Antique Powerland
Encyclopedia
Antique Powerland is a collection of museum
s and a self-described heritage site for power equipment, such as farm machinery, trucks (lorries), trains, construction equipment, and the engines which power them. It is located in Brooks
, Oregon
, United States
, and is operated by the non-profit Antique Powerland Museum Association. It was initially established by a group of enthusiasts "dedicated to the preservation, restoration and demonstration of steam powered equipment, antique farm machinery and implements."
The museum is located on a 62 acres (250,905.3 m²) parcel of land just off Interstate 5
in Brooks, and has been in operation (in various forms) since the 1970s. Originally, the site was primarily used for "threshing bees", a forerunner to the modern tractor pull, and the remainder of the site committed to farming. With the addition of a truck museum and a railroad museum, the entire grounds were dedicated to exhibits; the current structure of Antique Powerland has been in operation since 1996.
Each summer, Antique Powerland presents the Great Oregon Steam-Up, wherein many of the exhibits are fired up and displayed in an operational state. Despite the name, many different types of power equipment are displayed, including steam-powered equipment, diesel
-powered equipment, gasoline
-powered equipment, and electric
-powered equipment.
Antique Powerland is structured as a collection of museums, some indoor and some outdoor, each operating together on the Antique Powerland site. The various museums focus on different types of equipment, and have different exhibits on display. Many of the exhibits are interactive; there are several operating train
s on the property which visitors can ride.
Member museums, along with the equipment exhibited, include:
The signature event at Antique Powerland is the Great Oregon Steam-Up, an event held each year during mid-summer when many of the exhibits, normally displayed in a non-operational state, are fired up and shown running. The Steam-Up includes events such as a parade
of vintage power equipment, sawmill demonstrations, demonstrations of using vintage equipment to harvest wheat, and numerous other exhibits. The year 2010 marked the Steam-Up's 40th anniversary.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s and a self-described heritage site for power equipment, such as farm machinery, trucks (lorries), trains, construction equipment, and the engines which power them. It is located in Brooks
Brooks, Oregon
Brooks is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Brooks as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is operated by the non-profit Antique Powerland Museum Association. It was initially established by a group of enthusiasts "dedicated to the preservation, restoration and demonstration of steam powered equipment, antique farm machinery and implements."
The museum is located on a 62 acres (250,905.3 m²) parcel of land just off Interstate 5
Interstate 5 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, Interstate 5 traverses the state from north to south, passing through the major cities of Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Medford.-Route description:...
in Brooks, and has been in operation (in various forms) since the 1970s. Originally, the site was primarily used for "threshing bees", a forerunner to the modern tractor pull, and the remainder of the site committed to farming. With the addition of a truck museum and a railroad museum, the entire grounds were dedicated to exhibits; the current structure of Antique Powerland has been in operation since 1996.
Each summer, Antique Powerland presents the Great Oregon Steam-Up, wherein many of the exhibits are fired up and displayed in an operational state. Despite the name, many different types of power equipment are displayed, including steam-powered equipment, diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
-powered equipment, gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
-powered equipment, and electric
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
-powered equipment.
Exhibits and member museums
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s on the property which visitors can ride.
- Western Steam Fiends Association. A steamSteam engineA steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
heritage group, which exhibits and operates various types of steam-powered equipment, including tractors, a rail-mounted steam crane, and an operating wood-fired, steam-powered sawmillSawmillA sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, which is used to mill lumber for exhibit construction. - Branch 15- Early Day Gas Engines & Tractors Association. An organization which exhibits small engines, tractors, and related farm implements.
- Antique Implement Society. Displays large operating oil and gasGasolineGasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
engines. - Willow Creek Railroad. Operates a large-scale model railroad on the site, with over 5000 feet (1,524 m) of trackage, which visitors can ride (two riders per train car). Includes both gasoline and steam-powered engines.
- Oregon Two Cylinder Club. An association of John DeereJohn DeereJohn Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
enthusiasts; exhibits John Deere Tractors and implements, and operates a 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) wheat field on the premises.
- Northwest Blacksmith Association. Operates Powerland's machine shop and blacksmith shop.
- Brooks Historical Society. Maintains and operates the historic BrooksBrooks, OregonBrooks is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Brooks as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same...
railroad depot, now relocated to the grounds of Powerland. - Pacific Northwest Truck Museum. An organization which preserves trucking history and vintage trucks, emphasizing trucking in the Pacific NorthwestPacific NorthwestThe Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. Operates a 26300 square feet (2,443.3 m²) indoor museum, with 60 restored trucks on display, divided into two buildings—one containing small trucks such as pickups and delivery vans, the other containing semi-trailerSemi-trailerA semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
s and tractors.
- Oregon Electric Railway Historical SocietyOregon Electric Railway Historical SocietyThe Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society operates a railroad museum and a heritage railroad for electric streetcar and railway enthusiasts.-History:...
. A society dedicated to preserving the regional heritage of electric rail transportation. The society operates the Oregon Electric Railway MuseumOregon Electric Railway MuseumThe Oregon Electric Railway Museum is the largest streetcar/trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is owned and operated by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society and is located in Brooks, Oregon, on the grounds of Antique Powerland.The original museum opened in...
at Powerland, and operates a vintage electric trolleyTramA tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
which circles the perimeter of the site.
- Oregon Fire Service Museum, Memorial, and Learning Center. Established in 1993 to preserve the heritage of firefighting in Oregon. Maintains a collection of antique fire enginesFire apparatusA fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
of various vintage.
- Oregon Tractor Pullers, Inc. Operates tractor pulls involving vintage tractors at the site.
- Antique Caterpillar Machinery Museum. Exhibits equipment manufactured by Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
. - Willamette Valley Model Railroad Museum. A museum dedicated to model railroading.
- Northwest Vintage Car & Motorcycle Museum. A museum dedicated to the heritage of the automobileAutomobileAn automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
and motorcycleMotorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. Among the exhibits is a replica of a 1930s TexacoTexacoTexaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
service station.
Great Oregon Steam-Up
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
of vintage power equipment, sawmill demonstrations, demonstrations of using vintage equipment to harvest wheat, and numerous other exhibits. The year 2010 marked the Steam-Up's 40th anniversary.