Camp Algona POW Museum

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Camp Algona POW Museum The Camp Algona POW Museum preserves the information concerning the Prisoner of War Camp that existed in Algona from 1944-1946.

The Camp Algona story isn't just about the POWs who were held here. It's also about the people who have spent years find...
10/12/2026

The Camp Algona story isn't just about the POWs who were held here. It's also about the people who have spent years finding, preserving and sharing those stories.

Brian Connick has been part of that effort for a long time. After 35 years of teaching history, including 31 years in Algona, Brian became interested in the camp while his students were working on an oral history project about World War II. As they interviewed people, they kept hearing stories about the POW camp right here in Algona.

Around the same time, a small group of people was working to figure out how to preserve the story of Camp Algona, so Brian joined in. He's been an active Board Member and a big part behind our vision at Camp Algona POW Museum.

One of his favorite things about being involved with the museum is that there's always something new to learn. Someone might bring in an artifact, share a family story or ask a question that sends him looking for an answer.

After all these years, he's still finding pieces of the story he didn't know before. We're glad Brian is one of the people helping keep those stories around to share.

🍂 There’s something special about taking a drive through Iowa in the fall. The leaves are changing, the landscape looks ...
10/02/2026

🍂 There’s something special about taking a drive through Iowa in the fall. The leaves are changing, the landscape looks a little different every week, and it’s a good time to get out and see where the road takes you. 🍁

If your fall drive brings you through the area, make a stop in Algona and spend a little time at Camp Algona POW Museum. There’s quite a bit of history tucked away in this small town, and it’s a story many people don’t realize they’ll find here.

We can’t wait to see you!

Museum Hours
Saturdays & Sundays: 1:00–4:00 PM

Look at the detail on this! This small wooden calendar is one of the many handmade objects in our museum collection. The...
09/28/2026

Look at the detail on this! This small wooden calendar is one of the many handmade objects in our museum collection. The carvings and moving pieces of the calendar took real skill and patience to create.

German POWs at Camp Algona made a variety of handmade objects during their time here, and pieces like this give us a glimpse of the craftsmanship and talent behind them. There’s plenty more to see when you look around the museum, so come take a closer look and see what catches your eye.

Museum Hours
Saturdays & Sundays: 1:00–4:00 PM

Sometimes you just have to get into character! Deanna & John Chitambar from Roseville, CA, made the most of their recent...
09/24/2026

Sometimes you just have to get into character! Deanna & John Chitambar from Roseville, CA, made the most of their recent visit to the Camp Algona POW Museum. Thanks for stopping in and having a little fun with us! 😊

Here's something most people don't expect about Camp Algona: the POW experience reached far beyond the main camp.Camp Al...
09/15/2026

Here's something most people don't expect about Camp Algona: the POW experience reached far beyond the main camp.

Camp Algona served as the base for a network of 34 branch camps across Iowa and neighboring states. German prisoners were sent to these smaller camps to work where communities needed labor. Some worked on farms and in fields, while others worked in canneries, nurseries, milk plants, factories and other businesses.

Agricultural work was an important part of that effort. In one example, about 2,400 POWs working in seven southern Minnesota branch camps helped save an estimated 65% of a record-breaking pea crop in 1945. Their work helped make an estimated 2.6 million cases of canned peas available.

The branch camps are one of those parts of the Camp Algona story that can be easy to overlook. Once you start looking at the map, though, you realize just how far the story reaches.

Have you heard stories about German POWs working in the area? We'd love to hear what you know!

Looking for something a little different to do this week? Come explore local history right here in Algona during the Alg...
09/08/2026

Looking for something a little different to do this week? Come explore local history right here in Algona during the Algona Museum Crawl — Thursday, Sept. 10, from 6–8 p.m.

We're proud to be one of the stops! Five local museums are taking part:
📍 Camp Algona POW Museum
📍 Kossuth County Historical Society Museum
📍 Kossuth County Ag & Motorsports Museum (with Benschoter Train Depot)
📍 Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum
📍 Algona POW Nativity Scene

It’s a unique chance to visit several local museums in one evening and discover something new! See the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce website for tickets and event details. https://www.algona.org/events/details/algona-museum-crawl-2952

Can’t make the Crawl? Come see us this fall! We’re open Saturdays and Sundays from 1–4 p.m.

We love seeing Algona through the eyes of someone discovering all there is to explore around town. Thanks for highlighti...
09/04/2026

We love seeing Algona through the eyes of someone discovering all there is to explore around town. Thanks for highlighting our area, Iowa Scenic Views By Foot!

⭐️ New museum hours starting September 1 ⭐️ Starting tomorrow, September 1, the Camp Algona POW Museum will be open:Satu...
08/31/2026

⭐️ New museum hours starting September 1 ⭐️

Starting tomorrow, September 1, the Camp Algona POW Museum will be open:

Saturdays & Sundays | 1:00–4:00 p.m.

These are our regular hours through the fall, winter and spring. Plan a weekend visit to explore the WWII history that happened right here in Iowa. pwcampalgona.org

John Moeller and his son, Sebastian, recently visited us from Omaha. John's grandfather was a POW at a different camp du...
08/31/2026

John Moeller and his son, Sebastian, recently visited us from Omaha. John's grandfather was a POW at a different camp during World War II, and that family connection sparked John's interest in learning more about the experiences and stories of POWs around the country.

He remembered his grandfather telling stories about some of the people he met while he was a POW and how kindly he was treated. Years later, his grandfather even reconnected with one of the guards.

It's a great example of the relationships that developed between POWs and the people in the communities where they were held.

That connection is part of the story we tell at Camp Algona, too. Our exhibits include stories about area residents and their involvement with the camp and the prisoners held here.

Thanks for visiting, John and Sebastian!

Address

114 S. Thorington Street
Algona, IA
50511

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+15152953719

Website

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