NVHM Announces 12th Annual Cemetery Walk

Clarinda Cemetery Walk: Where History Comes Alive!

Join us for an unforgettable journey through time at the annual Clarinda Cemetery Walk. Step back in time as we bring the stories of the past to life in this unique historical event.
As you wander through the hallowed grounds of Clarinda Cemetery, you'll encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own fascinating tale to tell. From pioneers and war heroes to teachers and entrepreneurs, their stories will captivate your imagination and ignite a deep appreciation for the rich history of our community.

Led by knowledgeable guides, you'll be transported to a bygone era, where the gravestones become portals to extraordinary lives and remarkable events. This event will invite you to go beyond the dates and inscriptions etched on the headstones as our talented local actors take on the persona of those laid to rest. Through their vivid portrayals, the past will come alive before your eyes, evoking a profound sense of connection to Clarinda's heritage.

The Clarinda Cemetery Walk is more than just a stroll among tombstones; it's an immersive experience that unites past and present. As you listen to the stories unfold, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the people who shaped our community and the legacies they left behind.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a curious visitor, or simply seeking a unique and thought-provoking experience, the Clarinda Cemetery Walk promises to enchant and educate. Don't miss this chance to connect with the past and walk side by side with the ghosts of Clarinda's history.

FAQs

Schedule: The Clarinda Cemetery Walk will take place on October 7th and 8th, beginning at 3 PM and with the last tour beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased in person, at the event. Ticket sales will be restricted to cash or check sales.

Weather: As we approach the event, please keep an eye on NVHM’s social media pages for news about the event, including cancellation or postponement due to weather.

Location: The Clarinda Cemetery is located at 1200 N. 16th St., Clarinda, IA 51632, with parking available on Walnut Street, immediately South of the cemetery.

A Note on Accessibility: NVHM will make every effort to accommodate those who wish to participate in this event, regardless of physical incumbrances. As such, we will have a limited number of golf carts, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Questions: Please email pagecountyhistory@yahoo.com or call the museum at (712)542-3073, with any questions related to this event.

The Historic Luffa Project of 2022

As many of you may have noticed, NVHM has plants growing rapidly East of the canon on the Museum Grounds. These plants are luffa, grown and maintained by a group of youth volunteers who were intrigued by the mention of Luffa in a historical Clarinda Herald Journal article; the Luffa Project is further explained below.

Before WWII, most luffas were imported from Japan; however, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor ended the bulk importation of luffas to the United States. In 1893, Nell Cusack, a journalist, wrote, “They were in great demand!” referring to the widely spreading popularity of this beautiful luffa sponge that made your skin glow. The women, wanting their skin to appear as youthful as possible, often scrubbed with vigor and over-enthusiastically. Historic Luffa, is even mentioned in the Clarinda Herald Journal in the early 1900s as “The Gourd That Grows Dishrags” and referred to as a handy kitchen aid. The NVHM is proud to share the unique History of Luffa with our community. We encourage you to give the “HISTORIC LUFFA" a chance to make a comeback in Southwest Iowa Kitchens, Bathrooms, and across the Nation.

Thank you for your support of the NVHM!

NVHM Hosts 11th Annual Cemetery Walk

June and July First Sunday Programming

Unfortunately, NVHM has had to cancel the First Sunday programs scheduled for June and July of 2022. Though we are disappointed that we will be unable to host these events in June and July, we are looking forward to an anticipated return to First Sunday programming in August. The museum will remain open throughout the months of June and July in line with its regular hours of Tuesday & Saturday: 1-4 PM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the museum at (712)542-3073 or email at pagecountyhistory@yahoo.com.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The health and safety of our community is of the utmost importance to NVHM. We have been monitoring the impact of COVID-19 in our community and have decided to reopen the museum on April 3rd.  After reopening on the 3rd, we will be open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. Masks and social distancing will be required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep the museum open. Please note that we will not be having any museum events or special programs. Inquiries can be made by emailing pagecountyhistory@yahoo.com.

Take care of yourselves, your families and your communities. We will continue to seek guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State of Iowa and the City of Clarinda as we hope you do too.

Any additional updates to hours and programs will be announced via email, our website, and social media.

Thanks,
NVHM Board of Directors

Iowa Arts and Culture Recovery Program

The Nodaway Valley Historical Museum is elated to announce their receipt of an Iowa Arts and Culture Recovery Grant. These grants were competitively applied for and awarded to non-profits, live music venues, and government agencies and organizations in December, 2020. These grant monies will be used in an effort to reopen NVHM in a safe and sustainable fashion. It is with heartfelt appreciation that the board recognizes and thanks the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the sponsor of this impactful grant.

No July First Sunday

For the month of July the museum will not have a First Sunday Program because of the 4th of July.  Everyone have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Our Page County, Iowa Museum Has It All!

Our Page County, Iowa museum has it all – a meteorite, 3-H and 4-H, Glenn Miller, genealogy research, a 1900 parlor, animal mounts, a 1944 POW camp, and more....

Your visit to the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum in Clarinda, Iowa can take you back more than a century when the Midwest was being developed with homes, farming, businesses and schools.

Visit the Historical Village and Reminisce Building to see the changes in business, transportation and agriculture from the horse drawn era to the present. See the development of 3-H and 4-H from its very beginnings at Goldenrod School in Page County.

Follow the progress of family life through displays of home furnishings starting in 1880's and ending nearly 100 years later.

Revisit the communities of Page County to follow their history, including Bethesda, Blanchard, Braddyville, Clarinda, Coin, College Springs, Essex, Hawleyville, Hepburn, Northboro, Norwich, Nyman, Page Center, Shambaugh, Shenandoah and Yorktown.

The Freedom Rock is a salute and thank you to all of the veterans.

First Sunday Program: May 1, 2:00 p.m.

TRACES Center for History and Culture, with local hosts:

(712) 542 3073 – NVHM
(712) 435 0007 – Trish Okamoto
pagecountyhistory@yahoo.com
http://nodawayvalleymuseum.org

“At Home in the Heartland” Exhibit and Programming Come to Clarinda Iowa at the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum with Intergenerational Approaches to Mapping Iowa’s Past While Charting Its Future.

Mason City, Iowa – TRACES Center for History and Culture doesn’t have all the answers, but it does have many questions needed to help find them to queries like: Who are “we” as Iowans and as a nation? How’d we get to be the way we are? How have we changed over time—or not—and how might we change in the future?

TRACES will bring its mobile exhibit “At Home in the Heartland: Forgotten Stories of How Iowans Got to be ‘Us’” to Clarinda on Sunday May 1, 2016. It is housed in a retrofitted school bus, the “BUS-eum.”

The Iowa that existed as little as 35 years ago is gone. Sweeping, long-term changes in the region’s agriculture, economy, technology, politics and its ethnic, age or other demographics have altered the ways we live. In the process we have lost old treasures even as we have gained new possibilities. All this can be examined, together.

Admission is free, in part with support from: Humanities Iowa, the John K. & Luise V. Hanson and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundations, Chester P. Luick Memorial Trust, Vander Haags Inc. and local hosts.

Details about both the tour and TRACES can be found at: http://roots.traces.org/at-home-in-theheartland or staff@TRACES.org

The First Sunday Program is a free one hour program and refreshments will be served after the program.  Donations to the Nodaway Valley Historical Museum are always welcome to help support the Museum activities and displays.

October Photo --- Bananas!

This photo was taken in the late 1800’s. When looking at this photo, it seemed like there were an awful lot of bananas.