When you think of museums, you may think of old artifacts and history, but museum curators are also watching modern-day technology and how it tells the story of changing times. Abeer Saha, curator of the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, D.C., said less than one percent of artifacts curators collect go on display. Three tractors made the cut and are on display for millions of visitors, along with some other agricultural artifacts.
Saha said that what might be common for you on the farm, like a GPS in your tractor or an irrigation system, is something the Smithsonian and its patrons take interest in. Nothing is more common than the tractor itself, which was a game-changer for U.S. agriculture.
Saha says the Smithsonian doesn’t just collect history- they keep an eye on current trends as well.
Museum visitors will see three tractors on display at the museum. They range from an old Waterloo Boy with steel tires to a tractor simulator for guests to try out a modern John Deere.
