Farm museum

Mihkli Farm Museum in Viki, Estonia.

A farm museum, or museum farm, is a museum based on a historical farm and its buildings, presenting agricultural history. Often the farm is still a working farm, for demonstration and educational purposes. Occasionally these museums are required to move from their original locations to a new site. ^[1] This relocation can occur for various reasons, such as preservation efforts, ^[2] urban development, expansion, or improved accessibility for visitors.

Notable examples

Farm museums and living history sites around the world include:

• The Farmer's Museum (Cooperstown, New York, USA) is a unique institution offering a glimpse into the lives of rural Americans. ^[3]

• Ross Farm Museum (New Ross, Nova Scotia, Canada) is an authentic, living heritage site that explores life on a Nova Scotia family farm over 100 years ago. ^[4]

• The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) (Reading, England) focusing on the history of English farming and the countryside, with extensive collections of objects, archives, and photographs. ^[5]

• National Museum of Agriculture (Prague, Czech Republic) includes six historic sites and collections that explore technology, rural life, hunting, forestry, and brewing. ^[6]

References

1. Robinson, Lisa (2023-09-08). "Lease terminated for Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum". WBAL. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
2. "Carroll County Farm Museum's maintenance building rebuild under way following 2021 fire". Baltimore Sun. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
3. "25 Best Farming Museums".
4. "Ross Farm Museum".
5. "University of Reading".
6. "About the museum".

See List of open-air and living history museums in the United States for a list of such farms in the U.S., or Open-air museum for farms in other countries.

See also

• Open-air museum
• Rural American history