Audubon County Historical Society

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Audubon County Historical Society A National Historical District, the park and it's museums and the Exira Museum are operated by the Audubon County Historical Society

The park consists of a Schoolhouse, Blacksmith Shop, Farm & Mural museum, the "Poorhouse", the barns and other outbuildings of the former county farm, as well as, the Elk Herd, a pioneer cemetery, pet cemetery, and Nature trail. The Meeting Hall is available for events.

10/11/2026

Upcoming free concert for music lovers! The Montana Ramblers, will perform at the Rose Theater on Thursday, October 23 at 7 pm. Sponsored by The Audubon Public Library.
Theater concessions will be available for purchase (popcorn, pop, candy, water). Hope to see you there!!

10/10/2026

Update from the Elk Horn Gas Station

As of today, Wednesday, October 7th, the former YESWAY location is now OPEN under Now & Forever LLC!

At this time, the Elk Horn location is not permitted to sell alcohol. However, they are able to sell to***co and v***r products. We will update once the liquor license is finalized.
Transitions in ownership always come with challenges and changes, and there may still be a few things being worked on—but they are open for business!

They do not currently have a social media page for this location, so we are sharing this update on behalf of the staff there.

Now is the time to get your venues reserved for next spring/summer for graduation, weddings, bridal showers, receptions...
10/10/2026

Now is the time to get your venues reserved for next spring/summer for graduation, weddings, bridal showers, receptions, family reunions, weekend crafting events, etc. The WPA Hall at Nathaniel Hamlin Park checks all your needs:

……Beautiful facility with lots of seating and flexibility to make the decor your own.
……large screen tv to display your videos or slideshows
…… Updated kitchen with roasters, serving utensils, etc. we even have a large assortment of glassware to elevate your serving table
…..large windows with a gorgeous view of the park grounds, landscaping, and buildings. Enjoy it while sitting in the comfort of air conditioning.
…..plenty of green space for parking and for the kids to enjoy, not to mention the joy of visiting and feeding the elk.
…..Easy, level entry for handicapped or anyone having difficulty walking.
….. The scenic grounds would be the perfect background for an outdoor wedding. No need to have a backup location for the weather; just move inside the hall.

I have included some videos and photos of a recent anniversary celebration held in the hall to showcase its beauty. Pictures just don’t do it justice! To reserve your date, talk to any of the Historical Society board members or call (712) 304-4015

Rain or shine, the show will go on. We have lots of indoor activities and exhibits, a hot dog meal, ice cream, face pain...
09/13/2026

Rain or shine, the show will go on. We have lots of indoor activities and exhibits, a hot dog meal, ice cream, face painting, banana bread and trail mix for sale. It’s a good day to get food, sit in the meeting hall, and watch a great elk informational video.

PLEASE SHARE and invite others to join you. One of the best kept secrets( we are trying to change that) are the historic...
09/08/2026

PLEASE SHARE and invite others to join you.

One of the best kept secrets( we are trying to change that) are the historical museums in our county. Here’s your chance for a free view of the facilities at Nathaniel Hamlin Park ( one mile south of Audubon), see and feed the elk( two new babies and a new bull), play old fashioned kids games, enjoy food and ice cream, play yard games, learn about the elk and native grasses, join in a foam party, and more. If you’ve never been there, you are missing out. The most common response we get from new visitors is, “ there is so much to see. I had no idea all this was here”.
See you Sunday!!!

We will also have our tasty banana bread available and elk meat sticks for donations. The Elk Feed Novelty bags will available, too.

We all know the saying, “when life hands you lemons-make lemonade”. Here at ACHS we say, “ when life gets bananas- make ...
07/24/2026

We all know the saying, “when life hands you lemons-make lemonade”. Here at ACHS we say, “ when life gets bananas- make banana bread.” LOTS of Banana Bread! We will taking our baked goods, as well as some bags of trail mix, to local Produce in the Park events. I will have both in Exira, Friday evening in the city park. We have both full sized loaves and mini loaves available. All proceeds go to Audubon County Historical Society.

07/19/2026

I often hear about people’s travels around the country/ world; seeing the historical sites, learning about the history and progress of the area. Often those same people have never taken the time to see and learn of the history where they reside, right under their feet. Nathaniel Hamlin Park and the Exira Museum have wonderful resources and exhibits at both facilities. Most of the people volunteers are well informed about the History of Audubon County and they love to hear more from visitors. Both facilities have made some amazing improvements the past couple years through the use of grants and donations.
We are open each Saturday, 12-3p, through the summer months, or by appointment.
Come learn about the history of Audubon County.

You are looking at about 130 years (1896-2017) of Audubon County Newspapers in a new display at the Exira Historical Mu...
06/13/2026

You are looking at about 130 years (1896-2017) of Audubon County Newspapers in a new display at the Exira Historical Museum. The newspapers are bound by edition (Audubon and Exira) and year and are displayed chronologically. These are not just for display, but for your enjoyment and research; but be warned, allow yourself ample time, because once you start, it’s difficult to stop. The archive room is spacious and has a large table to spread out and enjoy your reading. It is a work in progress and we are currently working on getting the rest of the shelves organized by categories ( school hx, social, county history, state history, and more).

The museum is open today, and every Saturday, from noon to 3:00, and by appointment.

The elk have always been a favorite at Nathaniel Hamlin Park and the oat dispensing machine and feeding chute have been...
06/11/2026

The elk have always been a favorite at Nathaniel Hamlin Park and the oat dispensing machine and feeding chute have been equally as popular. Unfortunately, the oat dispenser has served its last grain of oats and is beyond repair.
Do not despair. The Audubon County Historical Society has “bagged up” some fun, and oats, for you. You can purchase these bags of Elk Chow at both the Hamlin and Exira Museums. They are also available for purchase at a few local businesses, including the Public Library and Exira Flower Supply in Exira and the Bakery on Broadway in Audubon. We hope to offer more options in the future. The ones located in businesses are self serving, so you will need the correct change ( and an honest heart😉).
The park currently house two adult females, two yearlings, one baby, and another baby is expected soon. A new bull elk will be arriving soon, also.

05/17/2026

The Audubon County Historical Society has been working long and hard in preparation for the opening of the upcoming season. Both the Nathaniel Hamlin Park and the Exira Historical Museum will be open Saturdays, noon to 3:00pm from Memorial weekend through August and by appointment.

The ACHS board has worked all winter planning future events, addressing maintenance issues, prioritizing lists for improvements, and working on ways to keep the museums open for the public. Like most non profit entities, funding and financial support is always a challenge. Facility improvements and displays require funds that are generated through donations, grants, and fundraisers. We have been very fortunate, and grateful, to have received some generous donations and grants, recently, that have allowed us to make much needed improvements to both facilities. We are also very appreciative that so many people think of us when dispersing items of historical value and donate to our displays.

The Audubon County Historical Society would like to thank all of you that have donated to our organization in the past. Without that support, we simply would not exist. Please keep us in mind if you, your family, your friends group, or organization would like to make a donation to help us continue on the path of preserving our history. You might also wish to remember the Audubon County Historical Society in your estate planning. Donations can be sent to Dennis Carter (2250 Pheasant Ave, Hamlin, IA 50117) or given to any ACHS board member.

Most importantly, the greatest support you can give us is to visit these exceptional facilities. Both locations have added to their displays and made facility improvements over the past year.

“So much of our future lies in preserving our past” - Peter Westbrook

Address

1891 215th Street
Audubon, IA
50025

Opening Hours

Friday 12am - 3pm
Saturday 12am - 3am

Telephone

+17125632742

Website

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