Video: MSU’s ‘Hidden Gem’: Clock Museum

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Big clocks, small clocks and even pocket watches are just a few of the extensive collection showcased at Mississippi State.

“It’s kind of a hidden gem, not many people know about it,” said MSU student, Jeff Steinwinder.

Bought from across the country, some of these clocks date back to as far as the early 1700’s.

“The clock museum, it was a personal collection of Mr. Cullis Wade. He was a graduate of Mississippi State, graduated in 1940 in electrical engineering and he and his wife when they married, they started collecting clocks and they collected their first one, which was one of the french clocks in Winona. And it just became a passion of theirs,” said welcome center assistant, Wanda Eck.

Mr. and Mrs. Wade would continue to collect, hoping to one day house their collection at their alma mater.

The family then donated money to build the Cullis Wade Depot but he had just one request.

“One of his stipulations was that he would like a museum built where he could donate all his clocks and so that’s where we got the clock museum,” said Eck.

The museum has been opened for nearly 10 years now.

It’s the only clock museum in the state.

Eck says visitors are often surprised when they see the clocks.

“And it’s always interesting when you say you have a clock museum. People look at you funny, like clocks? Then they walk in and are like Wow! Its amazing to see this mayn clocks in one place,” added Eck.

Mr. Wade passed away in 2012, and his wife in 2004.

The museum is open to the public for tours.

To schedule a tour, call 662-325-5203