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Welcome to the HSPC!

RAILROAD DAYS JULY 12-13
AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS TRAIN AND TRACK

Celebrate our region’s railroad heritage and spend the day visiting some of the best railroad-themed attractions that Omaha and Council Bluffs have to offer.  Explore the RailsWest Railroad Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, The Durham, Lauritzen Gardens, and The Historic General Dodge House; all for a $10 family pass.   You can even go green and leave your car at any one of the 5 locations and let the trolley do the work.  

Each location will have special activities and exhibits in addition to their permanent exhibits.  The RailsWest Railroad Museum is celebrating all things Military in their new exhibit with a U.S.O. style canteen and Patriotic Music.  The Union Pacific Railroad Museum will be showcasing their railroad china collection in “Dining in Railroad Style” as well as hosting the ever popular N-track model railroad club.   The Dodge House will have special re-enactors from the Wild West creations and surveying demonstrations.  Special maintenance of way equipment will be showcased track side at the Durham and Lauritzen Gardens is unveiling the new addition to their garden railroad display.   

Tickets are just $10 per family (2 adults only) and will be available at each of the 5 Museum locations as well as from Metro area Hy-Vee stores.  Redeem the ticket at your first stop, and get aboard for fun!  Railroad Days arm bands will allow you admission to all 5 Museums and the trolley transportation for both event days.

VISIT THE RAILROAD DAYS WEB SITE
 

 
Swingin' at the Depot

OPEN HOUSE!
Thursday July 10
5 - 7 pm

RailsWest Railroad Museum
at the Rock Island Depot
 16th Ave. at South Main

“1940’s” USO Show Preview
WWI & WWII Military Uniforms
Big Band Music / Period Dancers

Cheese & Crackers & Wine Tasting
compliments of Pottawattamie Wineries

 
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.   FREE ADMISSION with membership.  CLICK HERE for hours and admission information.

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

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 Museum.  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 Museum.  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.  Visit this page for a 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.
HSPC MEMBER SERVICES

MEMBERS ONLY AREA includes archived Society MEMBER JOURNAL
The monthly HSPC Member Journal is a member benefit.  Society Members can access articles and photos from past Journal issues
.  If you're a member and need the password or cannot access the area, contact us
If you're not yet a member and would like to see a sample Journal, click here.

To join the Historical Society, CLICK HERE
 
Order your copy of Council Bluffs: Broadway by phoning 712-323-2509
CLICK HERE for more information, a free sample of photos from the book, and to order your own copy of Council Bluffs: Broadway.

Our Mission

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

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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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