Carnegie Historical Museum. Photo credit Tom and Kristi Manus
While looking at the rare Zuni Pueblo pottery exhibit in the Carnegie Historical Museum, Jake Schmidt suddenly scurried off, mumbling something indiscernible. Schmidt, the museum’s curator-manager, runs about 100 mph, so we knew he would be back soon. Sure enough, he quickly returned holding an item for show and tell. Schmidt tipped a two-chamber replica of an Inca pottery water whistle to one side, making a realistic bird sound. Many North American Indigenous Peoples made pottery bird whistles similar to the Zuni pottery piece on display. Schmidt bought a replica so visitors could experience an ancient tradition firsthand.
Authors Tom and Kristi Manus try a replica of an ancient Indigenous bird whistle.
We’ve seen plenty of historical museums in cities and small towns, and this is one of the best. The Carnegie Historical Museum, a member of Iowa’s five oldest museums, has one of the Midwest’s premier collections of Native American pottery, Roman archaeological relics, Abraham Lincoln and Civil War artifacts, and local memorabilia.
One reason the museum stands out is that the Smithsonian shipped numerous curios of fascinating and unusual collections from around the globe to it. The curios came complete with wood and glass cases to hold the world-class exhibits, many of which included 19th-century taxidermy.
On top of the Carnegie’s Smithsonian exhibits, we enjoyed seeing local relics like a rare Abraham Lincoln funeral escort badge worn by Fairfield’s United States Senator James Falconer Wilson. After Lincoln’s assassination, Wilson was one of 300 people allowed to ride with the Lincoln family on the funeral train to Springfield, Illinois. Only those with badges were allowed to ride.
The stain where a Civil War shell leaked. Photo credit Tom and Kristi Manus
Look closely below the rifles inside the Civil War display. When Schmidt and staff were working inside the exhibit case, they stepped over pieces of artillery from the 1860s. Work stopped when someone noticed one large leaking artillery shell. They contacted the state fire marshal and discovered the shell could have exploded. The fire marshal buried and detonated the shell in a field. Remember this when you see the round stain on the bottom in front of the rifles.
We also found the Underground Railroad exhibit about James and Nancy Yancey fascinating. The Yanceys were the first permanent black Fairfield settlers and used their home as a shelter to help those escaping slavery as they journeyed north.
You Might Also Like:
Fairfield, Iowa: Dancing To The Beat Of Its Own Drum
Winterset, Iowa: How To Experience Hollywood In A Small Town
A Pizza, Propeller, And Hanging With Ranchers: Collecting Montana Memories
Finding Authentic BBQ In A Shack Down By The Tracks
The Most Mysterious Place In Texas: The Marfa Lights
Explore a Century of Fairfield’s Past: Carnegie Historical Museum’s 100-Year Event Exhibit
Each year, the Carnegie puts together an exhibit recognizing 100-year-old events. In 1924, the first Milky Way candy bar was sold, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush were born, and Kleenex and BAND-AID were introduced. Little Orphan Annie debuted in the newspaper comics, MGM, the motion picture company was founded, and Herbert Hoover became the FBI director. The 1st annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City began, and the Statue of Liberty was designated a National Monument. For travelers, Ford built the tenth millionth car on their assembly line, the First Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, and the first flight around the world was completed in 175 days with the Douglas World Cruiser Biplane.
We were astonished by what we found at the Carnegie Historical Museum. If you ever find yourself near Fairfield, Iowa, be sure to stop by and check it out. Admission to the museum is free. The museum is a non-profit organization that relies on donations to keep its doors open to the public at no charge.
A curio shipped from the Smithsonian to Fairfield’s Carnegie Museum. Photo credit Tom and Kristi Manus
No Comments