This humble-looking Standard Vacuum Sweeper is the reason this Museum exists. In the early 1970s, accountant Frank Livermore spotted this sweeper in the corner of a local junk shop and, intrigued by its mechanical workings, Frank bought it on the spot. From that day on, he became a collector, and soon his Menlo Park home was bulging at the seams with his eclectic collection of antique mechanical and electrical devices.
Frank's friends joked that he should start a Museum of his own and, when one gave him a sign saying, Smithsonian West, Frank began to take the idea seriously. Frank and attorney Perry Moerdyke began the process of forming a registered non-profit Museum. In 1985 the Museum of American Heritage was incorporated. Frank's collection formed the nucleus of the Museum. In 1990 the Museum of American Heritage opened at its first location on Alma Street in Palo Alto and in 1997 MOAH was awarded tenancy of the City of Palo Alto's historic Williams House.
The Frank Livermore Trust was established to provide ongoing financial support for the care and maintenance of the collection.
Frank passed away in 2000, yet his curiosity and reverence for the spirit of innovation lives on in this Museum.
Today the collection boasts over 6,000 mechanical and electrical artifacts largely dating from the 1850s to the 1950s, which are housed in an offsite warehouse. Our artifacts are displayed in rotating exhibits at the Museum and are often loaned to other Museums and institutions for exhibit purposes.
The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH), the Bay Area LEGO User Group (BayLUG), and the Bay Area LEGO Train Club (BayLTC) will once again co-host the Annual Holiday LEGO Extravaganza at MOAH. Visitors will enjoy a variety of LEGO creations made by members of the club, featuring train layouts, Bay Area landmarks, castles, miniature cities, sculptures, portraits, and more!
The LEGO extravaganza will be open to the public from December 13, 2013, through January 19, 2014 (11 am - 3:30 pm, Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Club members will be present during weekend hours to answer questions about the displays. Admission is $2 per person, free for BayLUG and MOAH members.
The 10th annual Vintage Vehicles and Family Festival
MOAH is planning the 10th Annual Vintage Vehicles and Family Festival (VVFF) on May 3, 2014, to be located at the Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Avenue in downtown Palo Alto (between Waverley and Bryant). This free annual community event will feature a wide range of unique vintage cars on display for the public to enjoy. To round out the celebrations, MOAH will be hosting an open house featuring Meccano models, hands-on science demonstrations, and other family-friendly activities. The Museum�s feature exhibition will be open for viewing.
Repair Caf�
Repair Caf� will be held on March 2, 2014 at the Museum from 11am
to 3pm. For more information on Repair Caf�, please visit their WEBSITE .
Membership
Join today! Membership dues help sustain MOAH. For more information and to download a Membership Form
LEARN MORE HERE
For questions and comments
Contact Us.
Mailing Address
PO Box 1731, Palo Alto, CA 94302
Join today! Membership dues help sustain MOAH. For more information and to download a Membership Form
LEARN MORE HERE
For questions and comments
Contact Us.
Mailing Address
PO Box 1731, Palo Alto, CA 94302
Visit
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, California
p. 650.321.1004
e.
Contact Us for more info!
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, California
p. 650.321.1004
e.
Hours of Operation:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
from 11am to 4pm.
