The Dysart Historical Center has been a busy place this summer. In addition to local and other Iowa area visitors, folks have been welcomed from the states of Wisconsin, Alaska, Missouri, Colorado, Montana, Washington, California, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. Several descendants of Dysart’s Orphan Train children have also come to view the local Orphan Train exhibit.

A number of interesting new acquisitions have been given to the museum. Two of the latest include the WAVE officer’s uniform worn by Neva Leo during World War II when she served as a code breaker, and an oat hulling machine which was invented and patented by local farmer Ed Hach in the early 1930’s. The popular oat hullers were then built and sold by the Wm. Galloway Company of Waterloo. A new display “Inventions & Innovations” will be finished soon and will highlight local agricultural inventors and innovators.

The 1890’s Country School Days were a great hit with the students, and parents and grandparents enjoyed the reader’s theater presentations “West on the Orphan Train” which were presented at the close of each day’s activities.

The year 2017 is the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the Dysart Historical Society and a special celebration will be held early this fall. It has tentatively been set for September 17th, so please mark your calendar and watch for details in early September.

Just a reminder that the Historical Center is open each Sunday afternoon through September from 2:00 until 4:00, and it is almost always available by appointment by calling a member of the Historical Society Board. Three of the four buildings are air conditioned for your comfort and all are handicapped accessible.