Author name: Garnavillo Historical Society

In April, UNI history student, Maia Maxwell of Des Moines, shed light on the history of a recent donation to the Garnavillo museum as well as on some articles that have been on display at the museum since it opened.  Maia, is in the UNI History Department’s “Public History:  Field Experience” course, and spent 16 […]

The Garnavillo Historical Society held its annual meeting and appreciation supper November 14th at the Garnavillo Community Center. The meal was served to 17 members and 6 guests by member LuAnn Kahle, Director Jon McElderry and Director Carol DeSotel.  Following the meal a slide presentation titled “A Walk Down Main Street Garnavillo” was presented by

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing the “Garnavillo, Gem of the Prairie” book, now is the time to do so. There are ONLY 4 books left to sell. In 1988, Arnold & Laverne Roggman published this popular book highlighting the history of Garnavillo and its surrounding area. It took the Roggmans 12 years (started 1976)

     Garnavillo’s 2025 Historical Photo Calendar continues the stroll down Garnavillo’s Main Street with a few detours to include the Garnavillo Brewery, Meuser Lumber Yard, the old stone school and the creamery. Each photo and business location are researched as to date and history, bringing the viewer up to current times. The 2025 calendars

Last summer (2023), Kaci Schoenhard, East Dubuque, Illinois, visited the Garnavillo Museum with her grandmother, Jane Thein, Garnavillo.  While there, she noticed an oil painting of an elk in the museum’s balcony.  “My Grandma Joyce has a painting just like that in her house!” Last fall, Kaci’s Grandma Joyce and her husband Terry Schoenhard of

During this year’s July 4th celebration the Garnavillo Historical Society entertained two special guests at the Garnavillo Museum who in turn entertained Garnavillo Museum visitors.   Olivia and Nadia Yarrington, of Hudson, Wisconsin, twin granddaughters of Ted Berns, Garnavillo, re-designed Parker Brothers’ famous Monopoly board game into “Garnavillopoly” and had the game on display in the

The Garnavillo Historical Museum is now sporting a new visitor hours sign on the front of the building.  The previous wood sign, painted by Melissa Oleson of Garnavillo, was replaced in May with a vinyl sign created by AUTOTEK Graphic Design of Guttenberg.  A new security light was also added above the museum’s front door.

It was time for a new sign on the front fence of the Prairie Winds Garden in Garnavillo to replace the white “Public Garden” sign.     Originally a large sign was created for the garden from an old iron hay fork and was hung on the side of the house that used to stand

Thank you to our 2023 Garnavillo Museum greeters!  Over 360 visitors registered at the museum.  We could not have kept history accessible to the public without the help of these greeters.  Thank you for your time!  Jean Brandt, David Beck, Carol DeSotel,  Carol Groth, Rozelle Howard, Margaret Jones, LuAnn Kahle, Ron & Georgi Kaiser, Diana

Members and volunteers of the Garnavillo Historical Society wrapped up their 2023 season with their annual appreciation supper and corporate meeting held, Thursday, November 9, 2023 at the Garnavillo Community Center. Nineteen members and four guests enjoyed the light meal of sandwiches, potatoes and assorted desserts served by the Board and member volunteers.  Following the meal, the late