Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum

Entrance to the museum
Location	2040 N Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, California

The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum (AGSEM) is a special place that shows how people lived and worked in the past. It's often called a "living history" museum. It was started in 1969.

You can find the museum on 55 acres of land in Vista, California. It's run by a group of dedicated volunteers and some staff members. The museum is open almost every day of the year. They also host two big shows every year. These shows happen on the third and fourth weekends of June and October. Many other fun events take place there throughout the year too.

Exploring Old Machines

The museum is full of amazing old machines. You can see how people used to power things long ago.

Gas Engines

In the "Gas Engine Row," you'll find many large gas engines. These engines are from the early 1900s. Many of them can be seen running during the museum's shows.

• One engine is a 15-horsepower Fairbanks-Morse engine. It used to power a mine hoist, which lifts things from mines.
• There's also a pumphouse with a 15-horsepower Fairbanks-Morse engine.
• You can see a huge 1922 Fairbanks-Morse engine. It's 150 horsepower and connects to a large machine that makes electricity.
• Another giant machine is a 1914 Chicago-Pneumatic air compressor.
• There are also Western engines of 80, 120, and 200 horsepower.
• Many other stationary engines are on display.

Steam Engines

The "Steam Engine Row" shows off many different kinds of stationary steam engines. These engines use steam to create power.

• One of the biggest is a 300-horsepower Allis Chalmers Corliss engine. It has a huge 12-foot wide wheel!
• You can also see smaller engines, like a portable one from J. Lefel & Sons.
• All these steam engines get their power from two large boilers. These boilers are named Pat and Rich, after two volunteers who take care of them.

Steam Tractors

The museum has six working steam traction engines. These are like old tractors that run on steam.

• You can see an 1895 Russell & Co. steam tractor.
• There's also a 1902 Advance-Rumely steam tractor.
• A 1912 J.I. Case 60-horsepower steam tractor is on display.
• You might spot a 1920 Minneapolis 20-horsepower steam tractor.
• Another is a 1916 Russell & Co. steam tractor.
• A 1913 Buffalo-Pitts steamroller and a 1909 Case steam tractor are being fixed up.
• Most of these steam tractors can be seen moving around the museum grounds during show days.

Tractors at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum

Old Tractors

The museum also has a large collection of old tractors.

• You can see big Caterpillar tractors, like the D8s and a D9.
• There are also older Caterpillars from the 1930s.
• Some Best crawlers (tractors that move on tracks) are there too.
• You'll find common tractors like Farmall, John Deere, Oliver, and Allis-Chalmers.
• The museum also has some very rare tractors. These include a 1924 Buffalo-Springfield road roller.
• There's a giant 1918 Aultman-Taylor gas tractor.
• A 1911 Fairbanks-Morse kerosene tractor is also on display.
• You can see a 1915 International Harvester Mogul and several Rumely Oil-Pulls.

Blacksmith shop

Blacksmithing

The museum has a working blacksmith shop. Blacksmiths are people who shape metal using heat and tools.

• The shop uses a "line shaft" system. This is an old way to power tools using belts and spinning rods.
• A 15-horsepower 1917 Mogul gasoline engine powers this system.
• During show days, you can see several blacksmiths working. They heat iron in forges and shape it into different items.

Model Railroads

Inside the museum grounds, you'll find the Short Track Model Railroad Club.

• They have an NTrak model railroad. This means trains travel through more than 40 different scenes.
• These scenes include a drive-in movie theater, a fairgrounds, farms, towns, and even a coal mine.
• The club helps people learn about the history of railroads in the United States.
• They also have a special small train layout that children can operate. It's called The Young & Victorious RR.

Textile Museum

The Museum Weavers are in a 4,000-square-foot barn.

• This barn has over 50 working looms for weaving fabric.
• Members of this club meet every week. They learn and practice weaving, making rugs, and even making rope.

Mill Museum

The museum has a working gristmill.

• This mill grinds wheat and corn into flour.
• You can buy this fresh flour during the museum's shows.
• In the summer, the museum grows sorghum cane. This cane is then made into molasses for the fall show.

Sawmill

The Sawmill at the museum is powered by a D-3000 Cat diesel engine.

• This Sawmill was put back together and improved after it was donated.
• It was used by the Pederson Brothers in the Big Bear area many years ago.
• This is likely the only Sawmill you can see working in San Diego County.

See also

• Museums in San Diego County