The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, located in Vista, California, was founded in 1969 by Bill May. It is dedicated to preserving antique tractors, steam engines, and other historic machinery. The museum features a variety of exhibits, including steam engines such as the 1913 Buffalo-Pitts steamroller, a clock and watch museum showcasing antique timepieces, a working grist mill that grinds corn and wheat into flour, and a model railroad with trains traveling through various mini-towns. There is also a blacksmithing shop offering classes in the craft, a weaving barn with more than 50 looms, and Gas Engine Row, which houses Hit-and-Miss engines dating back to the early 1900s.
The museum will host its annual Antique Tractor Show on June 20–21 and June 27–28. All on-site exhibits will be running, including a small train offering rides for kids, hay wagon rides around the grounds, and a chance for adults and children of all ages to drive an antique 1939 John Deere Model “H” tractor. The event also includes paid camping on the grounds.
This year, the museum is also offering community members and companies the opportunity to sponsor the event in support of the museum’s exhibits, educational programs, and preservation efforts. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Kiana Coyle at director@agsem.org.
If you have a tractor or engine you would like to bring and show, or if you would like to become a member, please contact Westen Nack, AGSEM Representative, at WestenNack@gmail.com.
The museum is located at 2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA 92083. For more information, visit www.agsem.org.
