A visit to the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont is a step back in time. But this is just the beginning of the journey, as visitors travel to more recent years, all while learning about he heritage of mechanical art and science. This unique display, featuring the amazing work of inventors and draftsmen, contains the country's largest collection of historically significant machine tools.
Open from late May to October 31, the American Precision Museum is located in the Robbins & Lawrence Armory at 106 Main Street. These enterprising men were a large part of what came to be known as the "American System," which spawned a huge manufacturing and machine-tool industry in the eastern half of the United States.
The founder of this museum, Edwin A. Battison, retired from the famous Smithsonian Institution and took up the task of preserving and restoring the Robbins & Lawrence site. Battison was the museum's first director, from the late 1960s to 1991. He was born in Windsor and had a special interest in Industrial Revolution artifacts.
In 1966, the National Park Service made the Robbins & Lawrence Armory a National Historic Landmark. This site was also the first International Mechanical Engineering Heritage Site and Collection.
The American Precision Museum in Windsor is near the boyhood home of President Calvin Coolidge. This proximity makes the region of Vermont particularly interesting to history enthusiasts.
Admission to the American Precision Museum: Adults, $6; students, $4; family, $18. More information about this unique piece of American history is available by calling (802) 674-5781.
