2040 North Santa Fe Avenue * Vista, California 92083 * (760) 941-1791

Next Upcoming Event: June Harvest Fair

General Information
* About the Museum
* Hours
* Directions
* Contacts

Events
* Auction
* Bluegrass
* Civil War Re-enactment
* Harvest Fair
* Carlsbad Flower Fields: Hayrides

Exhibits
* Blacksmith & Wheelwright Shop
* Farmhouse
* Gas Engine Row
* Harvest Equipment
* Short Track Crew
* Steam Engine Row
* Steam Tractors
* Weavers
* Museum Building
* Archives/Library

Programs
* School Days
* Internships
* Membership

Publications
* The Ignitor

Links

Museum Blacksmith Shop

Located on 55 acres of rolling farm ground, the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum is one of the premier educational and recreational facilities in North San Diego County.  The Museum's collections focus on the period from approximately 1849 to 1950 and extensively cover agriculture, construction and early industrial trades.  Exhibits include blacksmith & wheelwright shops, country kitchen & parlor, steam & gas industrial power units, gristmill and farm equipment from horse drawn through modern row crop.  Unique among traditional museums, the equipment is maintained in operating condition and used in Museum programs.  Much of the property is set aside for farming.  Crops grown are primarily dry land crops that were typical to the area around the turn of the century such as wheat and oats.  Intermittently corn, sorghum or other irrigated crops are cultivated.  During the bi-annual Threshing Bee, Antique Tractor and Engine Shows (Harvest Fair), the grounds come alive with activity.  Visitors have the rare opportunity to see crops harvested from the field and made ready for cooking in the farmhouse.  Traditional crafts and trades includes farmers, weavers, soap makers and woodcarvers.  Volunteer members supply manpower and support for all programs and operations.  

The membership roster includes approximately 1,000 people, many who reside out of state.  The fifty-five acres of buildings, grounds and equipment are maintained entirely by the volunteer members.  The Museum Director and assistant are the only two full-time employees.