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The Howard County Historical Preservation & Educational Center (generally known as the Howard County Historical Museum) at the Howard County Fairgrounds has a large collection of historical items and information.
Open to the public during the MIGHTY Howard County Fair and during community events, tours can be scheduled during off times. Call 563.547.3434 to schedule your tour.
Today, the Museum proudly displays a flag made by the women of Howard County in 1861 in honor 68 men who answered the call of President Abraham Lincoln to join the Union Forces. They took the flag to remember home and made it through many battles as a keepsake of Companies H and D in the Ninth Iowa Infantry. They fought battles at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Sherman’s march to the sea. Upon discharge in April of 1864, the old flag was thought to be lost but Charles B. Ashley of Howard County found it in a heap of rubbish and brought it home. This well-made tattered flag is on display at the Museum.
Learn about Ellen Church at the Museum. Born and raised in Cresco, Ellen Church started the profession of Stewardess. Think about that: a little girl from Cresco, Iowa, a town of less than 4,000 started a global industry!
Ellen had her pilot’s license and wanted to be an airline pilot. Approaching Boeing, she was turned down by the powers-that-be. After all, she was “just a girl”. Undaunted, Ellen returned to Boeing and suggested that since they were going to fly planes with passengers on it, maybe having nurses on board would be a good thing. This idea Boeing liked and on May 15, 1930, Ellen Church became the nation’s first “Air Hostess” or “Sky Girl” which rolled into Stewardess and later Flight Attendant. The original qualifications were stringent. Everyone had to be registered nurses, single and under the age of 25. They had to be less than 5’4″ tall and weigh less than 125 pounds. Ellen contributed in so many ways, including the military. Stop in and learn more!
Also honored at the museum is Brigadier General Coral Conway Pietsch, a ground-breaking woman Army general, who was originally from Cresco. She along with the 5 Admirals, five little boys grew up in land-locked Cresco to become Admirals. Unheard of! Cresco and Howard County take pride in their numerous military contributions.
Dr. Norman Borlaug is honored at the Museum. May be considered greatest Iowan ever. Dr. Borlaug is credited with saving billions of people from starvation with his development of a hybrid of wheat that could be grown in places that couldn’t previously grow anything. Dr. Borlaug is only one of seven to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Learn more about Dr. Borlaug at the Museum and schedule a tour by calling 563.547.3434.
Many displays are featured at the Museum: a jail, the first fire truck in Howard County, a display from Lyric Hall; Cresco’s first Opera House, stain glass window donated by William C. Brown in honor of his parents, and more.
