The U.S. state of Ohio is a state with major cities and small towns. Among those small towns is the town of Sugarcreek. Located within the largest Amish region in the United States of America, it is famous for the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock and the Age of Steam Roundhouse, an active railroad roundhouse that is also a museum. Just a short drive from the Age of Steam Roundhouse is Erb’s Coleman Museum. What is Erb’s Coleman Museum? It is a collection of Coleman products mainly lamps. The Coleman Company is known for camping products including lamps, coolers, tents, and other things, but there is also a collection of lamps used in homes. Once you complete you visit to the Age of Steam Roundhouse, make a short trip to Erb’s Coleman Museum.
Some of you are saying, “This is great. I love Ohio, and I definitely love the Age of Steam Roundhouse. As for Erb’s Coleman Museum, well, I am not really a camper or an outdoorsman. Since it is not a railroad place like the Age of Steam Roundhouse, you will not find me camping out here.”
You are right. It is not a railroad museum. Why visit Erb’s Coleman Museum?
As you approach the museum, you will see a tent and maybe an Amish buggy. It is Amish Country. As you enter, you see a collection of lamps used for camping and for living and bed rooms. When you go upstairs, you see coolers, old radios, gas stoves, railroad flatcars…
Some of you are saying, “Railroad flatcars?”
You will see railroad flatcars across the tops of the exhibition cabinets. Sadly, they are not on a track, but there are plenty to see.
Whether you are an outdoors person or not, Erb’s Coleman Museum is a great place to visit, and it is a great compliment to your visit to the Age of Steam Roundhouse. It is located at 149 Seldenright Road SW south of the town of Sugarcreek. Please note that that property is not wheelchair accessible and requires that you climb a flight of stairs to the second floor. They also do not have a website, and only cash is accepted. What you will see is over 3,000 items on display.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 