Shelby Co Historical Museum

Located in Shelby County, Iowa.
Here to enrich the knowledge and appreciation of Shelby County and its people - past, present and future.
#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

We are excited to announce that we have received a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for technology upgrades at the museum!

These updates will allow us to continue to celebrate and preserve our community's rich history. We are grateful for @wgpfoundation's support!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Did you know that October is Family History Month?

Here are 3 questions to ask family members to document your family history:
1. What was your childhood home like?
2. What has changed the most since you were a child?
3. What is your earliest memory?

#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Stop by the museum during business hours to check out our entry into this year's Scarecrow Showdown for Harvest Fest!
Our display features a recreation of a 1920's bathing suit and straw boater hat. Help us win the Scarecrow Showdown when voting opens on October 19th!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

It's Homecoming Week in Harlan!

To celebrate, we're scootin' back to the 2001 homecoming game. The Harlan Cyclones beat the Carroll Tigers 44-14. The Cyclones went on the finish the 2001 season 10-2 and won a state runner-up trophy.

Good luck this week, Cyclones!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

This is a great opportunity to learn about genealogy research, and the resources available at the Shelby County Historical Museum. The presentation is free and open to the public, so bring a friend and enjoy an informative night at the museum!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Today, we are sending 58 thank you cards to Operation Gratitude to be distributed to American military service personnel.

Thank you to everyone who has visited our Military Exhibit Hall and written a thank you note, and those who have donated thank you cards for the exhibit!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Happy first day of school!

School fashions sure have changed since this photo was taken at the Lincoln Township Country School No. 4 in the early 1900s. This school building was replaced by a schoolhouse built by the the Klitgaard brothers in the early 1920s.

#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Here's hoping this picture of the Old Chatburn Mill Dam on the Nishnabotna River keeps you cool during this heat wave! The photo was taken on July 1, 1913 and donated by Gladys Reynolds.

#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Find the us at the Shelby County Fair in Floral Hall! We can't wait to see you there!

#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Top Left: Pamphlet for the 73rd Annual Shelby County Fair held on August 17-20, 1942.
Top Right: Top prize trophy for the baking contest at the 1917 Shelby County Fair.
Bottom: Ticket for free entrance to the Shelby County Fair on August 24, 1892.

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

The Shelby County Fair is a long standing tradition at the fairgrounds in Harlan each summer. Stop by Floral Hall next week to check out the Genealogy and Photography entries, and to see our display about our upcoming Community Sports exhibit!

#MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Like these guests at a 4th of July picnic, we are excited to celebrate the holiday next week! The museum will be closed on Monday, July 4th in observance of the holiday.

The picnic took place at Will James' Farm near Astor, Iowa on July 4, 1911. How will you celebrate this year?

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

On this day in June 1989 our volunteers were working hard to prepare for Log Cabin Day. 33 years later, our staff is carrying on the tradition of cleaning up before our favorite event!

Stop by the Shelby County Historical Museum this coming Sunday, June 5th for Log Cabin Day!

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Happy National Hamburger Day! Here is a photograph in our collection of the Christensen Cattle Farm!

#cattle #MyShelbyCoMuseum #hamburgers #Iowa #farming #cows

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

We are 10 days away from the best day of the year - Log Cabin Day! Join us Sunday, June 5th at 1:00 PM as our Guest Speaker Greg Steenbock shares about his childhood and his family's discovery of the Leland Log Cabin!

#MyShelbyCoMuseum #LogCabinDay

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Are you from Shelby County?
Did you play sports while you were in high school?

If you answered YES to these questions, then we are looking for your high school sports photos for a Shelby County sporting exhibit.

Email [email protected] to learn more

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Pictured is a class held at the Western Iowa Vocational College located in Harlan. The college opened in 1911 and was in operation for approximately five years before it closed!

#MyShelbyCoMuseum #history #college #Iowa #ruralhistory #midwest

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Happy Earth Day! We are thankful that our community has always been passionate about the environment.

Pictured is the Harlan Recycling Center in 1974. The center was built by the Kiwanis.

#MyShelbyCoHistory #happyearthday #recycle #volunteer #Iowa #museum #history

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

We may not be holding a Style Show at our Mother's Day Tea Party on May 7th, but we will have something equally as fun at our photo booth! #MyShelbyCoMuseum

[Shelby Co Historical Museum @ShelbyCo_Museum]

Are you looking to research some of your family's history?
Utilize the Shelby County Historical Museum's Alwill Genealogical Research Center! #MyShelbyCoMuseum