The finest junkyard ever!
Yesterday I headed on out to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum at 2040 North Santa Fe Avenue in Vista, California.
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
Museum is an understatement. I do believe it is the largest museum I have ever been to. The grounds just went on and on and on and on….
55 acres, or just 45 acres fewer than the San Diego Zoo.
The museum’s collection highlights the era from the 1890s to the early 1960s. This is not your typical museum because a more-than-expected number of equipment is in operating condition, and it was quite fun to see unique and even one-of-a-kind tractors roaming around the ground, as in the two pictures surrounding this paragraph. There are about 1,000 volunteers who maintain, restore, and operate the equipment in the collections.
Along with antique steam engines and farming equipment, there is a
N-scale model railroad exhibit (Short Track Railroad building; open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), a wagon exhibit (California Barn), farm equipment (Harvester Barn), a working blacksmith/wheelwright shop (blacksmithing is taught and demonstrated every Saturday, beginner through advanced), the Steam Tractor Barn, Steam Engine Row (I was mesmerized for over an hour), a mini train providing rides, Gas Engine Row, and a weaving exhibit using historic looms.
N-scale model railroad exhibit
1901 Ford Model A
Weaving a rug
There are over 20,000 items in the Museum’s collection, providing billions and billions and billions of opportunities to get unique photos.
I will have lots more pictures to share, and if YouTube will cooperate (keeps crashing this morning), even some cool videos.
If you love history and you’re ever in San Diego, put aside a day to visit the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
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Posted on June 25, 2012, in Halls of History, History, Manmade, Out & About, Photos, Railroads & trains and tagged antique gas and steam engine museum, antique gas engines, antique lawn mowers, antique steam engines, antique tractors. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
Fun!!!!!!!!!!!
This would be HDR heaven for me with all the textures!
Yes it would. You would probably need two or three days, maybe more.
OMG, my father would LOVE this place. I doubt he would ever leave. Too bad I can’t take him, since he lives in the Midwest.
Cool photos, though!!
So much of it reminded me of my wise old grandmother and my youth in the farming and ranching community of Kingsville, Texas.
Ooooh so much fun, looks like you had quite a day just playing around, taking pics for me to add another place to my list of places to visit!
“.”
Cat
Very cool place … I loved these. Looks like a lot of fun!
There will be more coming, lots more. I just wish I could figure out why YouTube doesn’t like me today because I have some cool videos of the tractors that I’d like to upload.
So frustrating when that happens. Can’t wait to see the rest of your pics (and hopefully video … fingers crossed).
Wow looks great..
i love the ford model 1901, cool! i’m curious about the elephant figurine, was it a car emblem?
You could say that it was a hood ornament, although these old things having a “hood” might be generous.
San Diego is such an amazing city and so under the radar. Love the quirkiness and all the cool stuff. Thanks Russel for taking us on a tour. I so love this post.
You make an excellent tour guide! I especially enjoy the cute kids in the 1901 Ford and the picture of the woman weaving a rug.
Wow! So many cool pictures. What to choose from? Hummmmm. I know the cool Elephant!
that’s awesome, thanks for sharing.
What a unique museum!^^
Really cool shots! HAHA
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