If you head out to nearby Eaton—and more specifically, the grounds of Eaton Grove Nursery—you’ll find a unique building run by nonagenarian Lee Maxwell. Lee, and the building he designed and constructed with his own hands (and a little help from friends), is home to the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of washing machines in the world.
Not surprisingly, it’s called the Lee Maxwell Washing Machine Museum. It’s not only a marvel to behold, but it’s also open to the public for guided tours that delve into both the museum itself and the fascinating, lengthy history of the humble yet hardworking household appliance that keeps our clothes fresh and clean.
A retired CSU electrical engineering professor and self-proclaimed tinkerer, Lee has spent nearly half a century meticulously curating and restoring his collection of over 1,800 washing machines. His passion for vintage appliances has turned into a labor of love that educates, entertains and inspires those who visit this one-of-a-kind repository.
The machines—some dating back as far as 1840—range from primitive wooden hand-cranked models to early gasoline-powered contraptions. Visitors will also find the first electric washers, which revolutionized laundry day in the early 20th century.
Lee has devoted countless hours to disassembling, cleaning and reassembling each machine, restoring them to working order (yes, they still work!) with the precision and care of a master craftsman. As a result, Lee has earned the title of the foremost expert on vintage washing machines in the United States and possibly the world.
It all began in 1985, shortly after Lee retired from teaching at CSU after 23 years. With a new motorhome and a desire to explore, he and his wife, Barbara, set off on a cross-country road trip to Maine. Along the way, Lee’s pioneering spirit led him to a farm auction in Iowa, where he purchased his first antique washing machine—a 1915 Maytag with a gasoline engine—for $80.
“At that time, I was interested in the mechanical artistry of it,” Lee recalls. “Even though I was an electrical engineer, it was the mechanical gears and everything like that that I really liked. So, we put it on the roof of the motorhome and drove off. By the time we got to Maine, I had purchased three more.”
What began as a seemingly spontaneous purchase quickly spiraled into a full-fledged obsession. By the time they returned home to Colorado, the Maxwells were the proud owners of 13 vintage washing machines, marking the beginning of Lee's worldwide quest to collect these fascinating artifacts of domestic history.
Over the years, Lee—often with Barbara at his side—scoured flea markets, auctions and antique shops far and wide, traveling beyond the U.S. to Europe and Australia in search of rare finds.
Through word of mouth and a website Lee created to catalog his collection (oldewash.com), the museum began attracting visitors curious to see his trove of laundry-related relics, which also includes blueprints, schematics, vintage memorabilia such as advertisements and an expansive collection of related contraptions that Lee built based on patents for inventions that, in many cases, were never built by their original developers.
Tours are by appointment only, run these days by Lee's son, Mike, who offers an educational and entertaining blend of wisdom, wit and wonder through hands-on demonstrations, ensuring every visitor leaves both amused and inspired.
"We’ve had people come from Cincinnati and Columbus, or even as far as France and Germany," Lee says. "We usually get between 600-800 people per year."
Much of Lee’s fascination with washing machines stems from his belief that these appliances represent more than mechanical ingenuity; they are symbols of cultural and social progress. His 2003 book, Save Women’s Lives: History of Washing Machines, chronicles how these devices eased the burden of household chores, giving women more time and freedom to pursue education, careers and activism.
These days, Lee spends much of his time and energy seeking an organization or individual willing to preserve and expand upon his work. He has already spoken with the Smithsonian Institution, but after multiple discussions and visits, no deal has been finalized.
“I like to say the museum is worthless and priceless in the same breath,” Lee smirks. “It’s worthless because I want to give it away. Priceless because it’s the only place on the planet where you can see nearly the full evolution of the washing machine.”
Meanwhile, Lee’s constant learning and tinkering continues. His days are filled with restoring, cataloging and building his beloved machines.
Lee hopes his tireless, yet joyful work will leave behind a legacy that not only preserves the history of these essential machines but also inspires future generations to find beauty and meaning in the everyday objects that shape our world, as he has for so many decades.
Lee Maxwell’s Washing Machine Museum is home to the Guinness Book of World Records' largest collection of antique laundry machines.
Housed on the grounds of the Eaton Grove Nursery (35901 Co Rd 31), this have-to-see-it-to-believe-it museum bursts at the seams with vintage washing machines dating back to the 1840s, plus a treasure trove of related laundry tools, retro household appliances, memorabilia, schematics/patents and more from around the globe.
Whether you're intrigued by Maytag's surprising history or love nostalgic advertising, there’s something to delight everyone.
Tours are $150 for no more than ten people per group, are by appointment only and typically last around two hours. Children under 12 are not admitted. For more information visit oldewash.com.
"I was interested in the mechanical artistry of the thing."
"[T]he only place on the planet where you can see the full evolution of the washing machine."