History

On July 15, 1919 the Nebraska Tractor Law known as House Roll 85, 37th sesson was enacted by the Nebraska State Legislature to encourage the manufacture and sale of improved types of tractors. A tractor testing laboratory facility was constructed on the agricultural campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

The first successful Nebraska Tractor Test was started March 31, 1920. The pioneer tractor tests became worldwide standards. Since 1920, tractor testing and performance data has contributed to more successful uses of tractors in agriculture.

Nebraska Tractor Test 001 Waterloo Boy 1920

Lester F. Larsen served as the Chief Engineer of the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory from 1946 to 1975. He was instrumental in initiating the collection of historic tractor test equipment as well as acquiring tractors that illustrate the key developments in agricultural technology over the decades.

In 1980, tractor testing moved to a new larger facility and the old laboratory became recognized as a Historic Landmark by the American Society of Agricultural Engineering. For the next 10 years, the historic building deteriorated while Lester Larsen and students from the University of Nebraska utilized the building for restoring tractors. Larsen initiated the preservation of the historic tractor testing facility to the extent that a Tractor Museum Committee was established by the Governor of Nebraska who appointed an Antique Farm Equipment and Machinery Commission in 1991.

Lester F. Larsen

A nonprofit corporation was established in 1994 recognized today as the Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum. The purpose of the Friends organization was to bring together people to restore the original Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory into a Museum and preserve its collections through establishing an endowment for continual financial support.

The Museum was named after Lester F. Larsen in 1998.