Kalona Fall Festival

Summit School or "Straw College"

Historic Village and One-Room Schools in Kalona, IA - (Video)
​Fall Festival Information

Attend this two-day event and visit a schoolhouse at Kalona Historical Village! Take a stroll through the scenic 1800’s village and explore pioneer life in 12 authentic buildings. Each building is restored and filled with interesting artifacts and informative displays depicting the rugged years our immigrant settlers spent taming the Iowa prairie. Leave behind the stress of today’s world and savor the family values, hard work ethic and unpretentious lifestyle of an earlier age.

​The second half of the video below deals mainly with the country school at the village named the Summit School. Built in 1850 it was nicknamed “Straw College” because straw was stuffed behind the wainscoting during the winter for insulation.  The school originally stood on the prairie south of Kalona. As part of the Mid-Prairie School district, it was used as a typing room by them until they donated it to the Kalona Historical Village in 1972. It was restored in 1973. The Summit School  hosted many much-anticipated yearly spelling bees. Students and families gathered in this one-room schoolhouse, excitedly waiting for the big bee. One teacher taught all the grade levels in one room. Students received instruction that was appropriate for living a better life as a pioneer on the prairie. 

Additional area schools are featured as well, and you can get a glimpse of the interior of a new order Amish school, Meadow Lane Schoolhouse, in Kalona.
                                          FALL FESTIVAL 2024
                       SEPTEMBER 27th AND 28th 
Thanks to Kalona Historical Village for this information and an invitation to visit!
Check out the 2024 Fall Festival Friday, September 27th: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm 
Saturday, September 28th: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
​                                                       Click on the photo below!

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CLICK ON THIS PHOTO FOR INFORMATION ON THE 2024 FALL FESTIVAL