Nishna Heritage Museum of Oakland, Iowa

08/30/2026

Blaise and Slater McClain took a break from working at the museum today. They and their parents are star volunteers. We appreciate them so much.

08/30/2026

Put this date on your calendar and also September 19-20 when Hazel’s barn will be on the Iowa Barn Tour.

08/23/2026

We have a nice display highlighting the DeLaval cream separator and cabinet. Gustaf DeLabal patented his invention in Sweden, one of 92 he acquired in his lifetime. It revolutionized the dairy industry. Whole milk goes into a bowl and down through a series of discs. Skim milk flows to the outer walls and through a lower spout. Cream stays in the center, rises and exits through the upper spout. The cabinet was used in dealerships for replacement parts and manuals.

08/21/2026

We have a couple more spots open, please reach out if you have the desire to help our library grow! 😊

08/21/2026

Love old barns? Come to Hazel Harvey’s presentation at 10:00 on Friday, September 11 at Nishna Heritage. She will tell how she restored her family’s farm and how the Iowa Barn Foundation helps keep this part of our past alive. On Sept 19-20 her barn will be one of 108 Iowa barns on a self-guided tour. She left a magazine at the museum with more information.

08/16/2026

Merle Davis was a great force behind our museum. We played a video of her giving a tour while her granddaughter Kristi Davis and her husband Dave Boutette visited from Michigan.

08/09/2026

Correction: Eddie Rickenbacker started Eastern Airlines not American.

08/09/2026

This letter to AC Vieth from Eddie Rickenbacker is one of two the family donated to the museum. He was a WWI Medal of Honor winner and earned Eight Distinguished Service crosses for bravery destroying 22 enemy planes. In Oct. 1942 he served again. He flew a B-17 bomber across the Pacific and went down when they ran out of fuel. He and his crew were stranded 24 days. He caught a seagull that landed on his head. They ate it and used leftovers as fish bait. Not only was he a military hero, but also an American entrepreneur who bought and improved the Indianapolis Speedway in 1927 and started American Airlines in 1938.

08/09/2026

08/08/2026

We were delighted to have an Eastern Star group meet at Nishna Heritage tonight. They spent their time catching up with each other, touring the museum, and walking through the garden. They were pleased to see the Rainbow sculpture and butterfly garden.