Allamakee County Historical Society Museum & Genealogy Research Center

The Allamakee County Historical Society Museum & Genealogy Research Center preserves and promotes the history of the county and northeast Iowa. It is housed in the former Allamakee County Courthouse, which was built in 1861. The museum includes rooms depicting life in the 19th and 20th centuries and many items are on display including military items and farm tools. The old court room features the judge's bench, chair and gavel. The genealogical records include newspapers, books, wills and a variety of other historical materials.

Allamakee County was established in 1853 and Waukon became the county seat at that time. In 1854, the county built its first courthouse and then another building next to it in 1857 to provide more space. Both were used until the present courthouse was constructed in 1861. A particularly fine and vernacular example of Greek Revival architecture, it features a red-brick exterior, simple pilasters, an arched main entrance with double doors and a fanlight window, decorative scrollwork and bracketing, and a two-stage cupola with Greek-wave scrollwork and a dome. The architect is unknown but it appears he was from the Western Reserve in Ohio, since the design of the courthouse resembles buildings there.

Between 1861 and 1867, as a result of political reasons, the town of Lansing became the county seat. It is unclear what the courthouse was used for during that time but served as the county courthouse again from 1867 to 1941. It appears that it became a museum at least as early as the 1970s. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Homepage. Allamakee County Historical Society Museum & Genealogy Research Center. Accessed August 27, 2021. https://www.allamakeehistory.org.

Steiber, Leslie. "Allamakee County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. April 11, 1977. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/204d9254-91ea-44cb-aa3a-d7a5e8dc216a.