Three museums in three Lucas County communities allow you to fully experience life in a bygone era:

     The Lucas County Historical Museum, in Chariton, is located in the A.J. Stephens House, a 1908 mansion on the National Register of Historic Places that has been authentically furnished with period pieces. The museum campus includes three other historic buildings that have been relocated to the grounds: Puckerbrush School, Otterbein Church and an 1870s pioneer log cabin.

The museum opens for the 2011 season on May 28 and remains open Tuesday through Saturday 1-4 p.m. through September, or by appointment for tour groups. The museum will celebrate the season Grand Opening on June 17th at 6 P.M. and will have a Mid-summer Gala on juloy 16th at & p.m. The museum will conclude its season with a Harvest Festival on September 17 at 10 a.m.

The John L. Lewis Memorial Museum of Mining and Labor in Lucas pays tribute to native son John L. Lewis, the famous labor leader, and showcases southern Iowa’s mining heritage. The museum’s 2011 season runs from April 16 through October 15.  Events at the museum in 2011 include the John L. Lewis Festival on September 3 and the Lucas Fall Festival on October 1.

In Russell, a former country doctor’s office has been converted to a museum. History buffs can listen to the museum’s collection of oral histories and view the work of local artists, past and present. New this year, is a 30x70 addition that includes more historical displays.  Also in the new addition, is a tractor and a Russell Oil wagon.

     Stop in to see all the historic treasures in any one of our three museums. For more information on these events, call 641-766-6836.

A Taste of Chariton – See what this southern Iowa town has to offer by sampling its history, its scenic beauty, its unique shops and two of its culinary landmarks.

         
Tour Historic Lucas County – A must for lovers of Iowa history. Three different styles of museums in three different communities.

         
Lucas, Iowa: The Past Comes Alive – Iowa’s coal-mining history and traditions are captured in Lucas, birthplace of labor leader John L. Lewis.

         
“A Helpful Smile”: Behind the Scenes at Hy-Vee – Tour state-of-the-art distribution facilities of one of the nation’s largest and most successful grocery chains.

Call the Lucas County Arts Council at 641-774-2434 for information on either facility.

         
Other local buildings listed on the National Register include the Chariton Public Library, the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion building, City Hall, the First United Methodist Church and the Lucas County Courthouse.

 

 

The Holiday Open House begins with the community Tree of Lights ceremony and the lighting of the memorial tree on the Courthouse lawn. Businesses around the square decorate their store windows, with many featuring live mannequins acting out Christmas scenes. Children scurry from store to store as part of a scavenger hunt that promises a prize at the end.

As the courthouse clock strikes seven, the Norman and Connie Moon Memorial Lighted Float parade begins, featuring all manner of floats, vehicles and walkers providing their own illumination. Following the parade, spectators witness the crowing of Miss Merry Christmas and Little St. Nick, and the evening always concludes with a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus to the town bandstand.

Join us in Chariton on the Friday after Thanksgiving for a magical holiday evening! For more information on our holiday activities, visit our website at: www.charitonchamber.com/

         
On June 11, 2011, cyclists and bikers from throughout the state will converge on Chariton for two popular events – the 26^th annual Chariton Classic. It is being held in conjunction with the Renaissance Fair this coming year.  The Renaissance Fair will provide great entertainment with knights in shinning armor, a wide variety of shows, exhibits, and hands on demonstrations.

The annual annual John Dale Clark Memorial Motorcycle Ride will be held on Saturday Juen 18th and the Benjamin Smiles' Motorcycle Run will deliver toys and cheer to young patients at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines later in the summer.
 

 

The Chamber’s Community Betterment division puts on the annual Kids’ Carnival, held the Saturday before Halloween on the courthouse lawn. Upwards of 300 children turn out for the games, contests, food and prizes. The celebration includes a free breakfast, goodie bags, a Halloween costume contest, carnival booths, refreshments, free hotdogs for lunch and trick-or-treating at Chariton businesses.
 

Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch, north of Chariton on Highway 14, sponsors an annual fall festival featuring craft booths, caramel apples, antique tractors, oats threshing and much more. Kids of all ages can wind their way through the Giant Hay Bale Maze on the Pierce farm. The Country Store will be open and more than 70 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds will be on display. The 2011 event is scheduled for October 8-9.
 

On the third Saturday in April, Tourism Lucas County holds its Redbud Festival, which features a Bike and Pet Parade on the town square. In the afternoon, kids of all ages enjoy a free fishing contest at Red Haw State Park, where hundreds of redbud trees are likely to be sporting bright pink blossoms. New at this year’s event, to be held April 16, will be a bike ride and free entertainment for families.

On the Saturday before Easter, the Chariton Kiwanis hosts a community Easter Egg Hunt. Hundreds of children scour the Courthouse lawn for the colorful eggs containing candy and certificates for prizes donated by local merchants. This year’s Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt will be April 23, 2011.
 

A highlight of any Lucas County summer is the community’s annual 4^th of July Celebration in Chariton, a three-day extravaganza featuring carnival rides and games, bingo, live bands, contests and every kind of food imaginable. The event concludes with a gigantic fireworks show.
 

With an abundance of public land, Lucas County is one of the state’s prime locations for outdoor activities. Red Haw State Park, a 420-acre part located just east of Chariton, comes alive each spring when hundreds of the area’s famous redbud trees color the landscape with their pink and violet blossoms. (Best time for redbud trees in bloom is middle to late April). Red Haw also includes a campground with electrical hookups and a 72-acre lake with a sandy beach for swimmers and sunbathers.

         
South of Chariton, Pin Oak Marsh is a nature lover’s paradise, with great blue herons, white pelicans, river otters and other birds and wildlife making their homes amid the native prairie and marshlands. There are walking trails, a picnic area and a lodge featuring a meeting room, library and displays of live animals and taxidermy mounts.

         
Stephens State Forest, south and west of Lucas, boasts 31 miles of trails for horseback riding, four stocked ponds for fishing, public hunting and seven camping areas. In 2008 Stephens State Forest was designated as the state’s 13^th Bird Conservation Area by the state Department of Natural Resources. Notable species making their homes at Stephens Forest include the Red-shouldered Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Boblink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Whip-poor-will and American Woodcock.

Take some time for nature to get out and explore southern Iowa!