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Carriage Collection Mrs. Viola Winmill

Objects of Interest Tours

Take a trip into the past by visiting the Winmill Carriage Collection at Morven Park. You will see a wide variety of antique vehicles used between the mid 1800's and the early 1900's. See how suburbanites commuted to the city in Dennett and Stanhope Gigs. Gentlemen going out for the evening would travel in a Hansom Cab much like the ones seen in Sherlock Holmes movies. The Silsby Steam Pumper was one of the first to use a rotary motor. The Sprinkler Wagon was popular in cities to keep the dust down. These vehicles were donated by the late Voila Townsend Winmill of Warrenton, Virginia in 1967 and include many of the 120 carriages she collected over a period of forty years.

Of particular interest is the miniature Road Coach once owned by "Tom Thumb" of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Mrs. Winmill bought this coach after having two accidents with her larger coaches, which injured both her father and husband. She drove six ponies to the small coach and was a favorite attraction at the International Horse Show and Gold Cup Races for many years. Also on display is the antique Hearse that was actually used for Mrs. Winmill's funeral in 1975.

Click here for the history of Mrs. Viola Winmill & The Winmill Carriage Collection