FLOOR 2 THE FUTURE: A
Fundraising Campaign for the American Precision Museum
Engaging audiences in the stories of human ingenuity through the lens of manufacturing —learning from yesterday, exploring today, and imagining tomorrow.
Ushering a History of Innovation into the Future
The American Precision Museum has been celebrating human ingenuity for nearly 60 years. Located in the historic Robbins & Lawrence Armory and machine shop in Windsor, Vermont is a National Historic Landmark. This four-story mill built in 1846 has a global-reaching history as the birthplace of precision manufacturing.
The innovations that took place in this building transformed the world. Parts for machinery, rifles, and tools were previously custom-fitted by hand, making production, repairs and replacements expensive and timeconsuming. Once manufacturers were able to create precisely identical components that could be replicated, everything changed–daily life, local and national commerce, and even the global economy.
Our History
Samuel Robbins, Nicanor Kendall and Richard Lawrence, formed the Robbins, Kendall & Lawrence partnership and secured a contract to manufacture 10,000 Model 1841 rifles for the U.S. Army. They built a four-story armory on the south side of Mill Brook, which would become the birthplace of precision manufacturing.
Robbins & Lawrence sent six rifles to the Great Exhibition in London, where they received a medal for the quality of their rifles, showcasing what would become known as the American System of Manufacturing to the world.
The British government ordered 25,000 rifles and 138 machines from Robbins & Lawrence, recognizing their superior manufacturing techniques.
Under various ownership over the next decades, the mill building saw cotton processed, sewing machines made, and 50,000 rifles manufactured for the Union during the Civil War.
After an idle decade, Frank A. Kennedy purchased the building and converted it into a power-generating facility, marking its adaptation to new industrial uses.
Founders of the Robbins & Lawrence Company: Richard Lawrence, Nicanor Kendall, and Samuel Robbins
Today, the American Precision Museum shares this story of innovation in the very same town and building where the American System of Manufacturing was invented almost 180 years ago. It spotlights America’s visionary contributions to the Industrial Revolution and honors the place and people who made the Connecticut River Valley, also referred to as the Precision Valley, a manufacturing hub.
We look to this past to understand how investments at key moments in history fueled innovation and changed the fabric of American life. We find ourselves, once again, with an opportunity for a mill in Windsor, Vermont to lead the way for the next transformation.
Floor 2 the Future: A Campaign for the American Precision Museum will uphold this legacy by modernizing the museum’s infrastructure and amplifying and expanding manufacturing pathways to inspire the next great generation of makers and innovators.
A group of students of mixed ages learning the First LEGO League coding program Spike.
Our Challenge
Automation and advances in technology are creating new challenges and opportunities for employers, employees, and local, state, and regional economies. Investment in manufacturing is at an all-time high, and yet, the manufacturing workforce lags behind projected demand.
One reason for this is the myth that manufacturing jobs are dirty, dangerous, and dull. The reality is that manufacturing is high-tech and innovative, rich with meaningful, dynamic, and well-compensated careers.
As the birthplace of precision manufacturing, the American Precision Museum must play a critical role in changing the narrative about our industry and support the evolution and growth of American and global manufacturing. We believe we are well-positioned to be a springboard for the necessary advocacy of the manufacturing renaissance through the expansion of the experiential and inspirational learning that the APM is able to provide.
This critical growth initiative requires more usable space and infrastructure, and we see reclaiming and repurposing the second floor as the way to make this happen. By modernizing and expanding the Museum’s infrastructure right now, we can respond to the current manufacturing revival and uphold the building’s legacy as a site of industrial advancement and ingenuity. Together, we can write the next chapter of manufacturing history.
Snapshot: Skilled Manufacturing Sector
48% of manufacturing jobs in the United States are currently filled by employees aged 45 and up with 25% over retirement age in ten years. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Campaign Objectives
Preservation
We believe the future of innovation is inextricably linked to the past, so we diligently preserve and exhibit the artifacts of human ingenuity. Restoring and reconfiguring our building is a critical next step in keeping and building upon this shared history, as well as positioning the Museum as an inspirational leader in manufacturing for future generations.
Education & Inspiration
Partnerships
Floor 2 The Future
We believe that everyone can engage in making and manufacturing and should have opportunities for hands-on problem-solving and innovative thinking – experiences that are inspiring, accessible, inclusive and relevant. Currently our interactive exhibits and learning activities are limited to the first floor and lobby. An expanded and modernized facility will enable us to host workshops, author talks, more on-site learning experiences for science and math classes, meeting space for our corporate partners and local groups, and will provide sufficient office space for staff.
As keepers of Precision Valley history, we take pride in presenting the innovations of our local community and how they influenced manufacturing in America and across the globe. This shared history unites the Museum with all manufacturers and facilitates the creation of lasting partnerships which will enable us to meet future challenges. Engaging our corporate partners and local community means being able to keep our history alive, advocate, and create pathways for careers in manufacturing, and serve as a state-of-the-art gathering and collaboration space.
Pathways to inspire the next generation Education and Inspiration
Preservation Partnerships
Renovate the Second Floor
When drafting our plan to modernize the American Precision Museum’s infrastructure, we realized that, as with any old and historic buildings, we had to prioritize our strategies. We asked ourselves what updates would enable us to most effectively preserve the past, while educating, inspiring, and building partnerships for the future.
Our Goals
$2.6 Million + $200,000 for endowment
Completed by December 2026
Our answer is a campaign focused on reclaiming and renovating the second floor. This will increase usable space by 45% and make major strides towards bringing our museum up to modern standards.
Red, in this image, represents existing usable space, while yellow represents the 45% additional space available after the renovations.
With early support from the State of Vermont in the form of a $500,000 matching grant, the Museum is off to a strong start. But to achieve our goal of $2.8 million, we need your participation.
This renovation, as depicted in the floor plan, will include:
• A large multi-use classroom and conference room for educational programming and community/corporate meeting and event space
• Educational materials & technological tools to outfit the classroom and meeting spaces
• Amenities for staff and visitors, including a coffee area, bathrooms, and a more functional office configuration
• Additional collaboration spaces, including an education and document space, a small meeting room, and additional available space that could serve as additional exhibition space.
• ADA access to second floor via LULA (Limited Use/Limited Access Elevator)
• General restoration and repair to the building
$2.8 Million Campaign Budget
Preservation $1,165,000
$305,000 Relocate Collection & Building Repairs
$280,000 ADA Access to Second Floor (Includes LULA)
$380,000 Code compliance for Fire Safety
$200,000 APM's Endowment
Education and Inspiration $965,000
$700,000 Classroom and Conference Room
$265,000 Education Document Space and Educational Materials & Technology
Partnerships $670,000
$470,000 Small Meeting Space
$200,000 Reconfiguring Office Space and Add Coffee Area & Bathrooms
Board of Trustees
Chet Birger, Tilton, NH
Rob Caron, Wells, ME
Christopher Gray, Springfield, VT
Eric Hagopian, South Deerfield, MA
Greg Jones, McLean, VA
Greg Kaufman, Washingtonville, NY
Richard Kline, Cincinnati, OH
Bill Lynn, West Lebanon, NH
Darcy Miller, Tarrytown, NY
Lee Morris, Windsor, CT
Lorraine Palmer, Punta Gorda, FL
Emma Saucier, Charlestown, NH
Larry Schwartz, Clear Spring, MD
Mike Shipulski, Lebanon, NH
Don Thomas, New London, NH
Contact Us
Steve Dalessio
Executive Director steve@americanprecision.org
Devon Kuhrau Development Associate dkuhrau@americanprecision.org
Dave Eastman
Director of Development and Communications deastman@americanprecision.org
Jerry Rex Corporate Development Director jerryrex@americanprecision.org
