History

Religious

St. Clement Church—Spillville

Early German church built by Czech and German citizens of Spillville

Location: south of Spillville

St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church—Spillville

Built in 1860–the oldest Czech Catholic Church in the U.S.

Location: north side of Spillville

The World's Smallest Church, St. Anthony of Padua Chapel—Festina

Built in 1885: 12’ x 16’ with a 40’ steeple; St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of lost things

P: 563-532-9366

St John’s Church—Ridgeway

The “Old Stone Church”; German Lutheran structure built in 1873; historically beautiful and photo worthy

Location: 3300 240th Street

Sites

Antonin Dvorak Memorial—Spillville

Monument set in a lily pond with beautiful foliage dedicated to Antonin Dvorak, who spent 3 months in Spillville in 1893

Location: Riverside Park

Fort Atkinson Preserve—Fort Atkinson

A military post built in 1840 to protect the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Indians; Rendezvous Days celebrates its history (Sep)

P: 800-463-4692 | fortatkinsoniowa.com/fort-dnr

Lidtke Mill & Mill House—Lime Springs

Built in 1860, the interior is preserved in its entirety; call for tour information

P: 563-566-2827

Locust School—Decorah

Built in 1854; served as a country school for 106 years

P: 563-382-4166 | winneshiekcounty.org/hist-soc.html

Museums

Bily Clocks Museum, Antonin Dvorak Exhibit, & Pioneer Schoolhouse—Spillville

Clocks carved by two bachelor farmers in the early 1900s; famous Czech composer memorabilia; the original Spillville schoolhouse

P: 563-562-3569 | bilyclocks.org

Fort Atkinson Public Library & City Museum—Fort Atkinson

History of the Fort Atkinson area, including Native American and early settlement

Location: north side of Fort Atkinson

Norman Borlaug Boyhood Home and Farm—Cresco

Borlaug received Novel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Gold Medal; (farm: west of Protivin)

P: 563-547-3434 | normanborlaug.org

Howard County Historical Museum—Cresco

Features 1861 civil war flag, world’s 1st stewardess, Norman Borlaug, player piano, Swenson stump puller, and more

P: 563-547-3434 | howard-county.com

Fayette County Historical Center—Cresco

Fayette County history, genealogy, military memorabilia, and Native American history

P: 563-422-5797 | fayettecountyiowa.org/HistoricalCenter.html

Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum—Burr Oak

The only Laura Ingalls Wilder childhood home on its original site; visit nearby historic church, jail, playground and picnic facilities

P: 563-735-5916 | lauraingallswilder.us

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum—Decorah

A national treasure with 33,000 artifacts, 12 historic buildings, and a folk art school

P: 563-382-9681 | vesterheim.org

Porter House Museum—Decorah

1867 Italianate villa: collections of early 20th century gentleman naturalist and his wife

P: 563-382-8465 | porterhousemuseum.org

Allamakee County Historical Museum—Waukon

1861 two-story building with rooms furnished to reflect 19th and early 20th centuries: farm tools, military, medical, court room

P: 563-568-2954 | allamakeehistory.org