While visiting my parents in 2019, I was able to tour the Heartland Museum with family and…read morethoroughly appreciated the variety of pristine collections! Plan 2 hours minimum to enjoy.

If you have any connection to the area you have to check this museum out. All local items and a…read moremock town inside with collectibles from the 1900's, 1930's and 1950's. Tour guides are volunteers and are really amazing. Apparently the place gets an international draw from its tractor display(which is quite impressive).

REVIEW 3100! Like my…read moreDad, I'm a bit of a history buff, especially when it concerns WWII Internment Camps. I've been humbled at both the old Nazi Concentration Camp at Dachau (near Munich) and Manzanar, where American Citizens of Japanese origin were sent when the fear of enemy aliens were at its peak. Another twist on this theme is the Camp Algona POW Camp, which was "home" for 10,000 German prisoners from April 1944 - February 1946. There were also many branch camps throughout the Midwest. These prisoners also worked for local farmers and light industry, and contributed about $4 Million to the various associated economies at that time. Camp Algona is long gone and was located where the airport is now. It consisted of 287 acres and was initially built by Italian POWs. Soon after the Camp was built, Italy surrendered, and those happy POWs wisely chose to stick around rather than being sent back to Europe. The Germans came soon after and with the Geneva Conventions rigorously applied. On our recent drive from Ames to Spirit Lake, I prevailed on Gayle and the Kid to stop at the Camp Algona POW Museum. It was a typical hot and humid Iowa day, and all they wanted to do was get to the Lake and cool down. I also remember Gayle giving me the "evil eye" as we paid the modest admission charge and the Docent began a long (and very informative) history of the Camp. By the time we left an hour later, everyone was better educated, impressed, and grateful that I dragged them here. The Museum is basically divided in thirds. On the left side is Camp related information, including various interesting pictures and displays. There were also lots of personal stories presented. I was particularly intrigued by a story about a German prisoner that was reunited with his brother, who had immigrated to Algona years earlier. An even better example were the 5 Iowans who had been held by the Germans in their prison camps. Once these men were brought back to the States, they came to Camp Algona as guards of German prisoners. In the middle of the Museum are examples of the various art pieces that the prisoners produced. That includes paintings and some pretty impressive wood pieces, including furniture, intricate boxes, etc. Prisoners also made the famous Nativity Scent that is located at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds. On the right side is a tribute to local folks who served their Country. Their story of sacrifice is a compelling parallel to the existence of Camp Algona. So if you're in the area, please stop, visit, and reflect. One personal takeaway I experienced was how we treated POWs then, compared to the related political discussions today.

"No, no, Kimberly, the Prisoners were NICE. They were just happy to be alive and doing something…read moreproductive." "Every Christmas we would go to see the most enormous Nativity Scene you have ever seen... all hand carved wood, exquisite in detail and size." My dad would get tears in his eyes telling these stories. "German Prisoners of War used their work earnings to create this gift to Algona. It was just amazing." "We could purchase handcrafted wood furniture from the prisoners and they were always so pleased to sell an item that they had worked on for hours." A small wooden step stool, handcrafted and still in perfect 1944 condition, has always graced my parent's home and dad would tell stories that really just sounded like made-up tales... Too fantastic to be true. Among the top highlights of a recent trip with my dad to his hometown in Iowa was going to visit this homage to the prisoner of war camp. During WW2 England ran out of places to keep Prisoners Of War so the USA decided to create camps... mostly in small towns where escape meant running through easy-to-view cornfields for days at a time. While the City of Algona, Iowa was greatly impacted by the 10,000 German prisoners housed here from 1944-1946, nothing exists today on those 287 acres from the Camp which is why it has always felt like a fantasy story to me... until my visit to this POW museum with my pop. Photographs, clothing, trunks, journals, guns... fascinating detritus from another age. The buildings, however, were disassembled and sold for materials in 1946. Long ago my sisters and I would jump out of the car and run to the farmland fence once we approached Algona. We were little, but we knew the drill. The first one to get a cow to come to the fence wins. Dad would get out of the driver's seat and slowly walk to the fence, mooing. He had the best moo, too. Dad ALWAYS won. For years, I thought that was the most exciting thing to happen in Algona. I thought he was pulling my leg with stories of Prisoners (Colonel Klink!) just to make his hometown sound more exciting. Now I know the truth. Dad doesn't lie. Moooooooooo.

The SPAM Museum did not disappoint! Such a fun and unique stop with so much history packed into one…read moreplace. We loved learning about the story behind SPAM, seeing all the exhibits, and of course getting to try the free samples! Even better, admission is completely FREE, which makes it an awesome stop if you're passing through the area. The staff really made the experience too--they were fun, friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely excited to be there. Definitely one of those quirky places that ends up being way more fun than you expect. We had a blast and can't wait to go back!

We stopped at the SPAM Museum on a whim after seeing several signs for it while driving through the…read morearea, and we're glad we did. Admission is free, and while the museum isn't very large, it's surprisingly fun, engaging, and well put together. The exhibits cover the history of SPAM, its cultural impact, and include an impressive collection of memorabilia from throughout the years. Everything is presented in a lighthearted and interactive way, making it enjoyable even if you're not a die-hard SPAM fan. One unexpected highlight was trying the SPAMples, which we thought were delicious and a fun twist on the classic product. If you're passing through the area, this museum is definitely worth the stop. It's a unique roadside attraction that's entertaining, educational, and easy to enjoy in an hour or two.

This was a fantastic museum to stumble upon in Mason City. We could have spent longer here looking…read moreat everything (but we were pressed for time). Bil Baird's puppets were my absolute favorite permanent collection. Such a variety of puppets - you'll even get to see some of the puppets featured in The Sound of Music from 1965. (If you've seen the movie, you'll recognize them immediately.) MacNider has the most extensive Bil Baird puppet collection anywhere in the world; I suspect it's because Bil grew up in Mason City. The museum resides in a Tudor-style home, previously a private residence and a convent. The house has gone through several renovations over the years. The original staircase is beautiful. The art outside the museum between it and the library is neat, too. If you're going to Mason City, take advantage of MacNider! Free admission.

Such a great museum. A must see when visiting Mason City…read more It's FREE, so no worries if you've just spent all your money at the local ice-cream shop. Donations only. Full of rich history and great exhibits. They even have a small gift shop with items made from local artist. Upstairs the Bill Baird puppets are on display. If you don't know who Bill Baird is, he's the guy who created the puppets for the movie.... The Sound Of Music. They have an Imagination playground for younger children and even a few local exhibits from artists all over the Mid-West. Some of the local exhibits change monthly. They also offer art classes like painting and pottery. Fun place to visit.

Amazing place full of cool artifacts and history, highly recommend. Many original buildingsread more

The quantity and quality of the items in this place is fantastic. The Cadriff Giant is too cool,…read morebut everything else makes this a place worth stopping at.

What a great museum. The staff was great and I liked the movie that was shown. They have an ice…read morecream shop inside. The gifts hope was also great. Don't forget to do the house tour next door.

My mom wanted to stop here on a roadtrip she loves the music man and it was fun to see. I just…read moregreat to see set and things from the Movie.

If you are as old as me, you will remember the commercial, "Ho, Ho, Ho...Green Giant!" That…read morecommercial worked on me as a kid, I used to beg my mom to buy Green Giant Vegetables. To assure my consumption, my mother always showed me the Green Giant label when she was cooking. It opened my world to vegetables! Today, I actually collect Green Giant ads and other paraphernalia as part of my pop icon collection. You will see some of my ads in the photos and also some photos of my visit to the Land of Giants several years ago.

So much more here than just a statue. The giant is very cool himself but there is also an…read moreinteresting museum here of green giant history and memorabilia. There is also a map of Sprouts that are all around town to find and selfie with.

What a place! Hidden gem, indeed. Lots and lots of well-curated items and exhibits. Stayed there…read morefor 4 1/2 hours and still didn't see everything. Well worth the trip, time and admission.

Such an amazing experience! Pictures do not do it justice. Make sure you do the free tour when you…read morego, I believe they run on the hour, check their website for times. Don't miss the church. Free tours. Donations accepted but not required. Plenty of parking available, lot and street. They also have a nice gift shop.

A very neat place (and random for Northwest Iowa) and definitely an artistic take on the Biblical…read morenarrative. The structures are very impressive and beautiful, it kind of reminded me of Park Guell in some parts if anybody is familiar with that. I found myself critical of some of the features because they weren't Biblically accurate, but I think that can be something with a lot of Christian art and interpretations. It still is wanting to magnify Jesus which is sweet. The church next door is also very beautiful. Wonderful that it is free and they offer tours. Three stars just because it's not my cup of tea.