FARM HISTORY MUSEUM

 

The Farm History Museum houses a wide variety of antique farm machinery and other displays pertaining to farm life in the early to mid-1900s, including horse-drawn to early power equipment.

ONE-ROOM COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE

 

The one-room country schoolhouse has been authentically restored and is fully furnished and operational.  School is actually held there for one week every fall.  Open for tours throughout the season, one can easily see what the rural school experience was like.

 

PENN AVE. CHURCH (WEDDING CHAPEL)

 

The Penn Avenue Church is on the complex to represent the 27 country churches which once served Adair. Built in 1896, it has been beautifully renovated and houses artifacts from several of the country churches in the county.  The church is available for public use and has become a popular wedding chapel. 

GOV. GEORGE A. WILSON'S HOME

 

George A. Wilson was born in Adair County and served as Governor of Iowa from 1938 - 1942.  His birthplace home is now part of the Historical Complex.  Furnished as it may have been when he lived there, the house holds his desk, mementos from his travels, and other personal items.

 

 

 

MAIN MUSEUM BUILDING

 

The Main Museum Building houses a variety of displays, as well as a meeting room available for public use, a music room and an extensive research library.  It is also home to a unique display of items from the making of the movie "Cold Turkey," filmed in Greenfield in 1969, and memorabilia from the "30th Reunion" of the cast and townsfolk in 1999.

 

Display cases hold items which tell the history of the Pioneer Lifestyle, the Mormon Trail and the early settlers in Adair County. Medical and military displays, as well as displays of vintage clothing and accessories, household and small farm implements, antique tools and Indian artifacts are highlighted. Separate areas depict  an early Post Office, Kitchen, General Store, Doctor's and Dentist's Offices, and a Creamery.  One room features a large display of quilts.

 

There is also a display honoring Henry A. Wallace, vice president of the United States, founder of Pioneer Seed Corn, and Adair County native, named the 20th Century's "Most Influential Iowan" by the Des Moines Register.

 

A variety of musical instruments are displayed in the Music Room, named in honor of the original benefactor of the museum, Nellie Moffitt Masten.  This room is furnished with a many of her personal possessions.

 

A new display honors the work of Adair County native, Ray "Bubba" Sorenson, the artist responsible for painting the Freedom Rock

   

Mormon Trail Interpretive Panel

A Mormon Trail Interpretive Panel near the Main Museum building tells the story of he Mormon trek through Adair County and includes a map of the migration route across Iowa.

Additional Mormon Trail memorabilia is included in a display inside the museum's Main Building.