
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA), a member of the National Park Service National Heritage Area System, has added the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm to its 37-county region in Northeast Iowa. The inclusion marks one of six new additions as the heritage area continues its mission to preserve and share the story of American agriculture.
“Silos & Smokestacks continually strives to enhance the telling of the story of American agriculture,” said Cara Miller, executive director of Silos & Smokestacks, in a release. “These new sites represent some of the unique untold agriculture stories that exist in the heritage area region. We are proud to add these diverse stories to our list of sites.”
The Johnson County Historic Poor Farm was established in 1855 and was farmed privately and by nonprofits following its closure in 1988. In 2016, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors adopted a 10-year Master Plan to restore the site while maintaining its historical integrity.
The property now includes walking trails, native plantings, and accessibility improvements. It also hosts local food production and provides spaces for community events.
Other new heritage sites
The Johnson County Historic Poor Farm joins five other new inductees:
Barn Quilts of Black Hawk County in Cedar Falls: Featuring two self-guided driving tours highlighting 25 quilts. The tour includes viewing a quilt on the historic round barn at the Western Home Communities, local businesses, and farms. Along the way view wetlands, the Cedar River, and rural communities within a short drive from Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
Country View Dairy in Hawkeye: Established in 2011 by Mennonite family Dave and Carolee Rapson, Country View Dairy built a new creamery from the ground up and now processes milk from 80 cows into award-winning yogurt, milk and frozen yogurt. Visitors can see an active farm, get close to a calf, tour the farm and watch the yogurt-making process. The farm store and visitor center are open daily.
Driftless Area Education and Visitor Center in Lansing: A 10,000 square foot nature center featuring exhibits on the flora and fauna of the Driftless Area as well as the history of the people from Native Americans to the present time and how they have used the natural resources to survive and make a living.
Earth Moving Legacy Center in Elkader: A 38,000 square foot facility that showcases the rich history of earthmoving machinery. The collection spans from the 1880’s to 1940, focusing primarily on the evolution of the Caterpillar Company, and features early track-type tractors from Caterpillar, Holt Manufacturing and C.L. Best Manufacturing.
Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire: A family-owned distillery that crafts small-batch spirits from grains grown by local farmers, right on the banks of the mighty Mississippi. Tours and tastings are offered.
“We are excited to work with these six new sites, they all have unique agricultural stories that help define the region,” said Candy Welch-Streed, SSNHA director of partnerships.