George Maier Rural Heritage Center

The Rural Heritage Center and Museum is located at 10000 Mascara Road in Elkader, IA. The center is situated along Iowa State Highway 13, the Turkey River and Elkader’s City campground. The museum is housed in a 1919 livestock pavilion built for the Elkader Fair. When the fair was discontinued the pavilion became home to the Elkader Sales Barn. In 1998, the last livestock auction was held, opening the opportunity for the George Maier Rural Heritage Center of Clayton County to have a home.

The Rural Heritage Museum’s collection is one man’s passion to accumulate items that he felt would tell the story of life in rural Iowa.