antique gas & steam engine museum

Last week, we camped 5 days with 63 other LAZY DAZE Class C RVs in their big field; dry camping, a.k.a. boon docking. During our wagon ride tour, one of our members pointed at an ancient tractor saying, "That's my tractor". Years ago, he was member and volunteer; he "adopted" that Minn-Moline agri tractor, restored it and drove it during parades, etc.Even in 5 days, none of us were able to see everything there is. Such a wide variety. Ladies enjoyed the Weaver's House and many relived younger days by riding the narrow gauge railroad.Saturday afternoon, about 10 Bluegrass musicians jam at the band stand.If you've never seen an adobe house, the Guajome allows you up close to see how many families lived on the frontier.Many of us went to the Miniature Mechanical Museum about 10 minutes away. Indeed, there is an almost endless variety of nearby sites of interest. ++++

We for several years have so enjoyed the various events held at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista, CA!! Many local artisans, unique viewing of the antique equipment on the large grounds, good food vendors too, a great way to spend an afternoon!

I do not have any interest in farming, farm equipment, machinery, etc. So when I was dragged here, I expected to be bored to tears. It wasn't!

Touring the Steam Engine Museum is like taking a trip into the past. They have remarkable farm equipment, oldie appliances etc. They have displays that portray rural life, and weaving exhibits.Quite ofter there are special events held at the museum grounds. Recently we attended the Textile Fare and the Gem Show. They had "hands on" weaving experiences, free music by several different local groups, a gemstone raffle, mineral specimens for sale, and food. It's a great place to spend the day!

This place has soo much to see, one could spend an entire day. Be sure to bring someone who knows about farm equipment, or you'll spend a lot of time saying "I wonder what this is?"The farmhouse and weaving building were both closed. I think this would be a great place to visit on one of their event days. Especially in the fall, when they do harvesting demos.

We took our son, upon the recommendation of his Cub scout troop, to spend the day here. Expecting to see just a ton of rusty old tractors gathering dust. To our surprise we managed to attend during their Harvest Festival weekend (the first of two weekends in the fall). There were wagon rides, towed by tractors, a small gauge steam train that allows unlimited rides for $1/person for the day, exhibits that include not only tractors, engines, farming equipment, but antique cars, historical classroom, home scenes and weaving looms. Classes available for all of this as well as a model train museum.Information booths, gift shops and food booths aplenty. Not sure if the parade is only available during their special weekends, but it was very enjoyable.By the way, our 9 yr old had so much fun we returned the following weekend with his troop :)

By all means a must see for the "mechanical interest" folks with 50 acres of a collection of assorted steam and gasoline engines and their applications.We went on a Sunday and it was a self guided walk through the collection in outside and indoor exhibits. From what one of the docents explained they are all working engines and when they have an event (check their calendar online) they have many of them in operation, even the steam engines, some of which are as large as a large commercial truck.They also have a large building where all they do is weaving with probably no less than 50 looms of assorted types set up for various projects in progress. One of the women there told us "we only weave on Thursdays". In another building was a large blacksmith shop with numerous forges, anvils, line shafts, machines from an era when things were genuinely "hand made".An interesting few hours that I would especially recommend go see during one of their large scale operating events.

An interesting collection of all kinds of engine-driven gear, from old washing machines and garden tractors to huge Catapillar gear and major generators. You basically just wander from building to building…some have projects underway while other buildings contain completed projects. Signage and descriptions are minimal and for those that don't know what you're looking at there's not likely much help to learn much more.

The Antique Gas & Steam Engine is an expansive look at a largely vanished way of life. Want to see how Granny cooked up vittles on a wood fired stove? Or how Grandpa put shoes on Ol' Dobbin the draft horse? Care to learn how fields were plowed with early machinery, or roads were built, water was pumped, people were transported...the list just goes on and on. There are buildings here dedicated to every facet of farm life and the simple, largely affordable machines that eased the back-breaking labor of the average farmer. The displays are typically accompanied by heavily descriptive placard placards detailing the use of machines or tools and their context in the user's life. If you visit (as we did) during an event, there are likely to be knowledgeable and enthusiastic hobbyists ready to offer further details about the displays. You might even watch as a blacksmith, weaver, tractor driver, or other technician goes about their trade. The ingenuity of the American craftsman, displayed in so many diverse applications, will leave you breathless. It might also have you scratching your head and wondering, "Why don't we have this kind of robust problem solving and quality performance more widely demonstrated in American industry today?"My only disappointment was the lack of a brewhouse and a display of brewing techniques. Would a craft beer tasting be too much to ask? ;)

I love STEAM and drove the 30 miles from San Diego. There seemed to be no one present so we simply drove around and looked at some of static displays. There is a nice selection of refrigeration units and Corliss engines.

Being a city gal I had no real knowledge of engines or tractors but I came out learning a lot! I never knew there were so many types of engines and tractors. We went when they were having their tractor show so there was a lot going on. It's a 55 acre museum and it has a lot to view, from the blacksmith barn to the weaver's building showing you how they made rugs, etc. Not knowing what to expect we ended up spending 4 1/2 hours walking around, taking the hay ride, watching their parade and talking with the many volunteers. There is a lot to see and a lot of walking on uneven ground, so wear comfortable flat shoes. But you will learn a lot as I never knew there was so many different types of farm equipment. Plenty of free parking. Glad we visited.

Took the wife to the Vista Fiber Festival at this past weekend. A small trade show with mostly local vendors. Some very nice stuff for sale. A small stage with musical acts playing. A old farmhouse with clocks for sale and a barn with a Rock and Gem show. However, the highlight of the show was going into the Weaving Barn. A fantastic number of looms on display and being used. Amazing!Unsure about admission fees to the host facility.

We received "zero" help from the office. The admission was small but we'd have liked to have been given an idea of what to do after paying. To appreciate this "museum" you need to really want to see 100's of tractors, Caterpillars, wagons and trucks. Most have no identification except the brand name. We only saw two other people during the two hours we wandered around by ourselves. I would only recommend touring the museum during the two times per year when there are live demos, and then you really need to love old farm equipment.

This attraction is a great family afternoon. Park and wander around. there are exhibits of antique tractors, steam tractors, stationary boilers, gas engines, a building full of weaving looms, a blacksmith building, and a model railroad museum.The best place to start is the gift shop inside the front gate. They can give directions and offer advice.Bring your walking shoes.For families with children, there is a new playground and a model railroad building where children can operate trains and go on a scavenger hunt.Check the web site for details and operating hours.

This last time I went to the civil war re-enactment. But I like to go here for the Bluegrass weekend, and the threshing bee.