Washington County Historical Society - Iowa

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

🎉 950 followers! 🎉

A huge thank you to everyone who follows, shares, comments, visits, and helps support the Washington County Historical Society. We’re thrilled to have reached 950 followers!

Now we have our sights set on a big milestone: 1,000 followers.

If you enjoy local history, old photographs, forgotten stories, and museum updates, please consider sharing our page with your friends and family and inviting them to follow along.

We’re only 50 followers away!

08/25/2026

💡 Did You Know? The Johnson Polygonal Hog Barn 🐖

The Johnson Polygonal Hog Barn was built in 1921 by Thomas and Nina Johnson on their farm south of Wellman in Lime Creek Township. Rather than being a typical rectangular barn, it was built in a distinctive 16-sided design with pens arranged around the interior and numerous windows to provide the light and ventilation that farmers were increasingly concerned about in the early 20th century.

The barn remained in agricultural use for decades and was recognized for its unusual design and historic importance when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

In 2012, the barn was dismantled and moved from its original farmstead to the Washington County Fairgrounds, where it was reassembled and preserved for future generations. The move was made possible through the efforts of the Washington County Historical Preservation Commission and the Washington County Fair Board.

Today, the Johnson barn is a wonderful reminder of a time when Washington County farmers were experimenting with new ideas in livestock housing and agricultural design.

08/22/2026

Conger House Museum is OPEN now until 4pm! (Aug. 22)

08/18/2026

✨ Double Open House Weekend returns! ✨

Come spend part of your weekend exploring Washington County history with us at the Conger House Museum.

The Conger House will be open Saturday and Sunday from 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Admission is free, and donations are always appreciated.

08/10/2026

❓ Did You Know? ❓

Washington County wasn’t always called Washington County.

When the county was created in 1838, it was originally named Slaughter County after William B. Slaughter, secretary of the Wisconsin Territory.

Its first county seat was Astoria, located just south of present-day Ainsworth in Oregon Township.

The name didn’t last long. Local residents reportedly weren’t especially fond of either the name or the political circumstances behind it, and they petitioned for a change.

In January 1839, Slaughter County officially became Washington County, honoring George Washington.

So for a brief time, residents here lived in Slaughter County, Wisconsin Territory, and the county seat was Astoria.

🗺 Map courtesy of the American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Libraries.

08/08/2026

📅 Save the Date!

The Washington County Historical Society invites you to mark your calendars for our Annual Meeting!

🗓️ Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Kalona Historical Village

A fascinating program on Civil War history is being prepared.

Whether you're a longtime member or recently joined us, we hope you'll plan to spend the day with us as we celebrate another year of preserving and sharing the history of Washington County.

📬 Formal invitations and reservation information will be sent to members in September.

Not a member yet? Joining is easy! Visit our website to become a member. https://www.congerhouse.org/membership

We look forward to seeing you in October!

08/04/2026

🏛️ August at the Conger House Museum

Join the Washington County Historical Society as we continue another exciting month of sharing our county's rich history!

Museum Hours
📅 Sunday, August 9 • 2:00–4:00 p.m.
📅 Saturday, August 22 • 2:00–4:00 p.m.
📅 Sunday, August 23 • 2:00–4:00 p.m.

After the positive response to our Saturday opening last month., we've added another Saturday afternoon to our schedule to make it even easier for visitors to stop by.

There's still time to experience our special Cinema of Washington County exhibit, exploring the fascinating history of local theaters and the motion picture experience that entertained generations of Washington County residents.

Conger House Museum
903 E Washington St, Washington, IA 52323

07/30/2026

📰 Did You Know? Washington's Earlier Fountain

Before the Centennial fountain we know today, Washington had another impressive centerpiece in Central Park.

In 1899, a new 15-foot bronze fountain was installed and first turned on at 1:51 p.m. on August 2, sending water 15 to 20 feet into the air from a lotus leaf at its top.

The elaborate design featured eight deer heads and eight goat heads around the fountain, each serving as a waterspout. While many residents admired the new addition, one local newspaper writer wasn't entirely convinced! They joked that fish or dolphins would have made more appropriate water spouts than deer and goats and even criticized the fountain's water display for lacking the dramatic rush of a true waterfall.

The picture comes from a hand-tinted post card. What are your thoughts on this earlier design?