What Can Visitors See at the Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural and Country Living Museum?

The Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural and Country Living Museum displays the farm and home implements, tools, and antiques that, in the museum's own words, "revolutionized the American way of life." Its collection is organized around two connected themes: agricultural history and country living. Admission is free, with donations appreciated, and as of January 1, 2026 the museum lists hours of Monday through Sunday, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., with special hours during its Festival of Trees event.

The two sides of the collection

The museum's featured exhibits fall into two broad categories that match its name.

Farm implements and tools

The agricultural side covers the equipment and tools used to work the land. These are the objects that changed how farming was done and, by extension, how American life was organized. Expect to see the machinery and hand tools of a working farm rather than fine art or decorative pieces.

Home and country living items

The "country living" half of the name is reflected in home implements and household antiques — the everyday objects of rural domestic life that sat alongside the farm equipment. Together, the farm and home collections tell one story: how ordinary tools and implements reshaped daily life in America.

What kind of museum experience to expect

This is a history and heritage museum, not an interactive science center. The value is in seeing authentic period objects and understanding what they were used for. If you are interested in:

• How farms operated before modern machinery
• The tools and household goods of rural American life
• Antiques with a documented purpose rather than display pieces

…then the collection is aimed at you. If you are looking for hands-on exhibits or a large-scale art museum, this is a different kind of visit.

Where it is and what to combine with a visit

The museum is located in Emerson Park, on the north shore of Owasco Lake. The site itself notes that after visiting the museum you can enjoy a picnic and go for a swim at the public beach — so a visit can reasonably be combined with a lakeside outing rather than treated as a standalone stop.

Practical details to plan around

Because the Festival of Trees runs on special hours, check the museum's schedule before a visit during that event rather than assuming the standard 10–4 window.

Volunteering

The museum states that it welcomes volunteers of all skill levels and talents. If the collection itself is what draws you, volunteering is the museum's own suggested way to get more involved — no specific prior experience is listed as required.

The short answer

You will see farm and home implements, tools, and antiques presented as the objects that transformed American daily life, split between agricultural history and country living themes. It is a free, donation-supported museum in Emerson Park on Owasco Lake, open daily 10–4 as of January 1, 2026, with different hours during the Festival of Trees.