost 11 cents a gallon at H.W. Fearl's general store on Depot Street.

"It's interesting to look back in time, to see how things were," museum employee Patricia A. Horan said. "We did some research, and a gentleman even had a working electric car back in Edison's time. But that went by the wayside, and we can't even get that going now."

Pictures of Ford Model Ts parked up, down and in the middle of Potsdam's streets show just how much the automobile swept the nation at that time.

And a case of riding scarves, gloves, goggles, coats and hats reminds visitors that windows and a roof did not always come standard on vehicles.

"I mean, they didn't even make cars with women in mind at first," Ms. Horan said. "It's really a history lesson."

Much had changed by 1967, when one of the automobile photos was taken.

Andrea Rubach Copley, then a freshman at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music, posed across the hood of a shiny convertible as the latest Ice Carnival Queen. She is dressed as Diana, goddess of the hunt.

The summer exhibition, titled "Into the Modern Age: 100 Years of the Automobile in Potsdam," opened July 12 to crowds celebrating the Potsdam Summerfest.

Jack Kelley's Little Big Band performed 1920s hits across the street from the museum, on the lawn of Clarkson University's downtown Snell Hall. Antique cars also were on display.

Cantilena, an early music group, will perform at the museum at 3 p.m. today. The group includes Clive Henery on harpsichord and Sandra Henery on viola da gamba, who will accompany Oliver Brookes and Arlene Babich as they sing.

The quartet will perform early music by Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Sebastian Bach and Louis de Caix d'Hervelois.