During the eighteenth century, wealthy men who had travelled widely, would place the collection of curios from their travels in a special cabinet which became known as a Cabinet of Curiosities. The collection of objects was arranged at the whim of the owner. In the nineteenth century, public Cabinets of Curiosities became popular and out of these museums emerged. In the twentieth century museums began to focus more on explanation and interpretation rather than just displaying a collection of interesting artifacts. There are, however, a few museums in the twenty-first century which are still public Cabinets of Curiosities—lots of curiosities with limited explanation. One of these is the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana. Shown below are some of the museum’s collection of farm equipment.
Shown above is a 1929 Farmall Regular. Many of these were used as cultivator tractors.
Shown above is a horse-drawn dumping wagon used in the sugar beet fields.
Another view of the dumping wagon.
Shown above is a stationary hay baler.
Shown above is a fanning mill or grain cleaner which cleans grain for seed or human consumption. Cranking the handle would shake the sieve screens to cause weed seeds to fall through.
Shown above is a 1919 Fordson.
Shown above is a steam tractor.
Shown above is the back of the steam tractor.
Shown above is another steam tractor.