In 1987, identical twin sisters opened a museum to show off their collection of Victorian perambulators. After 35 years of hard work and traveling the world to add to the collection, the museum in Jefferson, Ohio, has more than 300 antique baby carriages, called perambulators or “prams,” which were status symbols for the wealthy. The finely crafted carriages are ornate and mostly made of wicker. The oldest pram in the museum is from 1850 and was owned by the Vanderbilt family. Also on display are carriages once ridden as children by historical figures like Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, and celebrities like Lucille Ball. And there are thousands of Victorian dolls, children’s toys and other 19th century art.
Intrigued? We were, too! But if you want to see this unique collection, you have to hurry. Pandemic stresses and a lack of visitors are forcing the sisters to close the museum. The museum is at 26 E. Cedar Street, Jefferson, OH 44047. The phone number is 440-576-9588. Check out this YouTube video to see more of the items and hear the sisters talk about how it all started.
Photo: Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau, VisitAshtabulaCounty.com