Contact Info
Shelby County Historical Museum
Sarah McDonald
1805 Morse Avenue
Harlan, IA 51537
Phone: (712) 755-2437
Contact Form
Website: www.shelbycoiamuseum.org
Services
- Museum
- Genealogy Research Center
- Rental Facility
- Historical Society
- Eduation
- History
- historical
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 8am-4pm
About Us
Our Museum
The Shelby County Historical Museum houses thousands of artifacts that relate to a broad spectrum of history. Our earliest artifacts date to prehistoric times when woolly mammoths and musk oxen roamed across the lands. We possess Native American artifacts that help educate us about the people who first settled this land before pioneers pushed the American frontier westward. When the pioneers settled in Shelby County in the 1840s and 1850s, they did so on a foundation of hard work and community. The bulk of our collection, including two original log cabins dating to 1856 and 1857, detail Shelby County's history since the pioneers arrived and visitors can see how life in this part of the country changed over time and towns sprouted up (some disappearing) around Shelby County.
Our Genealogy Research Center
We have a friendly staff who cannot wait to help you with your research questions. Our comfortable reading room is a great environment to come and get some hands-on experience with your family's history. Additionally, we have a fantastic climate-controlled library that houses over 2,500 historic books which you are free to read at your leisure.