Welcome to The International Center for Rural Culture and Art, Inc. featuring the 1912 Nelson Round Barn site. Here you will also find the 1887 New York Christian Church, the 1869 Williams School, and the 1897 Queen Anne House.
In late summer of 1991, citizens learned that the last remaining round barn in Wayne County was about to be sold. Concerned that new owners would demolish the historically significant structure, a core group formed a non-profit corporation, secured a bank loan, and successfully completed the purchase of the 93-acre farm one mile east of Allerton.
The purpose of the non-profit corporation is rural education through historical preservation. Recognizing the importance of Iowa’s rural heritage, the corporation provides opportunities to educate the public, both youth and adults, about past and present rural life.
Feel the joy of days gone by. Listen. You can almost hear the past in the meandering winds as they thread their paths in and around a cluster of historic structures—architecture of another time—all brought together on a 93-acre prairie site one mile east of Allerton, Iowa. The International Center for Rural Culture and Art, Inc. is preserving the best of the old.
Stroll through our website as you learn about these historic structures. Better yet, come and visit these beautiful structures in person. Learn more about the history of the International Center for Rural Culture & Art. Our History.
