Mower County Historical Society List of Exhibits

  1. Log Cabin Museum
    • The cabin was built in 1862 and is an example of an early pioneer home.
  2. Rural School Museum
    • This school, built in 1870, served as a school for all ages in District 12 of Mower County.
  3. Rahilly Museum
    • Contains several horsedrawn vehicles as well as selection of farm equipment.
  4. Rural Life Museum
    • This building is the original Mower County Fair building and houses various exhibits concerning farm life.
  5. The Arts Museum
    • The Christ Episcopal Church was built in 1867 and moved to the Center in 1953. It serves as a memorial to the churches of the country and also houses an art exhibit.
  6. Wayside Chapel
    • Carl E. Kehret built the Chapel on his property west of Austin. The chapel was occasionally used for small weddings.
  7. Pioneer Museum
    • Built and dedicated in 1949, the Museum contains many displays of pioneer life, including the Mower County courtroom display.
    RailRoad Museum
    • This museum includes the depot, section crew vehicles, coaches, locomotive, refridgerator car, and caboose.
  8. Caboose
    • This caboose was built in 1910 and has traveled about one million miles in service for the Milwaukee Railroad
  9. 1004 Steam Locomotive
    • The locomotive was donated to the Center by the Milwaukee Railroad. It was in use for 56 years and has traveled over 3 million miles in Minnesota, Iowa, Montana, and the Dakotas.
  10. Suburban Coach
    • A passenger coach used by the Milwaukee Railroad.
  11. Baggage Coach
    • This car was built in 1929 and carried freight, luggage, and mail.
  12. Depot
    • The depot was built in 1886 in Oakland, Mn and served as a depot for the Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Paul Railway. It was moved to the center in 1964.
  13. Fireman's Museum
    • This building houses equipment used by local fireman, as well as the fire fighting badges and patches from all over the world.
  14. Headquarters
    • Built in 1856 in Austin and moved to the Center, now houses exhibits symbolizing happenings in this historic building.
  15. Blacksmith Shop
    • This building was constructed in 1983 to house equipment donated by the Geo. A. Hormel Company and is a working shop.
  16. Hormel Museum
    • This building, built in the 1890's, was erected and used by Gerorge A. Hormel, founder of the Geo. A. Hormel Company.
  17. Communications Museum
    • This exhibit, which opened in 1974 contains telephones, old and new and the extensive equipment to go with them.
  18. Native American Museum
    • Contains the H.J.Williams collection. The most recent addition, a mural done by the Austin area Fine Arts Group, depicts native American life.
  19. Administration Building, Office,Library, Meeting Room
  20. Proposed Agriculture Museum
  1. Vermont Granite Fountain
    • The fountain was dedicated to the City of Austin in 1911 by the National Humane Alliance for the consideration and kindness to animals.
  2. Windmill
    • A source of power for pumping water, this windmill was used from 1922-1971 on the W.C.Lewis farm.
  3. Six Mile Grove Church
    • This bicentennial porject from Nevada township was furnished by the members of the Six Mile Grove Church and is an exact replical of the church which was built in 1868 and is still being used.
  4. St.Augustine Church Bell
    • The church was dedicated November 26, 1896. The bell was damaged in a steeple fire June 10, 1976.
  5. Grand Army of the Republic Monuments
    • These two stones were placed by the Women's Relief Corps in memory of those who fought in the Civil War.
  6. M-4 Sherman Tank
    • This tank used in World War II was donated to the center by the U.S. Army. It was dedicated to peace in 1958.
  7. Section Crew Vehicles
    • These small vehicles helped build the railroad.

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