
Upcoming Events
Hop In - We’re Going to Blakesburg!
We believe that history is a living subject - it surrounds everything we do. It helps us understand who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we are going. That’s why we offer a number of educational programs, events, fundraisers, and community celebrations to the public throughout the year. Additionally, we regularly partner with area event organizers and community organizations to help engage the Blakesburg community and keep our history alive. It’s that deep sense of connection and discovery that makes you grab the family, pack up the car, and say “Hop In - We’re Going to Blakesburg!”
Interested in having your Blakesburg event listed on our website?
Curious about partnering or using the museum for your next event?
If so, please contact Patty Rowland at 641-777-5092.

Blakesburg Corn Carnival
Hours for the Blakesburg Community Museum during the Corn Carnival are Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Abernathy House will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On the porch of the Abernathy House will be a BOOKS & BLING table where visitors can purchase New-2-U children’s books and costume jewelry. The new Blakesburg Interpretive Panel, which informs visitors of some of Blakesburg’s early history, is also on the Porch before it finds its permanent home by the Museum later this fall. Finished on the porch??--go inside and visit the historic 1892 Abernathy House, including the newly restored formal Parlor. An exhibit of Corn Carnival memorabilia, including ten Blakesburg Excelsior newspapers from 1938-1948 featuring front-page stories about early Corn Carnival celebrations is also in the House. Included in the exhibit will be the 1954 Excelsior featuring the Blakesburg centennial celebration.
At the Museum, come learn about some history unique to Blakesburg: stories of vigilante justice, the life of a “little person” circus performer, a growing display of Blakesburg’s former School memorabilia, and so much more! And--the traditional WITWIT contest (What In The World Is This) is located in the Museum—take a look at the mystery antique on display and guess what it is!! Go from one contest to the next and leave your guess in the “Count the Corn Kernels” contest. And as you leave, don’t forget to have your picture taken with Miss Gally Crow, the Historic Hills Scenic Byway scarecrow that greets all of our museum visitors.
The BHPS raffle fundraiser is also underway! Tickets available now at the Blakesburg Museum (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) or from one of the many volunteers selling this year. Tickets will be sold up until the 8:00 p.m. drawing Saturday night at a cost of $1/ticket or $10/book of 11. NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL of our raffle sponsors: Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative for $500 grand prize, Leffler Dirtworks for 18 Ton 1” rock delivered within 35 mile radius of Blakesburg, artist Larry Zach for two framed prints: Dream Bucks I and Dream Bucks II, H&R Block, Ottumwa for $250, Susan Lay for a home-made quilt, Chariton Valley Electric Coop for a smart thermostat, Falvey Lumber for a $100 gift certificate, and Casey’s General Store for gas/pizza cards.
For more information on the Corn Carnival, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Blakesburg-Corn-Carnival-100068183241912/

Blakesburg Corn Carnival
Hours for the Blakesburg Community Museum during the Corn Carnival are Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Abernathy House will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On the porch of the Abernathy House will be a BOOKS & BLING table where visitors can purchase New-2-U children’s books and costume jewelry. The new Blakesburg Interpretive Panel, which informs visitors of some of Blakesburg’s early history, is also on the Porch before it finds its permanent home by the Museum later this fall. Finished on the porch??--go inside and visit the historic 1892 Abernathy House, including the newly restored formal Parlor. An exhibit of Corn Carnival memorabilia, including ten Blakesburg Excelsior newspapers from 1938-1948 featuring front-page stories about early Corn Carnival celebrations is also in the House. Included in the exhibit will be the 1954 Excelsior featuring the Blakesburg centennial celebration.
At the Museum, come learn about some history unique to Blakesburg: stories of vigilante justice, the life of a “little person” circus performer, a growing display of Blakesburg’s former School memorabilia, and so much more! And--the traditional WITWIT contest (What In The World Is This) is located in the Museum—take a look at the mystery antique on display and guess what it is!! Go from one contest to the next and leave your guess in the “Count the Corn Kernels” contest. And as you leave, don’t forget to have your picture taken with Miss Gally Crow, the Historic Hills Scenic Byway scarecrow that greets all of our museum visitors.
The BHPS raffle fundraiser is also underway! Tickets available now at the Blakesburg Museum (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) or from one of the many volunteers selling this year. Tickets will be sold up until the 8:00 p.m. drawing Saturday night at a cost of $1/ticket or $10/book of 11. NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL of our raffle sponsors: Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative for $500 grand prize, Leffler Dirtworks for 18 Ton 1” rock delivered within 35 mile radius of Blakesburg, artist Larry Zach for two framed prints: Dream Bucks I and Dream Bucks II, H&R Block, Ottumwa for $250, Susan Lay for a home-made quilt, Chariton Valley Electric Coop for a smart thermostat, Falvey Lumber for a $100 gift certificate, and Casey’s General Store for gas/pizza cards.
For more information on the Corn Carnival, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Blakesburg-Corn-Carnival-100068183241912/

Trick-Or-Treating on the Porch
Calling all ghosts, ghouls, and goblins! Trick-or-Treating will be held on the Porch of the Abernathy House. AND—enter to win the jar of treats by guessing the number of candy pieces without going over!!
More information to come. Stay tuned!

Pie & Ice Cream Social at the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In
BHPS will be serving homemade pie and ice cream for the attendees of the Antique Airplane Fly-In over Labor Day week-end.
Traveling three miles northeast of Blakesburg on the Bluegrass Road will bring you to the Antique Airfield, home of the Antique Airplane Association, Inc. (AAA), the Airpower Museum, Inc. (APM), and the APM Library of Flight. Privately owned and operated/maintained by members and volunteers, the allure of grass runways and rural charm entice vintage airplane owners from across the country to bring their antique/classic planes to Blakesburg during the Labor Day AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In. With hundreds of planes lined up on acres of rolling pastures, these aerial antiques can be seen and heard flying from dawn to dusk as the Antique Airfield becomes the busiest airport in Iowa. For more information on the 2025 Fly-In, visit https://antiqueairfield.com

Pie & Ice Cream Social at the AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In
BHPS will be serving homemade pie and ice cream for the attendees of the Antique Airplane Fly-In over Labor Day week-end.
Traveling three miles northeast of Blakesburg on the Bluegrass Road will bring you to the Antique Airfield, home of the Antique Airplane Association, Inc. (AAA), the Airpower Museum, Inc. (APM), and the APM Library of Flight. Privately owned and operated/maintained by members and volunteers, the allure of grass runways and rural charm entice vintage airplane owners from across the country to bring their antique/classic planes to Blakesburg during the Labor Day AAA/APM Invitational Fly-In. With hundreds of planes lined up on acres of rolling pastures, these aerial antiques can be seen and heard flying from dawn to dusk as the Antique Airfield becomes the busiest airport in Iowa. For more information on the 2025 Fly-In, visit https://antiqueairfield.com

Midwest Ford Fest Poker Run
BHPS is excited to be an afternoon stop on the Midwest Ford Fest Poker Run. Poker Run participants from Iowa and beyond will visit the Blakesburg Community Museum/Abernathy House to draw their card and add to their poker hand before returning to Ottumwa. The public is invited to come meet the participants and hear their stories about their Ford-powered rides—whether it’s a classic, the newest, a tractor, or whatever one can put a Ford Motor into, there’s a story to be told! Information will be added as event details are finalized.
BHPS will be serving fresh watermelon in the Blakesburg Park…while supplies last!
The Midwest Ford Poker Run is sponsored by the Iowa/Missouri Ford Club. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/880674975311946/

Music on the Porch with Darrell Koehler
Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy music from the Abernathy House porch!
Join us for our first ever Music on the Porch, featuring guitarist Darrell Koehler on Saturday, July 26th, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. As a former member of the Double Barrel Band, Koehler is a talented vocalist who plays guitar and harmonica. He will be performing a variety of Country, Classic Rock, and Blues music. As part of this free concert, we will be serving food in the park! Bring the whole family to enjoy great music and free watermelon…while it lasts!
We will be selling a Pork Sandwich dinner in the Blakesburg Park from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Friends of BHPS eat for free! Become a friend today or sign up at the event; $20 donation for an individual, $35 for a household.
No admission charge for this event. In the event of inclement weather, please watch our Facebook Page for announcements and updates.
This event is brought to you by the Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society. We would like to thank Jerry Mervin, Jim Hauersperger, Donald and Cheri Sandifer, Jim Kosman, Lathrop & Sons Supply, and Dale and Patty Rowland for their generous support to sponsor this event.

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure | Annual Rummage Sale
Gently used household items, books, furniture, yard and garden, collectibles, seasonal decorations, etc…will be offered at the annual rummage sale fundraiser in the Blakesburg Elementary School Cafeteria, located at the corner of the Wapello/Monroe County Line Road T61 and Elm Street.
All proceeds will go to the Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society.
For questions, please contact:
Patty Rowland - 641-777-5092

Your Grampa and Gramma's Farm | Presented by Rich Tyler
Farming in the late 1800s and early 1900s represents a lifestyle of hard work, inventions, prosperity and depression. This presentation focuses on a typical farmer, Joshua Secrest, who developed a successful livestock farm.

Spring Has Sprung! | Fundraiser Dinner
Join us for good food and fellowship at our new Spring Has Sprung fundraising dinner! This dinner is a free will donation event. All proceeds will go to Blakesburg’s Loving Shepherd Food Pantry and the Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society.
For questions, please contact:
Susan Lay - 515-480-1832
Sheri Saylor - 641-938-2100
Menu
Salad Bar
Ham
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Dinner Rolls
Dessert Bar
Drinks

Historic Hills Scenic ByWay Spring Shop About
The Blakesburg Community Museum and the historic 1892 Abernathy House will be open to the public and offering home-made baked goods for sale.

Historic Hills Scenic ByWay Spring Shop About
The Blakesburg Community Museum and the historic 1892 Abernathy House will be open to the public and offering home-made baked goods for sale.
And that’s not all…
More great Blakesburg events are in the initial planning stages! So while we don’t have all the information finalized yet, you’re welcome write yourself a reminder, tell your friends, and check back with us soon.
Second Humanities Iowa Public Talk | Late Fall, 2025
Homes for the Holidays | November, 2025
2025 Christmas Open House | December, 2025