The United States is home to several museums dedicated to watchmaking, each offering a unique perspective on the art and science of time. These museums feature varied collections ranging from antique clocks to modern watches, illustrating the evolution of watchmaking technology. Here is a selection of five must-see museums for watch and clock enthusiasts:
1 National Watch and Clock Museum (Columbia, Pennsylvania)
Located in Columbia, this is one of the world’s largest museums devoted exclusively to watchmaking. It features an impressive collection of over 12,000 objects, from the first mechanical clocks to modern wristwatches. Visitors can discover how watches work, and the different types of movement, including mechanical and automatic.
2.American Clock & Watch Museum (Bristol, Connecticut)
This museum offers a journey through the history of American watchmaking. It exhibits a vast collection of watches and clocks, highlighting the innovations and artisans who have shaped the industry. Exhibits also detail the types of movements and how watches work.
3.Willard House and Clock Museum (Grafton, Massachusetts)
The former home of Simon Willard, the famous American clockmaker, this museum features a collection of his clocks and those of his family. Visitors can learn how to become a clockmaker and find out about clockmaking training courses for adults. The museum also features live demonstrations of clockmaking, offering a fascinating insight into the artisanal process. In addition, temporary exhibitions highlight the evolution of watchmaking over the centuries.
4 The Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, Michigan)
Although this museum is primarily dedicated to industrial innovation, it does have an important section on watchmaking. Exhibits include automatic watches and mechanical clocks, illustrating the different types of movement and their evolution. Visitors can also attend interactive workshops to better understand the inner workings of clocks.
5 The Museum of Time (Rockford, Illinois)
This museum, although closed since the 1990s, remains a benchmark for watchmaking enthusiasts. It housed an exceptional collection of watches and clocks, and its legacy lives on through traveling exhibitions and archives available online.
These museums don’t just showcase historical objects; they also offer educational programs for those wishing to deepen their knowledge of watchmaking. And if you’d like to learn the basics of how watches work and the different types of movements, Objectif Horlogerie offers introductory watchmaking workshops in New York and Chicago.
