Kalona

The Washington County Military Museum has a new home at the Kalona Historical Village.

After many years in Washington, the museum recently relocated to Kalona, where it will now be open six days a week instead of limited hours. With the expanded access, organizers are planning additional exhibits and events throughout the year.

Period meal

One of the first upcoming events will take place Saturday with an 1870s period meal featuring a presentation by local historian Mike Zahs. The meal costs $35 per person, and proceeds will benefit the museum.

Mike Huston of the Washington County Military Museum said he hopes the event draws a strong crowd.

“I hope people take the opportunity to come out and see the exhibit,” he said. “Although I’ve presented at places like Fort Donelson in Tennessee, this will be one of my first chances to speak locally, and I’d encourage people to attend the lecture and explore the displays.”

Civil War images presentation

Another event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, when Huston will present “Civil War Images of Washington County.” The presentation will highlight historic photographs of Civil War soldiers from Washington County.

Veterans and museum members can attend for free, while admission for the public is $5. Proceeds will benefit the museum.

Huston said Washington County had a significant presence during the Civil War.

“Washington County had about 1,500 men who served during the Civil War,” he said.

“I’ve collected more than 150 wartime photographs of soldiers who were living in Washington County when they enlisted, showing them in their uniforms while they were serving between 1861 and 1865. Considering those images are more than 160 years old, that’s a pretty impressive percentage to still have preserved.”

Civil War letters collection

Huston also recently acquired a large collection of Civil War letters connected to Washington County.

“I recently purchased a collection of 108 Civil War letters written by James Murkin to his girlfriend at the time, Rosanna Showalter,” he said. “I scanned the letters and sent them to a friend who runs the website Spared and Shared, where he transcribes and publishes historical letters online.”

The letters will also be part of his April presentation.

“During my April 1 presentation, I’ll share some of Murkin’s letters along with a photo of him, which provides a snapshot not only of the Civil War but also of life in Washington County, since he often wrote about local towns and the people he served with.”

Moving the museum

Huston said relocating the museum to Kalona provides an opportunity to reach more people and make the exhibits easier to access.

“One of the most exciting parts is the opportunity to reach more people, since many in the community either didn’t know about the museum in Washington or had never visited it,” he said.   

“Relocating to Kalona will help bring more people through and give us a chance to better highlight the stories of local veterans. The exhibits aren’t just uniforms or equipment — they’re personal items that belonged to local veterans, and each one tells a story.”

The move also allows for additional space for visitors and future programming.

“One of the biggest advantages is simply making the museum more accessible so more people can see it,” he said. “In Washington it was mostly open by appointment or during limited times in the summer, but the temporary exhibit space in Kalona is much larger and gives visitors more room to explore. When the museum eventually moves into the Showalter House, the added space will make it easier to host lectures and bring school groups through the exhibits.”

The museum previously operated in Washington for several years before relocating to Kalona.

Exhibits covering multiple wars

The museum’s collection spans several periods of American military history.

“The museum represents nearly every war period from the Civil War through modern times,” Huston said. “While it’s difficult to find local items from earlier conflicts like the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812, some veterans of those wars later settled in Washington County and are buried here, and the collection includes many items—especially from World War II—spanning from the Civil War to today.”

Upcoming presentations

Several presentations are planned throughout the year.

Huston said his son will present a program about World War II soldiers and their equipment.

“One of the presenters will be my 16-year-old son, who has developed a strong interest and deep knowledge of World War II,” he said. “He’s active in World War II reenacting and started his own reenacting group, and during the presentation he’ll explain what life was like for soldiers while wearing and describing the gear they used.”

Huston will also present later in the year about the 19th Iowa Infantry and its color guard.

“I’ll be presenting again on December 26 about the 19th Iowa Infantry and the color guard that carried its battle flag,” he said.

“The flag, known as the colors, was hand-sewn by female students at the college in Washington, and the color sergeant who carried it at the Battle of Prairie Grove was from Washington and is buried in Washington Cemetery. We currently have an exact replica of the flag on display at the Visitor Center, and my presentation will focus on the flag, the soldiers who carried it, and the battle itself.”

Military exhibits and new displays

The museum also features displays showing how soldiers’ gear changed over time.

“We have some exhibits in the museum that show how soldiers’ uniforms changed over the course of the war,” Huston said. “My son points out how later uniforms, like the M-43 jacket, added more pockets so soldiers could carry more of what they needed with them in the field.”

Museum staff are also preparing several new exhibits tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration. One of the largest displays will focus on military history connected to the anniversary. They are also aiming to have a railcar exhibit completed by the end of April, along with finishing a gem and mineral room that will include a fluorescent display

Museum hours and location

The Washington County Military Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Before relocating to Kalona, the museum was typically open only once a week by appointment or during special holiday events.

The museum is located inside the Kalona Historical Village at 715 D Avenue in Kalona.