National Register of Historic Places

Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
Listed
November 20, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000798

About this property

Daniel Nelson House and Barn, also known as the Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum, are historic buildings located north of Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. Daniel and Margaret Nelson settled here in 1844, a year after this part of Iowa was opened to settlement by the U.S. Government. Their first home was a log structure, non-extant, located northeast of the present house. The present house is a two-story, brick structure with a gable roof. The wooden porches on the front and back of the house date from 1898 to 1900. The large barn measures 61 by 46 feet (19 by 14 m), and was built in 1856. It is composed of board and batten construction from oak that was milled on the site. It was used largely as a granary, rather than a shelter for farm animals. Three other buildings included in the historic designation include the summer kitchen, woodshed, and a small outdoor privy. The dates of construction for the three frame buildings is unknown. The farm remained in the Nelson family until 1941 when it was abandoned with most of the original furnishings intact. The property was donated to the Mahaska County Historical Society, which now operates it as a museum. Other historic buildings have been moved to this location over the years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Location

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
41.32060, -92.63087

Categories

ENGINEERINGEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn

This page lists Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Gibbs, E. H., House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Penn College Historic District
Listed
1.2 mi
Forest Cemetery Entrance
Industrial
1.2 mi
Berry, Dr. William E. and Ethel Rosenberger, House
Industrial
1.3 mi
Stranahan, Prof. Edgar H. and Irene D., House
Industrial
1.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn listed on the National Register?

Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn?

Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn?

The period of significance for Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Mahaska County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Mahaska County.

Explore MahaskaCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Nelson, Daniel, House and Barn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report