Donate & Join

Become a Member

The Mahaska County Historical Society is a member-driven organization. Members engage with our governing process by electing our Board of Directors and approving our operating budget annually. They are vital to our success and highly-valued for their passion, ideas, and commitment to the MCHS.

Member benefits include:

• Free, unlimited admission to Nelson Pioneer Farm during regular hours
• Early registration to special events and programs
• Special members-only admission rates to events and programs
• Digital quarterly newsletters
• 10% discount at our museum gift shop
• 10% discount on rental fee for Bradbury Hall (excludes security deposit and other fees)

A membership fellowship meeting and potluck dinner is held quarterly on the third Monday evening of the months of February, May, August, and November.

• $15 for Individuals
• $25 for Couple/Family/Grandparent
• $250 Lifetime Membership

We now offer organizational memberships! Organizational supporters receive:

• Digital quarterly newsletters
• Acknowledgement with your organization's logo at the Admission desk

Representatives are welcome to join the quarterly potlucks and meetings!

• $30 Nonprofit Organization 
• $50 Business

Membership definitions

Individual memberships include a single person.

Family memberships cover couples as well as families with minor children living in the home. Grandparent memberships cover couples and any visiting grandchildren under 18 years of age accompanying the grandparent.

A lifetime family membership includes a couple for both person’s lifetime, and any minor children either born or adopted to that family or minor grandchildren accompanying the membership holder.

Become a Donor

Each year, generous donors contribute to the daily operations of the MCHS. These donations support exhibit development, public programming, artifact care, historic preservation, and other needs for the MCHS.

Mahaska County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations to MCHS are tax deductible to the extent of the IRS tax code.

You may also donate historic artifacts to the MCHS. We actively collect items made in or connected to Mahaska County and its residents. We have an artifacts committee that determines if an artifact meets our mission. If you have an item you would like to donate, please send a picture and as many details as you have to our Collections Manager at collections@nelsonpioneer.org or call 641-672-2989.

Special projects

First Floor Renovation