Sites + Exhibits
McGregor Historical Museum
Preserving Memories - Nestled in the heart of McGregor, this museum is a
treasure trove of local history. From historic photographs to artifacts, the McGregor Historical Museum tells the story of McGregor's evolution.
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Hours from Memorial Day Weekend thru October:
Sun – Wed: Closed
Thu – Sun: 11 :00 AM – 3 :00 PM
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256 Main St, McGregor, IA 52157
(563) 873-2221
McGregor Public Library
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The McGregor Public Library was founded in 1921. It previously shared its building with the museum. The present McGregor Public Library at 334 Main Street in McGregor was made possible by a bequest of a former McGregorite, Elizabeth Updegraff of New York. Her will stated, "I want to give back to McGregor something of what it gave to me." Architects Rossiter & Hamm of Dubuque designed the building. The Mid-Century Modern, Prairie Style library building features horizontal lines, natural materials, and a fireplace. The present library in McGregor opened its doors with a dedication program and open house in August, 1963.
In 2004, artist Patrick Collins created the “Four Centuries along the River” historical mural inside the McGregor Public Library. The mural encompasses a 114-foot span around the clerestory windows in the library. This mural of local history includes the Ringling Brothers, Emma Big Bear, Diamond Jo Reynolds, Dr. Lucy Hobbs, sand artist Andrew Clemens, and many other people and locations which make our place a great and distinct part of the country and world.
The library has local history archives. We provide assistance to people researching their family members, and/or businesses and places of historic McGregor.
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Hours
Mon, Wed, Fri: 12 PM – 6 PM
Tue, Thu: 10:30 AM – 5 PM
Sat: 10 AM – 3 PM
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334 Main Street
McGregor, Iowa 52157
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mplib@mchsi.com
www.mcgregor.lib.ia.us
563-873-3318
Ringling's Circus Wagon
This site at A and Ann Streets marks where the Ringlings, as boys, performed their first circus. Stop by for your photo op, then head to the McGregor Historical Museum to learn more about the family’s time in McGregor
Ghosts of McGregor:
Guided Historical Walking Tours
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McGregor’s most colorful characters come to life in Ghosts of McGregor’s Guided Historical Walking Tours. These tours began in 2019 and feature local performers portraying notable people from McGregor’s past. Guides lead attendees on a walk to locations in McGregor where local performers present dramatic events in short skits. The tours last approximately one hour.
Some of the notable people featured in past tours included: Pirate Doc Bell, Diamond Jo Reynolds, aviator Tuffy Oleson, the Ringling Brothers, Virgin Em, Governor Merrill, town founder Alexander MacGregor, and family of sand artist Andrew Clemens.
The tours are held on Labor Day weekend.
The McGregor Historic Preservation Commission, the McGregor Historical Museum, and the McGregor Public Library sponsor the event.
For more information email the McGregor Public Library at mplib@mchsi.com or call the library at 563-873-3318.
American School of Wild Life Protection
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The American School of Wild Life Protection, a summer field school on the McGregor Heights was established in 1919 for the purpose of promoting resource conservation values. During its 23 years of operation, the Wild Life School drew thousands of people from all over the country who came to study nature and conservation during two weeks of classes. Many notable professors, scientists, naturalists, and wildlife educators came to present at the Wild Life School. A special meeting occurred in 1924 when authors Willa Gather, Ruth Suckow, and Herbert Quick were in attendance. In 1928, Aldo Leopold took time out from his game survey to spend a few days at the Wildlife School.
The Wild Life School was the first of its kind in the nation. Although there were other groups for conservation education, the Wild Life School was the first that was open to all ages and all comers; it was far more democratic in operation and far more activist in character. The American School of Wild Life Protection district was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The Civilian Conservation Corps in McGregor
Company 1754
Camp Coulee des Sioux
President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the CCC in 1933 to provide work for young men during the Great Depression. The program also aimed to reduce natural resource degradation by building parks, planting trees, and assisting with soil conservation. Men in the program had to be young, single, healthy and unemployed. They signed up for six months at a time and could work up to two years in the program.
After a few months in Hokah, MN, Company 1754 to McGregor in November of 1933. While in McGregor the company was designated “Camp Coulee des Sioux” after an early French-Indian name for the valley in which McGregor was built.
McGregor had four barracks housing 200 enrollees and 50 supervisors. The CCC barracks at McGregor were located in the wooded park area a short distance west of St. Mary’s Catholic Church (now the Peace Park) When U.S. Highway 18 was improved years ago the road was routed through the former CCC camp. The CCC buildings were torn down in August, 1939, when Company 1754 moved to Cherokee, Iowa, after nearly six years in McGregor.
A total of 1,281 men were stationed at the Camp Coulee des Sioux over the years. The lasting effects of their work still exists today: in the thousands of trees planted on the hills around McGregor, in the shelter house and trails at Pike’s Peak State Park, and in the dams in the hollows near around McGregor. The storm sewer and detention basin system continues to drain 2,600 acres surrounding McGregor.