Tractor Museum - College of the Ozarks.

[sanddunerider]

Has anybody been there.  How is it?  Information? displays?

Went to the robert foster museum last year, and like it.

I have not been able to find a website for it.  Just the college>

[rubedugans]

This site gives some information about the museum.
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56534
I have only been to the Ralph Foster Museum on the campus.

[sanddunerider]

Thanks Rube, I do like the Foster museum

well i will check out the tractor museum in april or may.. try to get some pics and will check and advise.

[thelarsonsix]

I doubt you'll find a website just for it. It's one of those places that seems you just "have to know about." I honestly can't remember how I found out about it now, but everytime we take new people to Branson we try to show it to them. We go there once a year or so, even though not much changes. It's mainly restored antique tractors and some farm equipment. The building is not real big, it's always been open when we've went, and there's never anyone in there or around. It's a nice place to go in the summer to get out of the heat and relax. Here's some pics from a few years ago:

[sanddunerider]

those a great pics. i am ready to go!  But have to wait a couple of more weeks..thanks

[thelarsonsix]

Np. 

[How-doFolks]

Wicked!!

[sanddunerider]

And the Tractor museum is free admittance according to the college website..

The robert foster museum is only 6 bucks for adults and under 18 is free. It is worth seeing.  they have 4 floors of goodies to look at. 1 floor is dedicated to firearms, and war relics.they also have the original beverly hillbillies car!

[rubedugans]

I went once and covered the whole place. It was great. They have one of the largest collections I have seen of guns, and one of the largest of taxidermy animals. umor is they have a Morgan Earp revolver and a Pancho Villa rifle...I saw so many guns that day, I have no clue which was which...Great place to spend a rainy afternoon. I went back a second time just to have my photo taken IN the beverly hillbillies car. Great memories!

[sanddunerider]

Your right Rube,  great way to spend a morning or afternoon.  Like you i have been through and couldnt begin to tell what weapons are on disply.  anxious to go back..  i will either go next weekend or in april.  makes a great filler for something to do inn the morning..

something i want to add. this museum is WAY MORE than just the weapons.. Althought the weapons collection is very impressive. They are on one floor and there are 4 floors al together. 

here are some of the other collections:
Ozark hand made quilts'
dolls
hillbilly car- the original
science equipment
lots of glassware
1 room log cabin furnished - (inside the main building)
Farm equipment/utensils/tools
3 or 4 tractors-  including steam powered
and the list goes on and on

Something for everyone to see-  Gauranteed!

[rubedugans]

Most definitely! there are so many items that one could not even imaging the things you can experience. several cars. Rose O'Niell items, Harold Bell Wiright displays> The B.J. Circus was amazing! I like to look at this link every month to see the showcased items.

http://www.rfostermuseum.com/artifact_archive.asp

[pintrader]

The Ralph Foster Museum is a must see!  I remember at one time it was free to get in, but of course with up keep they had to start charging sometime.  The original hillbilly truck was really neat to see.  I also remember them having a real shrunken pygmy head which was quite interesting.  They also had like a 10 ft. tall stuffed polar bear that was pretty intimidating.  Lots of things to see, I would highly recommend it.

[sanddunerider]

Thats funny Rube, I wanted to mention the circu, But did not know how to describe what it was...  size & detail?   thats a great link. i will save it..

You and pintrader are right!  Lots of stuff. I just want to make sure nobody was being mislead about only being guns! thanks for the help clearifying that.

thanks again!

[rubedugans]

Polar bear is still there, shrunken head was in storage last time I was out there.

[Junior]

The museum used to have a horse drawn hearse with coffin in the back! The Ozarks Hall of Fame was housed there, too. There was a good Indian arrowhead collection, and a coin collection, plus artwork...a Thomas Hart Benton painting is there. It is worth visiting from time to time. (I'm a former student there, so I'm partial to the Ralph Foster Museum.)