Information about the Museum

Devoted primarily to farm life in the Knox County area, the Knox County Agricultural Museum houses more than 3,000 items used on the farm and in the house, preserving artifacts of rural life. The Knox County Agricultural Museum was started in 1984 when small tools and household items were brought to the Knox County Fair and displayed. Interest in these antiques demanded that steps be taken to collect and display farm and household items of the past.

The Museum is managed by a volunteer committee headed by a coordinator, an assistant coordinator, secretary and treasurer. The membership makes all decisions regarding the operation of the museum.

The Museum is located on the county fairgrounds which technically is under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners. The museum is a formally organized committee (department) of the fair board. This arrangement assures the eternal operation of the museum. Such an arrangement also relieves the museum committee of the responsibility of taxes, insurance, utilities, snow removal, lawn care and security. The museum handles its own funds, bank accounts and management decisions. All museum funds are audited annually and a report made to the fair board. In turn the fair board makes an annual report to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Location, points of interest, contacts

The Knox County Agricultural Museum is located on the Knox County Fair grounds, Mount Vernon, Ohio. It houses many items and activities common to the agricultural development of this county. In the museum you will see corn shellers, cider press, blacksmith tools, many small farm tools, butchering tools, early laundry machines, butter churns and treadle sewing machines. As well as the museum, there is an active rug weaving group, and other buildings common to farm life: log cabin, well house, one room school house and the Lion House from the old Hiawatha Park, where the fair ground are now located.

Support for the Knox County Agricultural Society is always welcome: financial support for general operations, a specific project or endowment funds, volunteers to serve on committees or to work at the museum or on its projects; items for donation to the museum or other efforts to preserve our rural past.

The Agricultural Museum at the Knox County fairgrounds is in Academia, just north of Mount Vernon on State Route 3.   A link to Google Maps is provided below.  The museum is open during the fair in late July and by appointment other times. For further information please contact 740-392-6102 or 800-837-5282 or write to Knox County Agricultural Association, P.O. Box 171, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050