Kinney Pioneer Museum located in Mason City, Iowa

I have always loved history. I went to the Kinney Pioneer Museum as a young child. I have enjoyed the rich history of North Iowa that the Kinney Pioneer Museum has on display. The articles tell the story of North Iowa from the very beginning. I was a tour guide at the museum for eight years. I was president of the museum for two years.

The museum has beautiful fossils, shells, and Indian relics. The arrowheads at the museum are mostly Sioux and Winnebago and were collected in this area.

The museum has some early pioneer items that go back 100 years or more. They have a large bear trap on display. It takes two men to set this large trap. The Doris Markley estate gave the museum a fantastic bedroom set. The Markleys were one of the pioneer families of early Mason City. In the dining room, a set of Wedgewood china is brought to this area by oxcart. The kitchen has an icebox, a coal-burning stove, a spice chest, and many more exciting items.

A doctor’s office display came from Dr. Edward Kennedy that once practiced in Swaledale, Iowa. The dentist equipment came from a dentist that practiced dentistry in Clear Lake in about 1898. There are many early dentistry tools to look at.

There are early shortwave radios, phonographs, and musical instruments on display. One of the violins is about 300 years old. They have many dolls on display. Many are dated dolls that go back as far as 1850. There are many old iron toys to look at.

They have many obsolete agricultural tools that the early pioneers used. They have hand corn shellers and woodworking tools, etc.

I love to look at the many cars on display. I especially love the old Colby car manufactured in Mason City, Iowa, from 1911 to 1914. It is the last Colby car left of 900 made. I love looking at the old buggy, dairy wagons, fire engines, farm equipment, etc.

They have a grand old school with old school books, a jail, a blacksmith shop with tools, and an old log cabin with items they used at that time.

The museum has Harry’s Sweet Shop and an old Country Store display. Harry’s Sweet Shop was in Mason City, Iowa. They have items from Decker’s Meat packing plant that once operated in Mason City, Iowa.

The Kinney Pioneer Museum has many special events throughout the year. The special events are as follows:

Conestoga Cookout      Vintage Car Day      Ice Cream Social      Kids Day      Cider & Donut Day

The museum is open from May thru Sept. from 1 to 5 PM. or by appointment. Admission is $2.50 for adults and .50 cents for children.

The Kinney Pioneers Museum has many more beautiful displays to look at. I would highly recommend going to this beautiful museum. They have a wonderful collection of early North Iowa history.

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