(KIWA Staff Photo)Sheldon, Iowa — From the diaries of Civil War soldiers to a recent multi-pound woolly mammoth tooth discovery, lots of local history is packed inside one historic building in O’Brien County. And it’s been open for 50 years.
This weekend, the Sheldon Prairie Museum will mark its golden anniversary. The museum will host a free public open house this Saturday, October 10th, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to celebrate 50 years of preserving the region’s vibrant past. Located at 323 10th St. in downtown Sheldon—just west of the public library—the museum operates out of the historic 1908 Carnegie Library building, which still showcases its original limestone facade.
The museum’s journey began in earnest on October 9, 1976, following an initiative by then-Mayor Ron Drenkow, who appointed the original board of trustees to restore the Carnegie building. Today, maintained by the Sheldon Historical Society, the site serves as a vital bridge between modern-day Northwest Iowa and its prairie roots.
Museum Director Millie Vos says Saturday’s event is a celebration of the community’s shared legacy—stretching from early prairie industry displays to infamous hometown scandals. Visitors can get a first-hand look at local artifacts, school yearbooks, and a rare look at the notorious 1961 Burnice Geiger bank embezzlement display.
Again, that’s this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Prairie Museum.
