Our story begins with William Henry Woods, affectionately known by the locals as âGranddad.â A Civil War veteran, he settled in Fort Calhoun in the late 1800âs and began collecting and displaying artifacts he excavated on and around his property. Woods excavated many pre-historic fossils and Native American tools from hills and gullies of Fort Calhoun. Story has it that he would pay local children a dime to bring him treasures.
He scoured the site of old Fort Atkinson, home to the Sixth Infantry from 1819-1827, and the largest military post of its day, unearthing military buttons, buckles, locks, hooks, horseshoes, plows and other relics of early military life. It was a dream of Mr. Woods to have a museum preserving the memory of Fort Atkinson and the early pioneers and settlers of Washington County. Until that dream would be actualized, Woodâs home served as the first museum.
Today, the Washington County Museum strives to be the keeper of our countyâs history. We endeavor to bring the stories of our past to life in new and engaging ways, through exhibits about the First Council meeting between Lewis & Clark and the Otoe-Missouria tribes, relics of Fort Atkinson, archaeological finds, and stories of our pioneer families and the towns they built. We desire to preserve our family stories for future generations, and tell them in ways that engage and involve children and adults alike.
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, South 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
Distance: 0.66 mi (straight line)
Forts Museums and Interpretive Centers Outdoor Experiences LC Features
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GXCC+QC Missouri Valley, Iowa, USA
Distance: 4.55 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
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DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 316th Lane, Missouri Valley, IA, USA
Distance: 5.87 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Museums and Interpretive Centers
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14323 Edith Marie Ave, Omaha, NE 68112, USA
Distance: 5.91 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Viewpoints
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Hitchcock Nature Center, Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA, USA
Distance: 9.25 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes Fun and Sports
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5333 N 72nd St, Omaha, NE 68134, USA
Distance: 10.38 mi (straight line)
Outdoor Experiences Fun and Sports
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826Q+3R Omaha, Nebraska
Distance: 10.65 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
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Metropolitan Community College - Fort Omaha Campus - Library Bldg#23, North 30th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 11.06 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Tribal Experiences
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3448 Evans St, Omaha, NE 68111, USA
Distance: 11.84 mi (straight line)
Saddle Creek Breakfast Club, North Saddle Creek Road, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 12.72 mi (straight line)
Harrison County Historical Village & Iowa Welcome Center, Monroe Avenue, Missouri Valley, Harrison County, IA, USA
Distance: 12.75 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers Cultural Districts
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3902 Davenport St, Omaha, NE 68131, USA
Distance: 13.73 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers Outdoor Experiences
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1200 Mike Fahey St, Omaha, NE 68102, USA
Distance: 13.98 mi (straight line)
Festivals and Events Fun and Sports
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