Grand Meadow Heritage Center

Grand Meadow Heritage Center Founded in 1975, Grand Meadow Heritage Center is a historical museum with a focus of the rural way of life. In 1959, the school reorganized in Marcus.

We have various activities scheduled throughout the year. The museum is available for class field trips and is open by appointment. Grand Meadow Heritage Center is the site of District 5 Grand Meadow Township school. Built in 1881, the original one room schoolhouse was built with logs that were floated down the Little Sioux River from Cherokee to Washta. In 1912, a two story schoolhouse was erecte

d on the school grounds with a high school upstairs and a grade school downstairs. In 1919, parents in the Grand Meadow Township voted to consolidate the smaller 9 one-room schoolhouses in one school. The cornerstone was laid in 1920 for the large three story brick schoolhouse. The old two story schoolhouse was moved to the Southeast corner of the grounds to be used as a teachers’ residence. By the 1940’s, the school consisted of: the large brick schoolhouse, the teacherage, two homes, a temporary trailer home, a manual training building, and a music building (both quanset huts currently on location). A spacious playground, lunchroom and kitchen had been incorporated. The last students graduated from the Grand Meadow school in 1961. The last pupils attended the school until 1973, when the school officially closed its doors
-Our Mission-
The Grand Meadow Heritage Center was formed by alumni of the Grand Meadow school and volunteers. The former students didn’t want to see their old school lost in the sands of time. Thus, the Grand Meadow Heritage Center was born. Our mission is to preserve and protect Iowa’s agricultural past for our present and future generations. The heritage center continues to add buildings and exhibits of historical significance to its complex.
-What We’re Doing Today-
We host annual events throughout the year that include:
Taste of Grand Meadow- Where beer,wine, and distilled spirits vendors come together to offer their drink selections for sampling and purchase. This event also offers local vendors and crafters to show their products and services! The Annual Heritage Festival- our biggest event of the year, is held the first weekend after Labor Day. This festival not only opens up all the buildings on grand meadow but also puts on historically accurate demonstrations, products, and entertainment! Halloween Haunted House- this happens every October, the public joins us for a scare within the two-room school house and basement of the brick schoolhouse! Open the three weekends before Halloween, there are activities for all ages!

Wondering how to enter our shows during the festival? Check out our easy guideline sheet below! Now's a great time to st...
06/12/2026

Wondering how to enter our shows during the festival? Check out our easy guideline sheet below! Now's a great time to start planning your entries!

Show Off Your Talents at the Festival! Think you've got the biggest tomato, the prettiest flower arrangement, the best h...
06/11/2026

Show Off Your Talents at the Festival!

Think you've got the biggest tomato, the prettiest flower arrangement, the best homemade jam, or an eye for the perfect photograph? Then it's time to enter one of our Festival Shows!

This year, we're inviting everyone to participate in:
Photography Show
Plant & Arrangement Show
Canning Show
Produce Show

Whether you're a seasoned exhibitor or entering for the very first time, these shows are a great way to share your hard work, creativity, and homegrown accomplishments with the community.

You might even take home a ribbon, bragging rights, and a few compliments from your neighbors!

Entries are open to all ages, so gather your best blooms, biggest vegetables, favorite canned goods, and stunning photos and join in the fun during our 50th Annual Heritage Festival!

What will YOU be entering this year? Tell us in the comments!

A little bummed that you didn't make it to the last barn quilt workshop?No big deal, here's your next opportunity! Join ...
06/11/2026

A little bummed that you didn't make it to the last barn quilt workshop?

No big deal, here's your next opportunity! Join us in October to create your own work of art! Perfect for yourself or if you're thinking of holiday gifts by then, this is perfect! With over 200 designs to choose from, you're sure to find one you love!

Sign up here before seats disappear!

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Lightning McQueen is racing his way to Grand Meadow on June 27 for a classic Drive-In Movie Night under the stars!Grab y...
06/10/2026

Lightning McQueen is racing his way to Grand Meadow on June 27 for a classic Drive-In Movie Night under the stars!

Grab your friends, pack your lawn chairs and blankets, and cruise on over for an evening of family fun, movie snacks, and summer memories. Whether you're a longtime fan of Cars or introducing the next generation to Radiator Springs, this is one movie night you won't want to miss!

Cars
June 27
Movie starts at 9:00 PM
Grand Meadow Heritage Center
Suggested donation: $5 per person

We'll have popcorn, concessions, taverns, hotdogs, and all your favorite movie treats ready to go!

Who are you bringing along for the ride?

This year marks the 50th Annual Heritage Festival, and we'd love to take a walk down memory lane with the people who hel...
06/06/2026

This year marks the 50th Annual Heritage Festival, and we'd love to take a walk down memory lane with the people who helped make it what it is today.

Do you have photos from past Heritage Festivals? We're looking for snapshots from parades, exhibits, demonstrations, competitions, entertainment, family gatherings, volunteers, and all the special moments in between.

Whether your photos are from five years ago or fifty years ago, we'd love to see them! Share them in the comments, send them to us through Facebook Messenger, or email them to us. If you know the year the photo was taken or have a story to go with it, we'd love to hear that too.

Your photos may help us celebrate the rich history of the Heritage Festival throughout our 50th anniversary year and preserve these memories for future generations.

Help us tell the story of 50 years of festival fun, one photo at a time!

We are excited and honored to share that the Grand Meadow Heritage Center has been selected as a recipient of a Working ...
06/05/2026

We are excited and honored to share that the Grand Meadow Heritage Center has been selected as a recipient of a Working Here Fund Grant from Farm Credit Services of America!

This generous support will help us continue our mission of preserving local history, providing educational opportunities, and creating meaningful experiences for visitors of all ages. As a volunteer-driven nonprofit, grants like this make a tremendous difference in our ability to maintain our facilities, expand programming, and serve our community.

We are incredibly grateful to Farm Credit Services of America for investing in rural communities and supporting organizations like ours that work to preserve the stories, traditions, and heritage of the people who came before us.

Thank you for helping ensure that Grand Meadow remains a place where history comes alive for future generations. We are proud to be a recipient of this year's Working Here Fund Grant and look forward to putting these funds to work for our community!

This year marks a very special milestone as we celebrate the 50th Annual Heritage Festival!For five decades, friends, fa...
06/03/2026

This year marks a very special milestone as we celebrate the 50th Annual Heritage Festival!

For five decades, friends, families, neighbors, and visitors have gathered at Grand Meadow to make memories, learn about local history, enjoy great entertainment, admire talented exhibitors, and celebrate the traditions that make our community unique. What started 50 years ago has grown into a cherished annual tradition thanks to the support of countless volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, entertainers, and festival attendees.

As we plan for this golden anniversary, we're reflecting on the many stories, smiles, and special moments that have made the Heritage Festival what it is today. From favorite demonstrations and competitions to reunions with old friends and discovering something new each year, the festival has become a place where generations come together.

Join us September 12–13 as we celebrate 50 years of heritage, community, and festival fun. Whether you've attended every year or are planning your first visit, we invite you to be part of this historic celebration.

Do you have a favorite Heritage Festival memory? Share it in the comments, we'd love to hear your stories as we celebrate 50 years together!

We're on the hunt for vendors who bring something a little different to this year's Heritage Festival! Whether you creat...
06/03/2026

We're on the hunt for vendors who bring something a little different to this year's Heritage Festival! Whether you create handmade goods, demonstrate a unique craft, offer interactive experiences, sell specialty foods, or have a one-of-a-kind small business, we'd love to hear from you!

We're especially interested in vendors that help create memorable experiences for our visitors: live demonstrations, make-and-take activities, vintage and antique finds, artisan creations, specialty treats, locally made products, and other creative offerings that festival-goers won't find just anywhere. Festivals that feature unique makers, artisans, and interactive experiences often create the most memorable atmosphere for attendees!

If you know a vendor who would be a great fit, tag them below or share this post! Let's make this year's festival our most exciting and diverse marketplace yet.

Interested vendors can reach out for an application and more information. We can't wait to see what unique treasures and experiences you'll bring to Grand Meadow!

It's been a couple of crazy weeks! Take a break and plan to join us for a fun, family-friendly showing of Cars this June...
06/02/2026

It's been a couple of crazy weeks! Take a break and plan to join us for a fun, family-friendly showing of Cars this June 27th! Our drive in theatre doesn't just present you the movie, it gives you an experience that isn't easily found anymore! Drive on out and park it with us June 27th!

We're just around a month away from our first movie of the season! We hope you'll put the pedal to the metal to join us ...
05/28/2026

We're just around a month away from our first movie of the season! We hope you'll put the pedal to the metal to join us for the showing of Cars!

Address

6306 D Avenue
Washta, IA
51061

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