Stark's Vacuum Museum

Stark's Vacuum Museum is a collection of over 100 cleaning machines displayed in a small section of an operating store in Portland. The machines span from the late 1800s through the 1960s and show how vacuum technology developed across those decades.

The collection began with simple hand-operated devices from the 1800s and progressed to motorized models that became common in homes. This evolution happened as manufacturers developed new ways to make cleaning faster and easier for people.

The collection shows how people cleaned their homes across different eras and what tools they used for everyday chores. It reflects the way American household life has changed over time as technology improved.

The museum is free to visit and located within a working store, so you can browse the machines without extra expense. Plan time to look at each piece closely since the collection spans many decades and shows how designs changed.

One of the machines needed two people to operate it together, showing how much effort cleaning required back then. Another odd piece is a model mounted on runners that worked like a sled being pulled across the floor.