History

The New York State Museum’s agriculture collection includes various farming implements from the colonial period to more recent times. From shovels to large threshing machines, the collection covers most aspects of harvesting the land. A highlight of this collection includes materials from the New York State Agricultural Society which was formed in the late 18th century to improve the condition of agriculture, horticulture, and the household arts within the state through the use of new scientific procedures and methods.  The artifacts collected through this society came to the New York State Museum in 1901 and became the basis for the Historical Collection.