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Welcome to the HSPC!

The Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail

and
The RailsWest Railroad Museum

 

are now open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM until 4 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM, closed Mondays and major holidays

 

 New displays this season include artifacts from the Council Bluffs Pierce Street "Red Light District" at the Squirrel Cage Jail and an expanded display on the Lake Manawa Railway and Council Bluffs streetcars at the RailsWest Railroad Museum.

 

Come visit and see what's new!

 

TOURS
Interested in a tour of the Historic Squirrel Cage Jail or the RailsWest Railroad Museum? 
Contact Us for Tour Information
 

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH
Are you looking for genealogical information?  May we recommend our friends at the
Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society-Frontier Heritage Library
Phone: 
712-325-9368
Email:  pcgs@pcgs.omhcoxmail.com
Web site:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iapcgs/
 

JOIN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
We always welcome new members! 
For more information, please visit our membership page.

 

HSPC ATTRACTIONS


Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage JailSQUIRREL CAGE JAIL
Visit a truly one-of-a-kind structure on the National Register of Historic Places   Served as the Pottawattamie County Jail from 1885 until 1969.   Always FREE ADMISSION with membership.  CLICK HERE for hours and admission information.  NEW!  Tales from the Squirrel Cage Jail book
 

Visit the Squirrel Cage Jail on Facebook

 


RailsWest Museum at the Rock Island DepotRAILSWEST  RAILROAD  MUSEUM
See railroad, postal, and regional memorabilia in a restored 1899 Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific passenger and freight depot.   Always FREE ADMISSION with membership.  CLICK HERE for hours and admission information.
 

Visit Council Bluffs Railroads on Facebook

 


Historic rail car exhibit at RailsWest MuseumHISTORIC RAIL CAR DISPLAY
Steam engines, a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy club car, cabooses, and a Railway Post Office car are displayed.   Admission included with visit to RailsWest Railroad Museum.  Always FREE ADMISSION with membership.


HO Model Railroad presented by the Greater Omaha Society of Railroad EngineersHO SCALE MODEL RAILROAD DISPLAY
Watch model trains run over a layout styled after Council Bluffs in the only permanent model railroad exhibit open to the public in the metro area.  Presented by the Greater Omaha Society of Model Engineers.  Admission included with visit to RailsWest Railroad Museum.  Always FREE ADMISSION with membership.


ONLINE DISPLAY GALLERY
Council Bluffs has changed a lot over history.  Take a look at some photos from the Historical Society's archives, featuring the changing scenes of Council Bluffs.  See these historical photos.


HAUNTED IN THE BLUFFS
There are feelings of paranormal goings on at the jail that are other than mortal.  Ghosts?  In Council Bluffs??  IN OUR JAIL??? 
We dare you to take a look...

HSPC HISTORY ONLINE


RAILROAD HISTORY AND THE ROCK ISLAND DEPOT
The railroads influenced the area's history perhaps more than anything else.  Visit this page for a comprehensive review of Council Bluffs' evolution as railroad center of the Midwest.


SQUIRREL CAGE JAIL
Rotary jails were rare -- only 18 were ever built -- and the largest was in Council Bluffs.  Our Squirrel Cage Jail page gives visitor information and you can order a copy of  Tales from the Squirrel Cage Jail for a more in-depth history of the world's only three-story rotary jail.


SAM BAYLISS ON BROADWAY
Trace the life of this early citizen through his influential role in the building of Council Bluffs and formation of Omaha.  Reprinted by popular request from previous HSPC Newsletters.


COUNCIL BLUFFS IMPLEMENT DISTRICT
The farm implement trade made several businessmen among the wealthiest and most prominent residents in town. Every implement firm doing business in Omaha today started in Council Bluffs.


EARLY DAYS AT AVOCA
Learn about the early days of Avoca in far northeastern Pottawattamie County, a town created largely by the railroad and German Immigrants.


SOME COUNCIL BLUFFS CON-MEN
Ponzi schemes and Nigerian e-mail scams? Kid stuff compared to what was just all in a days work for a number of our more colorful residents of days gone by. Council Bluffs helped put the "Wild" in "Wild West." If you know anyone who thinks local history is boring, here's an article that will change their mind!

HSPC MEMBER SERVICES


MEMBERS ONLY AREA includes archived Society MEMBER JOURNAL

 

The HSPC MEMBER JOURNAL brings memories and lore throughout the year.

If you're not yet a member, click here to view a sample issue now and find:

- What CB business was known for its 15-foot chicken?

- What local person has a star on Hollywood Boulevard?

- Werner Trucking is an industry leader... and it all started in Council Bluffs!

- It was hard to miss a roller coaster that passed right over two city streets.

Remember Playland Park, the jewel of West Broadway?

 

To join the Historical Society click here

Our Mission

The Mission of The Historical Society of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, is to preserve the past for current and future generations.

Is The Historical Society of Pottawattamie County, Iowa
not the particular Historical Society you were looking for?  Click Here


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The Historical Society of Pottawattamie County, Iowa was founded in 1934 and is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to kindling and keeping alive an active interest in state and local history.  Contributions and inquiries should be directed to the Society  at P.O. Box 2, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51502-0002.  For additional information, phone 712-323-2509 or e-mail us here.

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