Welcome to Ackley Heritage Center!
The Ackley Heritage Center is many things, to many people! We have a wide array of services that are sure to offer something for everyone who visits the Ackley Heritage Center!
About Us
Situated on the rolling prairie plains of North Central Iowa, Ackley's lush land offered an invitation for settlement, particularly to the German people from Ostfriesland, Germany. Those German pioneers' hard work, self reliance, and commitment to family laid the foundations for the strong community that Ackley is today.
Recording and preserving the history and artifacts of this great migration is the goal and purpose of the Ackley Heritage Center. All archiving, recording, and restoration is made possible through generous donations and the hard work of community volunteers.
Business Hours
- Ackley Heritage Center -
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
1:30p - 4:30p or by appointment
- Settlement of the Prairie -
By appointment only
The Heritage Center
Center offices and research areas are located in the renovated Illinois Central Railroad Depot. Here you will find a large photographic collection, many prints showing the history of Ackley, and displays featuring the lives of the early settlers.
Settlement of the Prairie
This is a MUST SEE attraction! A work in progress, yet you will marvel at the authenticity of the restoration efforts of this 1870 I-House. Visit the Clutterville Country School, see Marianna's Prairie Garden. All this and lots more are waiting for your visit to a bit of early life on the prairie.
The Heritage Museum & Soda Shop
West of the Municipal Building and located at 701 Park Avenue is the Soda Fountain, another Ackley Heritage Center property. The Ackley World Journal – Iowa’s 2023 Newspaper of the Year, is located in the building. Artifacts and exhibits of early Ackley businesses are housed in the office which is open for public browsing during the newspapers’ normal business hours.
