vacuum cleaner museum and factory outlet

One of life's surprises. This place is absolutely unbelievable. Arranged by decades, the museum traces the the evolution of the vacuum. There is a lot of nostalgia in the various settings. Tom, the curator is a deep reservoir of knowledge and is very comfortable in explaining the vacuum.

We stopped here for a laugh with the intention of just taking a picture from the outside as a giggle to show our friends. However, I was a bit intrigued so persuaded my fiancée to go in with me. I'm so glad we did!!! The chap working there showed such enthusiasm and delivered his impressive depth of knowledge in such an animated way that we left totally enthralled, nattering away about vacuum cleaners all the way through the rest of Missouri. This really is a must stop along route 66, don't underestimate it, you'll be surprisingly entertained!

One of those "must see" roadside attractions if you are following Route 66 or have a taste for the offbeat. This was my THIRD visit and my THIRD discovery that the museum gift shop does not have any sort of hats or shirts for sale. The potential for cool Vacuum Cleaner Museum-themed hat and shirts is huge. I have always arrived ready to but an "I was there" souvenir but alas...they have yet to figure out what every tourist attraction inn the Free World learned a long time ago.

Basically this place is a review of the vacuum cleaners history. You may do it in 5 mins or 2 hrs! You may (not) enjoy the smell though! I would say if you're traveling north or south through I44, and if you need a quick rest or break in the not-so-boring drive in Missouri, take a peek in this place and make your trip a little more interesting. Just as a tip, it is not really worth it to plan to visit this museum only! unless you are a big fan of vacuum cleaners or you have additional plans such as visiting the wineries in the area.

My son enjoyed the quick stop by the Vacuum Museum. I could have spent more time here, but we made it a quick stop. I loved how it was divided up by decades. I wish I could by the vacuum from 1904 that works better than mine! I wish they guy had given us a tour of the whole place instead of just the beginning. He was very interesting and new a lot of the history. I would stop by again and plan to spend a little more time. The advertisements were hillarous. Best part was it's FREE!!!

Who knew it would be so interesting? Of course, the enthusiasm and knowledge of the staff there was what was most memorable. You can take the short tour (half an hour) or the full tour (about an hour). Americana at its best.

No entrance fee a nice travel to the good old days your get information if you want to but can also just walk around

Stopped with my daughter on spring break. Free self guided tour took us about 20 minutes and was interesting.

If you like country music or fine art or anything in between, you and your posse should sweep into St.James and get the low-down on the vacuum museum. Starting with the lowly carpet beater (no vacuum) and proceeding from the hand powered to the electric marvels of today by way of the various patents and mixing new and old technologies, this museum's 600 machines explore all the dusty corners of vacuum manufacturing, marketing and technology .right up to the camouflage special. Yes, this is also the home of a small (and the only American) vacuum maker whose effort to bring back manufacturing jobs back to the USA is commendable and also worth hearing about. There isn't a exhibit on the future of the vacuum, but you can be sure that if St James' vacuums are on Air Force One, they will soon join Buzz Lightyear in his travels to the stars...and beyond.

If you have a few extra minutes while in the St. James area this is a nice place to visit. The tour only takes about 15 minutes but is very interesting and fascinating. It is also free.

This little museum is located at a vacuum factory. However, they have close to 600 working vacuums that date as far back as the early 1900's. It is set up in rooms by decade, complete with the decor of those dates and the information is really interesting. Youll learn why vacuums have lights on them and other interesting facts. And best of all, it's free!

So well done I am sure it was done by professional. There are a number of rooms each done in the decor of a time period with the furniture and vacuum cleaners of that time. And I loved the idea that this company whose museum it is makes AMERICAN vacuum cleaners which are state-of-the art.

Truly a great time will be had when you stop by and visit this museum. Tom, the curator is such a charming, informative person. Such knowledge he has. Such a gracious way he has telling about the history of vacuum cleaners. You just don't realize till you've heard the history of vacuums' what you've been missing. More important is the factory that is associated with the museum. The Simplicity Vacuum Cleaner company. A made in Amercia vacuum cleaner.!!We all need to buy one and support America. Tom will explain it all on your visit. Take the time to stop and visit. You will be glad you did.

My family and I were in town for my brother's boot camp graduation nearby and we kept seeing the signs for this museum. We kept making jokes about how it'd suck (haha) and since it was free and we had some downtime we figured, Why not? It was actually awesome. We went through the tour of vacuums through the ages and learned more than we knew could be learned about vacuums and history. If we had been there on a factory operating day we could have toured the factory too. We talk about it often and if I'm ever nearby again, I'd go again. :)

We toured this museum at the insistence of a grandson but we were glad we went. Very informative and genial tour guide.