Rod Groenewold, Director of the museum was interviewed on our online history radio show, Way Back When, on October 3, 2008. To listen to the entire, unedited show, please click here. To listen to Rod's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.



Spring and Fall Harvest Fair, Threshing Bee, Antique Tractor and Engine Shows: Unique from traditional static museums, the Museum's collections are maintained in operating condition, with select pieces being demonstrated in conjunction with special events such as the Spring and Fall Harvest Fair, Threshing Bee, Antique Tractor and Engine Shows, which are held the third and fourth weekends of June and October. These events offer visitors the rare opportunity to see crops taken from the field through to the kitchen. Traditional crafts and trades include farriers, weavers, soap and rope makers, broom makers and woodcarvers. Each year they grow a crop of winter wheat, demonstrating local dry land farming techniques. During the Harvest Fairs, they demonstrate harvesting and shocking. The Gristmill grinds crops into flour that you may purchase at a reasonable cost. During the summer months they grow a crop of irrigated Sorghum Cane, which is harvested and processed into Molasses, during the Fall Harvest Fair.

Buildings & Exhibits: - The Farmhouse: Just as in the 19th century, the Farmhouse is the center of activity during the Harvest Fairs and Shows. In the country kitchen volunteers show what a farm wife did. Using cold food storage options from ice boxes to electric refrigerators; coal and wood burning stoves, to gas and electric. Volunteers prepare fresh bread and cookies, and there are tasty complimentary samples. The gas lighted parlor volunteers show how a farm woman spent her days - sewing clothing for the family, quilt making, on foot treadle sewing machines. There are samples of leisure and recreational activities from sitting and reading by kerosene lamp, playing board games, foot pumped organ music, to radio.
- Museum Weavers: The Museum Weavers maintain one of the finest collections of handlooms of the West Coast dating from the Civil War era to present.
- The Blacksmith, Farrier and Wheelwright Shops: On the farm there is a Blacksmith shop and a Wheelwright shop which features steam, gas, stationary and mobile industrial power units. The blacksmith manufactured and repaired metal items, the Farrier made fitted shoes for horses, and the wheelwright built and repaired wheels or wood items.
- The Museum Gift Shop: Stop by the Gift Shop and you'll find an incredible selection of tractor and farm related items including books and cookbooks such as the Museum's own cookbook called 'Home Made Cooking Good 'Nuff for Sharing', toys and puzzles, T-shirts and hats, kitchen utensils and bake ware, home decor items, collector signs and wall art, clocks, Christmas ornaments and decorations, pins and jewelry, windsocks and flags, and gifts from the Blacksmith Shop.
- Harvest Equipment: Large-scale farming depended on the development of mechanical harvesting. Examples of several different systems are on display, with the largest being the red 1917 Holt Hillside Harvester built in Stockton, California.
- Farm Tractors & Equipment: The Museum features well over 100 examples of the evolution of the farm tractor and implements - mostly in running condition.
- Gas Engine Row: These versatile engines provided power to grind grain, pump water, generate electricity and more. See the Museum's large three cylinder Fairbanks Morse, which was the first electric power plant on Catalina Island, California. Other examples in the row include powered water pumps, air compressors, and mine hoists.
- Steam Engine Row: See the several examples of steam engines including the large 300 horsepower Corliss used to power the Holly Sugar Mill in Santa Ana, California. 
- The Museum Building: Home to early farm and household equipment, automobiles and stationary engines.
- The Railroad & Guajome Gulch: As the railroad lines tied the nation together, travel and communication were improved for everyone in its path. It also made it possible to ship goods inexpensively. See the Museum's scale locomotive which is modeled after a branch line freight locomotive of the turn-of-the-century.
- The Short Track Crew: Features model railroad exhibits to portray the American railroads in their heyday. The Crew maintains a large modular N scale layout, as well as model locomotives and rolling stock that depict the many facets and operations of American railroading.

In the Movies on and TV: Numerous documentaries focused on the Museums collections have been filmed for movies, television and the video market. The Museum is consistently featured in books and calendars sold through collector's groups and major booksellers. In addition, videos of the Threshing Bee Antique Engine and Tractor Shows are sold nationwide. Watch for our equipment in the movies and made for television productions including Stargate, Mulholland Falls, LA Confidential, Pearl Harbor, the HBO Series Carnivale, Tremors 4 and The Time Machine; just to name a few.

Classes and Programs: The Museum has educational programs from pre-school through college internship studies. Internship studies in Museumology, Collections Management and Small Business Administration are also offered. It hosts a Boy Scout troop, and is the setting for studies and projects by a wide variety of groups ranging from 4-H to Head Start and ARC.
- School Days: The Museum's elementary program, School Days, continues to expand to meet demand. Museum educator Ms. Whimplewort introduces children to country living in the early 1900's through games, crafts & stories. 'Cooking with Ms. Whimplewort', teaches children about the busy activities that take place in the Farmhouse, and also teaches them a little cooking. This program takes place in the Museum Farmhouse. Christmas on the Farm is a program that celebrates an Old Fashion Christmas, where students will hear where some of their favorite Christmas traditions began, and compare a farmers holiday to their own. Students will be able to make a couple of gifts for their family.
- Blacksmithing Classes: The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum & the California Blacksmith Association offer three levels of Blacksmithing Classes at the Museum. Classes are open to anyone interested including first-timers who would like to check out the craft.
- Museum Weavers: Since 1999 the Museum Weavers have operated directly under the umbrella of the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. Most of the Museum Weavers are also active members of the Palomar Handweavers Guild and/or the San Diego Creative Weavers Guild. This active group teaches 'weaving by doing', and meets each Thursday from 9am-3pm year around in the Museum's Club Building. All skill levels are welcome to participate.

Wedding & Special Events Venue: The Museum and its grounds make the ideal location for special events and functions including weddings, company picnics and corporate events, birthday parties, concerts and shows, auctions and more. Facilities include table and chairs for up to 200 guests, outdoor concert area hosting up to 3500 people, and on-site catering is available.


Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum Special Events Calendar - 2010
No dogs, alcohol or unpermitted vehicles allowed on show grounds. Wear hats and comfortable shoes.