From Historic Sites to Unique Collections – Northeast Iowa Museums Tell a Great Story
Posted: December 12, 2025 | Updated: January 6, 2026
Northeast Iowa museums offer visitors a chance to step into stories that shaped the Driftless Region and beyond. They are the storytellers of prairie life and our local legacy.
Allamakee County
Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center
Learn more of the Driftless Area with a primary focus of the interpretive exhibits
1944 Columbus Road, Lansing 52151
563.538.0400
Open Mondays – Saturdays 8am – 4:30pm, Sundays 12-4pm, closed Sundays
https://www.allamakeecountyconservation.org/
Allamakee County Historical Society, Veterans Museum and Genealogy Research Center
Preserving the history and heritage of Northeast Iowa
121 Allamakee Street NW, Waukon 52172
563.880.3014 or 563.568.2954
Open Fridays 10am – 4pm or by appointment
https://www.allamakeecountyconservation.org/
Museum of River History
A fascinating look at our river history
61 South Front Street, Lansing 52151
563.538.4641
Open Saturdays, 1-4pm or by appointment
Clayton County
Carter House Museum
Built in the 1850s, this 18-room Greek Revival mansion is must-see
101 N High Street, Elkader 52043
563.608.5629
Open Memorial Day – September 30th
www.carterhousemuseum.com
Earthmoving Legacy Center
Showcasing the rich history of earthmoving from the 1880s to 1940
24412 North Highway 13, Elkader 52043
563.245.1442
Open Monday – Saturday, 9am-4pm
www.earthmovinglegacy.com
George Maier Rural Heritage Center Museum
Historic items collected by George Maier chronicling rural life in Clayton County
1000 Mascara Rd SE, Elkader 52043
563.245.2098
Open May – October on weekends
www.elkader-iowa.com/business/george-maier-rural-heritage-center/
Elkader Depot
Learn about the history of the Milwaukee Railroad that traveled through Elkader
900 Mascara Rd SE, Elkader 52043
563.880.2066
Open May 31 – October
elkader-depot-museum.org
Motor Mill Historical Site
A six-story limestone flouring mill and four related stone buildings dating from the late 1860s.
28518 Galaxy Road, Elkader 52043
563.245.1516
Open Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend, Saturdays and Sundays, 12-5pm or by appointment
www.motormill.org
Osbourne Welcome Center
Featuring Native Wildlife Exhibit, Pioneer Village and more!
29862 Osborne Road, Elkader 52043
563.245.1516
Open Monday-Saturday 8am-4pm, Sundays 12-4pm (April – October)
Open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (November – March)
www.claytoncountyconservation.org
Edgewood Museum
Learn more about the history of Edgewood
109 W Union Street, Edgewood 52042
563.928.0004
Open Saturdays 9am – Noon
edgewoodmuseum.org
Kendrick Sawmill Wood Tour
This walking tour is sure to amaze!
601 S Washington Street, Edgewood 52042
563.928.6431
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30am, by appointment
www.kfpiowa.com
Sherman Swift Tower
Explore replica of Althea Sherman’s 1915 chimney swifts’ tower
8 E South Street, Farmersburg 52047
563.536.2258 or 563.964.2535
Open for tours in the fall or by appointment when swifts are not nesting
shermanswifttower.org
Froelich Village Museum
Home to John Froelich’s invention that became the forerunner to the John Deere Tractor Company.
24397 Froelich Rd, McGregor 52157
563.536.2841
Check the website for hours
https://froelichtractor.com
Plagman Barn Show Days & Events
Revisit Iowa farming of yesteryear
28384 Garber Road, Garber 52048
563.880.1604
Open the third full weekend in September and by appointment
plagmanbarn.com
Garnavillo Historical Center
Learn more about the history of Garnavillo and the surrounding area
203 N Washington Street, Garnavillo 52049
563.880.5078
Open June – September, Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm and by appointment
www.garnavillohistoricalsociety.org
Lockmaster House Heritage Museum
The last remaining lockmaster house on the Upper Mississippi River
12 Lock and Dam Lane, Guttenberg 52052
563.252.2323
Open May – October, Thursday – Sunday, 1-4pm
Find us on Facebook at Guttenberg-Iowa Heritage Society
Marquette Depot Museum
Celebrating the town’s railroad history
216 Edger Street, Marquette 52158
563.873.1200
Open May – October, Monday, Thursday – Sunday, 10am-4pm (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
www.marquetteiowa.city
McGregor Historical Museum
Preserving memories, this museum is a treasure trove of local history
256 Main Street, McGregor 52157
563.873.2221
Open Memorial Day weekend – October, Thursdays – Saturdays, 11am-3pm
www.mcgregormuseum.org
Monona Historical Museum
Preserving area history and artifacts for the future
304 S Egbert Street, Monona 52159
563.536.8083
Open Monday – Friday, 1-4pm, Saturday and Sundays by appointment
www.mononamuseum.org
Wilder Memorial Museum
One of Northeast Iowa’s greatest treasures!
123 West Mission Street, Strawberry Point 52076
563.933.4615
Open Tuesday – Thursday, 1-4pm, Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm, also by appointment
www.wildermuseum.org
Volga Library Historical Exhibit
A glimpse into the historical and artistic heritage of the Volga River
505 Washington Street, Volga 52077
563.767.3511
Open Mondays and Fridays 1-6pm, Wednesdays 12-7 and Saturdays 9am-12pm
https://www.volga.lib.ia.us/
Fayette County
Clermont Historical Museum
Specializing in Clermont history, including military and school displays
26223 Harding Rd, Clermont 52135
563.423.5561
Open by appointment
Mavis and Connor Dummermuth Museum
Featuring farm and home antiques and memorabilia and adjacent to the Hart Dummermuth Historical Home, set up to depict a farm home from between the 1890s and 1920s
22580 A Avenue, Elgin 52141
563.422.5146
Open Wednesdays – Saturdays May-October, or by appointment
Elgin Historical Society & Museum
Established in 1990 and named to National Register of Historical Places in 2008, housing local historic artifacts and the Tribes of the Turkey River interpretive center
231 Center Street, Elgin 52141
562.422.4568
Open April – October, Saturdays 10am-2pm and February – December, 2nd Thursdays 1:30-4pm
Fayette County Historical Center
Variety of exhibits, including local and county history, military, agricultural, health care, advertising items, all with emphasis on Fayette County
100 N Walnut Street, West Union 52175
563.422.5797
Open Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays 10am-3pm
Hub City Heritage Railway Museum
Old railroad express building and yard office with refurbished cabooses and engines
26 2nd Avenue SW, Oelwein 50662
319.283.1939
Open Memorial Day – Labor Day Sundays 12-4pm or by appointment
Oelwein Area Historical Society Museum
Furnished country school room, parlor, bedroom and kitchen
900 2nd Avenue SE, Oelwein 50662
319.283.4203
Open June – September every Sunday 1-4pm or by appointment
German American Museum and Heritage Center
114-year-old St. Luke’s School Building, hosting an impressive collection of military memorabilia
212 E Main Street, St. Lucas 52166
563.778.2710
Open April – December 11am-3pm or anytime by appointment
Howard County
Cresco Theatre & Opera House
Built in 1914, this Theatre is one of the top HAUNTED places in Iowa!
115 2nd Ave W, Cresco 52136
563.547.1066
Open Wednesday-Sunday for movies and live entertainment, tours by appointment
crescotheatreoperahouse.com
Florenceville Church
Learn more about rural, historic churches
Along the Iowa-Minnesota border adjacent to Granger, MN
563.547.3434
Open the first Sunday of June for worship and by appointment
howard-county.com/business/howard-county-historical-society
Howard County Historical Preservation Center
A true delight for museumgoers with one-of-a-kind displays and artifacts including Dr. Norman Borlaug, Ellen Church; the world’s first Stewardess, an 1861 Civil War flag and more
220 7th Street W, Cresco 52136
563.547.3434
Open all year by appointment, during the MIGHTY Howard County Fair (last full week in June) and during community events
mhcfair.com/entertainment/howard-county-historical-preservation-center
Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
Established in 1970, this is the only museum or hall of fame in the world to feature native Iowans who have contributed to amateur wrestling
101 2nd Avenue SW, Cresco 52136
563.547.3434
Open Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm or anytime by appointment
iowawrestlinghalloffame.com
Kellow House
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visit this 1880s 2nd Empire style home
324 4th Avenue W, Cresco 52136
563.547.3434
Open all year by appointment and during the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest in August
howard-county.com/attraction/kellow-house
Little Red Schoolhouse
Built in 1858, visit a one-room schoolhouse and participate in an old-fashioned Spelling Bee during the Fair!
220 7th Street W, Cresco 52136
563.547.3400
Open during the MIGHTY Howard County Fair and by appointment
howard-county.com/business/howard-county-historical-society
Log Cabin
Two-room cabin lived in continuously from 1854-1964 (and at one time by two families!)
Beadle Park, Highway 9, Cresco 52136
563.547.3434
Open all year by appointment
visitnortheastiowa.com/attraction/log-cabin
Norman Borlaug Boyhood Farm & Birthplace
Learn more about this famous American (only one of seven to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal)
19518 200th Street, Cresco 52136 (Boyhood Farm)
20399 Timber Avenue, Cresco 52136 (Birthplace)
563.547.3434
Open all year by appointment for tours and available to visit all year
normanborlaug.org
Prairie’s Edge Nature Center
New displays featuring animals, a tree over 100 years old and more!
11562 Valley Avenue, Cresco 52136
563.547.3634
Open Mondays – Fridays, 8am-12pm and 1-4pm, closed Saturdays and Sundays
howardcounty.iowa.gov/conservation
Elma Railroad Depot Museum
Take a trip back in time of a Chicago Great Western Depot
319 Oak Street, Elma 50628
641.393.2618, 641.393.2539, 641.393.2679
Open Memorial Day – Labor Day, 2-4pm or by appointment
elmaia.com/business-directory/elma-railroad-depot-museum
Elma Schoolhouse Museum
A fun visit to a rural one-room schoolhouse
319 Oak Street, Elma 50628
641.393.2618, 641.393.2539, 641.393.2679
Open Memorial Day – Labor Day, 2-4pm or by appointment
elmaia.com/business-directory/elma-schoolhouse-museum
Winneshiek County
Vesterheim
Explore the diversity of American immigration through the lens of the Norwegian Americans
520 W Water Street, Decorah 52101
563.382.8828
Museum store and Vesterheim Commons, all year 9am-5pm, Museum and Store are closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Heritage Park, Open daily to wander the grounds. May 1- Oct. 31: Guided tour of Heritage Park – Wed. through Sat., excluding holiday weekends. (Call ahead to confirm.)
Second Saturday of the month: FREE, Museum Members: FREE, Luther College Students, Faculty, and Staff: FREE, EBT card holders: FREE, Blue Star Museum Program: FREE
Porter House Museum
Experience the historic travels, art, and collecting of naturalist, A.F. Porter and his wife against the backdrop of Victorian elegance that was their home and heritage
401 W Broadway, Decorah 52101
Open May – September, Saturdays and Sundays
Open June – August, guided tours, 1:00pm and 2:30pm
https://www.porterhousemuseum.org/
Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s only childhood home remaining on its original site and often considered “The Missing Link” in the Little House book series
3603 236th Ave, Burr Oak 52101
563.735.5916
Open May, Mondays – Saturdays, 10am – 4pm, June – August, Mondays – Saturdays, 10am – 5pm, Sundays 12-4pm, September – Mid October, Thursdays – Saturdays, 10am – 4pm, closed Sundays – Wednesdays
Locust School Museum
Experience a typical school day of the 19th and early 20th centuries
1640 Big Canoe Rd, Decorah 52101
563.382.4166
Call or email for tours, winneshiek.historical.society@gmail.com
Turkey River Cultural Center and Wood Carving Museum
With over 6,000 carvings this is the World’s Largest Wood Carving Museum
435 County Street, Ridgeway 52165
563.251.0546 or 563.737.2624
Open May – October, Fridays and Saturdays, 9am – 4pm and Sundays 1-4pm
German American Museum, Library and Family History Center
Learn more about the rich history and cultural heritage of German Americans
212 E Main Street, Saint Lucas 50151
563.380.3361
Open all year by appointment
Lake Meyer Nature Center
Connecting people to the outdoors and making the outdoors worth connecting to
2546 Lake Meyer Road, Fort Atkinson 52144
563.534.7145
Open all year and by appointment
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Tags: Agritourism, Arts & Culture, Family Friendly, History & Heritage
