1 Museum Drive, Ottumwa, IA 52501
Welcome to the Iowa Heartland History Connection Museum, where the past comes alive. As the Wapello County Historical Society, we have been preserving the history and cultures of the region since 1959. Our museum features a collection of over 20,000 items, ranging from natural history to the pre-Columbian Amerindian life, early European and American settlers, 19th-century agricultural and industrial hub, Victorian America, and 20th and 21st-century Midwestern life. With our exhibits, you’ll experience a journey through time and gain a deeper understanding of the rich and diverse heritage of Iowa’s heartland. Come and visit us to discover the fascinating stories that shaped our past and continue to shape our future!
event, exhibit & research news
1923 or 1925 – which is it? Read on! Board members and volunteers have spent the past few months carefully tending to a 100-year-old icon of Ottumwa history, preparing for it to ride once again in the 2025 Ottumwa Oktoberfest parade. This is far from the first time the fire
The following is a guest post from Iowa Heartland History Connection student volunteer, Simon Marble. Simon is currently a sophomore at Ottumwa High School. Hello, my name is Simon Marble and this summer, I began to volunteer at the Iowa Heartland History Connection. I have strong interests in history
At the Iowa Heartland History Connection Museum, our restored 1928 Aermotor Windmill stands as a powerful reminder of rural America’s history of resilience and invention. This iconic structure helped shape life on the plains — and now shares its story with new generations. Windmills: Lifelines on the American Plains
support southeastern iowa’s rich history
Through your membership, you support children’s education, historical research services, community event spaces, and community enrichment programs.
