Shelby County Historical Museum

Shelby County Historical Museum Shelby County Historical Museum is located in historic Potter's Park, just one block west of 12th Street in Harlan, Iowa. Admission is FREE.

Stop by and see us!

1805 Morse Avenue
Harlan, Iowa 51537

08/19/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT
Wednesday, August 19

Due to staff obligations off site this morning, the museum will be closed until noon today.

Any questions or concerns until that time may be directed to [email protected] or by calling (712)755-2437 and will be addressed as soon as possible.

A Fond Farewell & A New Adventure Ahead 💛After a year and a half of making a little bit of museum magic, the time has co...
08/12/2026

A Fond Farewell & A New Adventure Ahead 💛

After a year and a half of making a little bit of museum magic, the time has come for me to say farewell to the Shelby County Historical Museum.

When I joined the museum in March 2025 as the Administrative-Operations Assistant (aka your Museum Magic Maker), I expected to spend my days helping with the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a museum running. What I didn’t expect was just how much this place (and the people who make it special) would become a part of my own story.

Over my time spent with the museum, I’ve had the privilege of researching local stories, creating social media content, helping with projects and grants, welcoming visitors, working alongside our incredible volunteers and board members, and, most importantly, listening to the stories of the people who make Shelby County what it is.

I’ve learned that history isn’t simply something we find in books, photographs, or artifacts. History lives in people. It lives in the stories we inherit, the memories we share, the places we call home, and the countless threads of everyday lives that come together to create something much bigger than any one person.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who welcomed me, taught me something, trusted me with their stories, and let me be a small part of preserving them. This community has given me far more than I could have expected when I walked through the museum doors in March 2025.

And while one chapter is coming to a close, another grand adventure is just beginning. ✨

I’m excited to see where the road ahead takes me, but I know I’ll carry a little piece of Shelby County (and all of its wonderful stories) with me wherever I go.

Thank you for letting me be your Museum Magic Maker. It has truly been a privilege. ❤️

With heartfelt gratitude,
Margaux Justice
Museum Magic Maker
March 2025 – August 2026

08/11/2026

Before it became bread pudding, it had to become bread!

On this week’s episode of Hearth & Heritage, we’re going back to the beginning with Knittle Bread, a recipe from the Knittle Family at Living History Farms.

And if you joined us last week, you may remember that the leftover Knittle Bread found a second life as our old-fashioned bread pudding! This week, we’re showing you where that delicious story started.

Recipes like this remind us that history isn’t always found in grand events or important dates. Sometimes, it’s in the kitchen; in the breads we bake, the recipes we pass down, and the ways a simple loaf can bring people together.

Find the episode and follow along on our YouTube channel ▶ https://youtu.be/87PXFo-pDAE?si=cfTCs9Dt-OB4vNgy

Before it became bread pudding, it had to become bread!On this week’s episode of Hearth & Heritage, we’re going back to ...
08/11/2026

Before it became bread pudding, it had to become bread!

On this week’s episode of Hearth & Heritage, we’re going back to the beginning with Knittle Bread, a recipe from the Knittle Family at Living History Farms.

With a few simple ingredients: warm water, butter, sugar, eggs, salt, flour, and yeast; this recipe turns into a hands-on breadmaking process. The dough is kneaded, allowed to rise, punched down, and given another chance to rise before being shaped into rolls or loaves and baked until golden.

And if you joined us last week, you may remember that the leftover Knittle Bread found a second life as our old-fashioned bread pudding! This week, we’re showing you where that delicious story started.

Recipes like this remind us that history isn’t always found in grand events or important dates. Sometimes, it’s in the kitchen; in the breads we bake, the recipes we pass down, and the ways a simple loaf can bring people together.

Find the episode and follow along on our YouTube channel ▶ https://youtu.be/87PXFo-pDAE?si=cfTCs9Dt-OB4vNgy

08/05/2026

Before there was Spotify or even radio, people listened to records by playing them on machines like this one! This is a special type of phonograph called a Victrola. A Victrola revolutionized home audio systems by hiding the horn (the equivalent of a speaker) inside a decorative cabinet.

Our Victrola is spring operated, meaning we power it by winding a crank to tightend a spring and then release the catch so that the spring slowly loosens, spinning the turn table the record is seated on. As the table - and therefore the record - spin, a special type of needle made out of a soft metal runs through the channel carved in the surface of the record. Tiny bumps and grooves in the channel cause the needle to vibrate as it passes over them, and the Victrola turns those vibrations into sound and plays them back to you as music!

It is important the the needles used are a soft metal, so as to not damage the fragile records and affect the sound over time. Because they are made out of a soft metal, they wear down with each use, making it important to use a new needle every time!

We are very fortunate to not only have a collection of records to accompany our phonograph, but needles as well!

This song was written by an Angelican cleric in 1847 as its writer was dying of tuberculosis. Nowadays, it is typically set to the tune "Eventide," written by an organist named William Henry Monk in 1861.

Can you name this song?

🍨 July temperatures called for ice cream... so who were we to argue?On this week's episode of Hearth & Heritage, we dust...
07/31/2026

🍨 July temperatures called for ice cream... so who were we to argue?

On this week's episode of Hearth & Heritage, we dusted off a recipe for old-fashioned bread pudding from the Laurel Fourth Grade Bicentennial Cookbook, a community treasure donated to the museum in 1976. Served with vanilla bean ice cream, this historic dessert was every bit as delicious today as it was fifty+ years ago.

Proof that some of the best recipes, and stories, are hiding in the pages of old cookbooks. Try it out and let us know what you think! Find the episode and follow along on our YouTube channel ▶️ https://youtu.be/F5YOuJTnK_0?si=ZW0zxHGdXIP6MRJI

🫖 Thank You for Joining Us!Our inaugural Tea Social is in the books, and we couldn't be more grateful to all who took th...
07/28/2026

🫖 Thank You for Joining Us!

Our inaugural Tea Social is in the books, and we couldn't be more grateful to all who took the time to escape the heat and join us. (Peep the snapshots down below!) We were delighted to spend the afternoon with you sharing tea, seeking hidden treasures, and discussing our nation's revolutionary history.

The success of this first gathering was made possible by our fabulous hosts (shout out to our new director Maggie Buman and member Linda Mosher), as well as our wonderful guests! Your enthusiasm and participation helped create a welcoming and memorable experience for us all.

If you weren't able to join us this time, don't worry ~ our Tea Socials are just beginning! We're already looking forward to our next gathering in October, where we'll celebrate all things Home & Harvest with another afternoon of fellowship, history, and tea.

Thank you for helping us make our first Revolutionary Tea Social a tremendous success. We hope to see you at the next one! 🍂☕✨

Heyo! The tea has arrived, it's hot, and you're invited!!Join us for the debut of our new quarterly Tea Social Series wi...
07/23/2026

Heyo! The tea has arrived, it's hot, and you're invited!!
Join us for the debut of our new quarterly Tea Social Series with a Revolutionary War-themed afternoon commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a tea lover, or simply looking for a unique afternoon out, we'd love to welcome you to the table!
Discover the colonial love affair with tea, explore the role of coffeehouses in shaping revolutionary ideas, and learn how a simple beverage became intertwined with the story of a nation. Guests will sample historically inspired teas similar to those enjoyed (and famously tossed overboard) during the Boston Tea Party, while enjoying lively conversation and a round of Lookabout, an 18th-century version of I Spy.
☕ Tea. History. Conversation. A little Revolution.
📅 This Sunday! July 26 | 3–5 PM
📍 Shelby County Historical Museum
🎟 Seating is limited. Pre-registration required.
Call us or reserve your spot today: https://www.shelbycoiamuseum.org/Programs

07/09/2026

Looking for a novel, historical activity to do with the littles this Summer? Why not try shaking up some butter! 🧈✨🐄

07/07/2026

🫖 The table is set, the tea is steeping, and your seat is waiting. No taxation without conversation!

Join us for an afternoon that blends history, hospitality, and a cup of tea at the Shelby County Historical Museum's Revolutionary Tea Social.
Discover how tea became one of the most talked-about commodities in colonial America, sample teas inspired by the 18th century, and enjoy a game that entertained families long before smartphones, television, or even electricity.

Whether you're a tea enthusiast, history buff, or simply curious, we'd love to welcome you to the table.

📅 July 26 | 3–5 PM
📍 Shelby County Historical Museum
🎟 Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.

Register online:
https://www.shelbycoiamuseum.org/Programs
📞 Rather reserve your spot the old-fashioned way? Call us at (712) 755-2437 and we'll be happy to assist.

☕ Join the conversation. The revolution is brewing.

Address

1805 Morse Avenue
Harlan, IA
51537

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(712) 755-2437

Website

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