Nishna Heritage Museum

Shows all phases of life in southwest Iowa; beginning with prehistoric animals. Collection of dolls; tools; wrenches and prehistoric rocks. See covered wagon. Partially accessible for disabled. In 1975 the local historical society purchased a dry goods and grocery store that had been built in 1905 and turned it into a museum. The building covered three lots, and since then—in 1988—one more lot has been added. Here visitors can learn a great deal about all phases of southwest Iowa’s history. Displays pertaining to the prehistoric animals and rocks found in that area have been developed. Many different types of artifacts dating from the time the town was founded in 1854 have been gathered and used in interesting exhibits. One can see an example of a kitchen of 1900, barber hop, cobbler shop, items from a blacksmith shop, farm machinery such as a sod-buster plow, early harrow, grinder, slip scraper, grain cradles, and flail, late 19th century clothing and scooter-bikes, and a switchboard of 1902.