Museum Features Rare Horse-Drawn Buggies
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Robert “Bob” Thomas III is fighting to keep a unique piece of American history alive. In the fall of 2007, Thomas took his father’s vast collection of antique horse-drawn carriages and buggies and opened the Robert Thomas Carriage Museum in Blackstone, Virginia. From pre-Civil War era carriages to mail wagons from the early 1900’s, Robert Thomas Sr. had amassed a large collection of rare vehicles built before automobiles transformed society.
After spending thousands of dollars to restore the collection, Thomas’s parents donated the carriages, buggies, wagons and carts to the town of Blackstone. The town received funding from the state of Virginia and with a $50,000 donation from the Thomas family worked to keep the museum open.
In December 2021, the museum housed 35 vehicles. Thomas says there’s room for a few more and he’s open to vehicle donations, especially restored carts, buggies, wagons and carriages. “If it’s something different than what we have, I can always pull one out, try to sell it and replace it with a different one,” Thomas says. “If I’m switching over to something new, that helps the museum, too. After a while, you have to bring in something new to keep people coming in.”
The current collection includes a Victorian model, his father’s favorite, generally used by upper-class citizens in the late 1800’s. “This model is used in New York’s Central Park,” Thomas says.
Most of the carriages in the museum were used by middle-class people and farmers. Thomas’s personal favorite is the Rockaway, built in 1812. The nearly 200-year-old carriage is the museum’s oldest. The museum also has a U.S. Army ammo cart from World War I.
A new website for the museum was recently completed. Those browsing can take a virtual 3D tour.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, 217 N. High St., Blackstone, Va. 23824 (ph 804-921-7460; www.visitblackstoneva.com).
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Museum Features Rare Horse-Drawn Buggies LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Robert “Bob” Thomas III is fighting to keep a unique piece of American history alive In the fall of 2007 Thomas took his father’s vast collection of antique horse-drawn carriages and buggies and opened the Robert Thomas Carriage Museum in Blackstone Virginia From pre-Civil War era carriages to mail wagons from the early 1900’s Robert Thomas Sr had amassed a large collection of rare vehicles built before automobiles transformed society After spending thousands of dollars to restore the collection Thomas’s parents donated the carriages buggies wagons and carts to the town of Blackstone The town received funding from the state of Virginia and with a $50 000 donation from the Thomas family worked to keep the museum open In December 2021 the museum housed 35 vehicles Thomas says there’s room for a few more and he’s open to vehicle donations especially restored carts buggies wagons and carriages “If it’s something different than what we have I can always pull one out try to sell it and replace it with a different one ” Thomas says “If I’m switching over to something new that helps the museum too After a while you have to bring in something new to keep people coming in ” The current collection includes a Victorian model his father’s favorite generally used by upper-class citizens in the late 1800’s “This model is used in New York’s Central Park ” Thomas says Most of the carriages in the museum were used by middle-class people and farmers Thomas’s personal favorite is the Rockaway built in 1812 The nearly 200-year-old carriage is the museum’s oldest The museum also has a U S Army ammo cart from World War I A new website for the museum was recently completed Those browsing can take a virtual 3D tour Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Robert Thomas Carriage Museum 217 N High St Blackstone Va 23824 ph 804-921-7460; www visitblackstoneva com
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