"Honoring 35 Years of Collectors" Exhibit at Museum of American Heritage

Honoring 35 Years of Collectors

35 years ago, Frank Livermore, the founder of the Museum of American Heritage (MOAH), ignited his passion for collecting mechanical and electrical items after acquiring a Standard Vacuum Sweeper at a garage sale in the 1960s. His collection quickly grew to the point that his friends gave him a plaque proclaiming it the “Smithsonian West.”

Frank had a vision for a museum to display technological inventions that would “inspire innovators of the future through inventions of the past.” In 1985, Frank, along with his lawyer friend Perry Moerdyke and other signatories, made this vision come true by incorporating his collection as the Museum of American Heritage.

Starting with Frank’s initial collection of 600 artifacts, the Museum of American Heritage focused on what Frank loved: electrical and mechanical artifacts that show the evolution, influence, and relevance of historic innovations to the technologies and society of the past and present.

Since opening to the public in 1990, MOAH’s collection has grown to over 8,000 artifacts, which are housed in our 13,000 sq. ft. San Carlos Warehouse. However, MOAH didn’t grow its collection alone. It is thanks to the dedication and interest of collectors and individuals that MOAH’s collection now thrives.

Over the past 35 years, MOAH has been fortunate to have many generous artifact donors who have contributed to the growth of our collection. For this reason, we have chosen to honor six major collectors who have played a vital role in shaping MOAH’s collection over the years. These six collectors are: Jim Adams, Dave Baer, Larry Boysen, Leo Keoshian, Frank Livermore, and Herbert Perry.

This exhibition showcases pieces from each of these collections to highlight their importance and influence on MOAH’s growth. We hope this exhibition inspires you to start or continue collecting your own items of interest.

Host or Publisher The Museum of American Heritage