Reviews of American Precision Museum (Museum)

Sarah Knapp

Fascinating small museum with a guide who demonstrates some of the machines.

Nathan Rollins

We actually made a 2-hour Drive specifically to visit this Museum. It was very much worth it for us. We're both Engineers myself practicing and my 13 year old son in an apprenticeship of sorts! So the exhibits and theme of the museum was very relevant for us. Is extremely well laid out with lots of examples of period Equipment and machinery. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. There exists a STEM workshop for the children that is well stocked with lots of fun things to do and has a lot of potential. If we were local we would spend more time there with the younger kids. It's a great example of American Heritage in manufacturing and well worth the visit if you're interested in that.

Dan McGuire

Loved it.

A McDurmon

Great museum for learning more about the history of machines, the industrial revolution, and the Civil War.

Simplice Mambangui

Great place to visit and learn... historical site that hold a lot...

Ron Grosinger

This is the birthplace of the American industrial revolution. Major advancement in manufacturing. This was like the Silicon Valley of its time. Vermont invented the process of "Repeatable interchangeable parts". This was a significant help in the Civil War.

Lynn N

One of the absolute BEST local attractions, and a well organized and documented collection. Not just a display of guns and heavy precision tools! This doll collector & tech nerd was wowed by displays of working miniature precision tools and the miniature steam plant. Seeing full sized tools in action was cool, and being given a doll sized mini challis machined from a plug of brass was an added benefit!

Tom Gabriele

It's just a lot of boring tools. As in, tools that bore. As in, tools that bore holes in wood. This museum is basically a historical machine shop. Civil War tools were widely produced in the area, and the Precision Museum houses several old drill presses, lathes, mills, as well as several other large pieces of machinery made specifically for manufacturing weapons. Interesting for the engineer or history buff. May not be the best attraction for families with younger kids or those not interested in tools, guns, history, etc. Free on Sundays.

Flynn Roberts

It was my first time going, but the people I went with both were there multiple times over the years. If you have any interest in machinery if any kind, you will love this place. It was really fun and awesome learning about the various machines and how they were used. Every so often they have interns from VT Tech come in and provide some demonstrations of how some of the machines work. You may even get a souvenir or two from their demos!

DA VEH

Good but some old guy was kinda bugging us when we were trying to watch the videos. I think he worked there but not sure.

Laura Carbonneau

Nice displays. Great staff. Decent parking and interactive displays.

Gary Watts

Excellent exhibits. Very educational.

Sue MacTavish

What a wonderful little museum . A real gem! My husband an engineer loved it . Good side trip off I 91.

Susan Bocchini

Loved the Precision made working minatures

Howard Horn II

If you are into engineering, technology or history this places is a must see. I have not been there for years but it was amazing to see the ingenuity of days before electricity. I really should go back with my sons now that they are older and can understand it.

Aaron Gonthier

The American Precision Museum shows the importance of Vermont in manufacturing history. Located in the building where interchangeable parts was first implemented commercially, the APM gives visitors insight into early American manufacturing and includes interactive displays and live demonstrations of machine tools.

Dan McNee

Awesome place to learn how we got to where we are now.

T R M

Fascinating place w so much history. Definitely should be seen and appreciated.

Tammie Morrison

Great history. Beautifully preserved items.

cate

Had an excellent time. Looks small but once you get to talking with a docent, you could spend hours. Beautiful location as well.

Jeanmarie Pina

Interesting peek into the past when machines were created to standardize production. A variety of machines with printed descriptions. A few interactive crafts. Would have liked to have someone to demonstrate. There was an intern there when we first got there but he left and no replacement came.

David McMillan

Historical machine tools and demonstrations

Nathan Fields

It's a must see if visiting the Windsor area.And if u like the civil war its a great place to learn how much it helped the north in the 1860's with gun production

A.David Wunsch

I love this place. They are very liberal about letting you photograph the machines. Pat, at the front desk, is very smart and friendly.

Gate City Boat Repair

Great place. Nice displays. Spent a good amount of time with Clay super nice guy and very smart

Kathy Baird

Amazing history and passionate docent. The invention of precision equipment that could make interchangeable parts changed the world. Yankee ingenuity at its best.

Paul Link

Fascinating display of machine tools from Windsor in its heyday, also a good display of rifles from the mid 1800s. Someone was demonstrating when I was ther

Robert Chave

If you are interested in history of technology, the American Precision Museum is a little jewel. Windsor Vermont is the place were some of the world's first high volume, truly interchangeable, machined parts were manufactured. Machinery to do this was invented, developed and manufactured here, and sold both nationally and internationally, notably to Britain. In the middle of the 19th Century Vermont and New England led the world in mechanical innovation. Initially the tools were powered by a water wheel, and the light was that which came in through the windows. The phrase "Yankee ingenuity" refers to the kind of innovation in mechanical design, metal working and industrial arts which emerged here. The American Precision Museum was founded by a curator for the Smithsonian, in one of the factories where the repeatability and accuracy in the production of machined parts, in order to permit full inter-changeability of high-volume mechanical assemblies, was first achieved. Full interchangeability of components was unknown before this. The advantage was so profound that manufacturing was changed from a craft to a science. And volume production would be forever different. The examples which have found a home here are rather amazing. Among them are the fifty miniature machine tools models which were the life work of the tool maker John Aschauer. I first viewed these as a child of perhaps eight years old, when they were at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Somehow they have found a home here, along with serial number one of the Bridgeport milling machine, and other significant examples of the formidable machine tool industry, when American machine tools were broadly preferred for their accuracy and their durability.

Richard Walker

Inspiring. Worth the detour to visit

andrew kairis

If You like machines you will love this place. Lot of historical artifacts from the early Industrial Revolution as well as some newer items like a Norden bombsight from World War II. You could probably do the whole thing in about an hour and a half or you could consume everything that would probably take you about twice as long. Free souvenirs included with the price of admission

Joshua Rosen

This is a very interesting museam.

Anne Leake

We loved seeing how all machines worked.

deadeyeski

Amazing place. Cool old machines. Fun models of machine shop.will visit again

Kris McCabe

Amazing part of American. History.

James Forest

Very interesting! Family fun

G Aquino

A small but interesting museum housed in a 19th century factory that made precision parts (the first in the country) for industrial equipment and later Civil War-era weapons, hence the museum's name. When I first heard of the museum, though, what came to mind were watches and timekeeping devices - there are none here. The precision parts were manufactured using the sturdy and well-preserved machines on display at the museum. It was nice that they allow visitors to get their hands on some of these machines to see how they work. There is also a cool exhibition with miniaturized versions of the machines, painstakingly built by its designers for many years. The staff are all very knowledgeable and friendly. We were here for 1.5 hours.

Mark S

Good collection. Small museum but some amazing machines

John Mahoney

A museum that is actively preserving the history of America and it's precision history.

James V Carlton Jr

We loved this place and came away with a better understanding of the impact this little village had on mass production and making the USA the powerhouse of the industrial revolution in the 19th and 20th century. Don't miss it!

Stan Blair

Excellent

Gregory

Great little museum. Well worth the stop

Paul Shropshire

This place is great....

Christopher Palmer

If you are looking for a museum about the economic history of the area, and like precision tools this museum is for you. It is well maintained and has a large number of working miniature equipment on display in addition to the historic equipment. As a bonus, there is even a waterfall next to the building. Also don't forget while you are in the area to visit the historic covered bridge spanning the Conectut river less than a mile away.

Robert LaFlam

As a tool and die maker it was enjoyable to see the old machines and the Hand machines. I've also run CNC machines so I know the modern Technologies but the old machines, that's where it's at.

Natalya Litvinova

It is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through October. Only!

Michael Almeida

Really fun place for adults and kids alike. The museum has so much history and the staff has a ton of knowledge about the artifacts. They also have Bridgeport serial #1

Craig Fritz

Most things are made by machine and this place is about making the machines that make the things, and how that all got started. The history of work may not be glamorous but it's how real lives were lived and families fed, how our nation gained a competitive edge, and to a large extent even how wars were won.

Steve Kelley

Awesome place, just wish that it was bigger. Experience may vary based on the person running the display area. I am a machinist so I know more than the people that work there. Very interesting. I would definitely go again.

Christopher Bensch

Absorbing history and very well done.

alan ostrovski

Very nice people. Friendly staff and interesting history especially for mechanically inclined people. Sunday's are optional donation days as well.

Steve Smith

Very interesting! Well done!

Peter Mans

Cool displays

Floris Sluiter

Small but very interesting, my six year old now knows how gears are made ;-) friendly staff!

jamie carlisle

Very cool spot

Roger Bowen Weld

The best resource on the history of machine tools in American history.

Kelly Mulloy

All sorts of machines and displays. Good write ups. Demonstrations earlier in the day on some of the machines. Various projects for people or kids to attempt. Might not hold the attention of small children for long periods of time. Nice view of the river from side garden area. Overall a pretty cool place!

Brooke Davis

Well kept, very clean

Melissa Almeida

Seriously beautiful piece of history. Wonderful and knowledgeable staff.

Maureen Curley

Very interesting and interactive museum.

Joanne DeCarli

Very interesting! The short intro video, the demos by students, the vintage machines with belts that used to connect to water power, the models, and modern machines.... All there! And the history of it all, how the development of interchangeable parts opened the door to the Industrial Revolution. It all happened here! Loved it!

Terri Sittig

A nice piece of American History.

Trevor Lewis

For anyone interested in machinery, or who has a sense of curiosity or wonder about how things are made or the origins of almost every created item we now take for granted, or an interest in history, this place is an absolute gem. It's strange how few people know that this place was literally the cradle of modern technology.

Riccardo Panella

This place is closed till May 26th, I don’t know how it is but I know that google is wrong!!!

David Howland

From Enfield it's more like 24 miles

Steve Lipofsky

This is a true hidden Jewel. History, machinery , and just a very fun place to visit.

Kevin: Healy

A great place to visit an amazing look back into America's manufacturing history.

Brenda Martini

Liked it

L&S Mann

Lots of history

Brandon Ulatowski

What a gem. If you have any interest at all in machinery, this place is for you. As a machine tool engineer, I found this place fascinating and educational.

Jeong Peter

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Wil Michael

A great little slice of history! This is an amazing museum of the once bustling precision valley. So many great exhibits of both old guns and the machines that made them. There are interactive exhibits and even some machining demonstrations. Would recommend for all ages. The staff her is extremely knowledgeable and freindly. A great way to spend a day.

Adriano Baglioni

Very cool historical museum. It describes the growth of industry in the Connecticut river valley in Vermont. Great old equipment, incredibly cool. Very interesting to STEM geeks and history buffs (I am both so woot!). The only problem is that the building is not heated. If you go in late October (as I did), it will be COLD in the building. It is closed in the winter. Go when the weather is pleasant.

Katie Olsen

Fun history lesson

David Seyer

Interesting, but not great.

Primo Psycho

Great place to get your inner geek going. I spent an enjoyable 2+ hours admiring power transfer pulleys, multi-jig lathes, and end mills galore. Plus, a gift shop!

Ken K

Worked there back in the days as a summer job when still in school, loved it....if you love machinery then you definitely have to visit...you won't be disappointed!!

Douglas Beagle

Great

MowerMan 6

Very cool place. Lots of history with live demos.