RailsWest History Museum

08/31/2026

3.75 inches of rain in just a few hours can cause a lot of trouble. A Wabash freight pulled out of Council Bluffs and only made it as far as Mineola before disaster struck. By the way, even though that was 98 years ago, we’ve been told remnants of this wreck can still be seen along the old Wabash line (today’s Wabash Trace nature trail) near Mineola. Can any of you hikers or bikers confirm this? If anyone has any photos, please post them in the comments!

08/13/2026

Let’s say you are a county employee and came to work and found a big hole in the wall by your desk. Maintenance plastered it up, but it was back again the next day. Perhaps time for a new courthouse? Where to put it? The downtown stores had been leveled and some want to put a shopping center there, how about put the new courthouse there instead? That’s what was going on in town fifty years ago. Join us for the program “New Courthouse, Old Jail,” TONIGHT (Thursday, August 13), 6:30 pm at the RailsWest History Museum. Presented by Jennifer Benson and Richard Warner; there is no admission charge.

08/13/2026

08/01/2026

Thanks to our friends at “I Bike CB” for including the RailsWest History Museum in their History Bike Hike! It was a great group of folks of all ages and the Historical Society is elated to be able to work with them on these rides. There are three more History Bike Hikes this season (last Wednesday of August, September and October) and everyone is welcome to join in. Details will be available on the Society’s Council Bluffs Revealed page as the dates get closer or follow the group on their page at I Bike CB.

07/29/2026

Amelia Bloomer is often remembered for a style of clothing, but her greatest legacy was her fight for women’s rights.

Before moving to Council Bluffs, Amelia founded The Lily, becoming the first woman to own, operate, and edit a newspaper for women. She also became a leading voice in the temperance, women’s suffrage, and dress reform movements.

After moving to Council Bluffs in 1855, she spent the next 40 years advocating for women’s suffrage, equal pay, women’s right to an education. She helped found the Iowa Women’s Suffrage Association and left a lasting mark on our community.

She never lived to cast a vote herself, but because of pioneers like Amelia, generations of women after her could.

What piece of Council Bluffs history should I talk about next?

07/27/2026

Amelia Bloomer is often remembered for a style of clothing, but her greatest legacy was her fight for women’s rights.

Before moving to Council Bluffs, Amelia founded The Lily, becoming the first woman to own, operate, and edit a newspaper for women. She also became a leading voice in the temperance, women’s suffrage, and dress reform movements.

After moving to Council Bluffs in 1855, she spent the next 40 years advocating for women’s suffrage, equal pay, women’s right to an education. She helped found the Iowa Women’s Suffrage Association and left a lasting mark on our community.

She never lived to cast a vote herself, but because of pioneers like Amelia, generations of women after her could.

What piece of Council Bluffs history should I talk about next?

07/10/2026

The largest mail robbery in American history happened right here in Council Bluffs.

In 1920, four young men stole millions of dollars in registered mail, cash, and Liberty Bonds from a train car parked outside the CB mail terminal. Their crime sparked one of the largest investigations in the region, inspired copycat robberies across the country, and led to major changes in how valuable mail was protected.

To this day, nearly $500,000 in Bonds allegedly dumped into the Missouri River have never been recovered.

Had you ever heard this incredible piece of Council Bluffs history? Let us know in the comments!

07/01/2026

We will be holding a pop-up museum Friday, July 3rd on the historic 100 block of West Broadway from 3pm-11pm. We hope to see you there!

07/01/2026

We will be closed on Friday and Saturday, the 3rd and 4th, for Independence Day. On the 3rd, we will instead be holding a pop-up museum on the Historic 100 Block of West Broadway from 3pm-11pm. We hope to see you there! Have a wonderful 4th of July!