Established 1969

It was the vision of Dan Nagle, Scott County Conservation’s Director at the time, to use the three-acre site and original buildings as the start of an educational and historical park depicting early settlement life in rural Scott County. After Mr. Nagle’s retirement in 1998, the park was renamed in his honor as “Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village.”

Walnut Grove Pioneer Village began with the acquisition of Butler # 2 School in 1969 followed by the Ehler house with its summer kitchen and blacksmith shop in 1970 by Scott County Conservation.  

The Ehler house and Blacksmith Shop were built here in 1860 followed by the school in 1870. The school was used from 1870 to 1968.

Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village Development Timeline    

1970's

• School & property purchased 1969
• Ehlers house acquired 1970
• Summer Kitchen acquired 1970
• Blacksmith shop acquired 1970
• Tobin Cabin donated & moved here 1970
• Donahue Depot donated and moved here 1978
• Caboose donated & moved here 1977
• Locomotive donated & moved here 1977
• Dammann Building donated & built here 1977
• Schaff Cabin donated & moved here 1978

1980's

• Olde St. Ann’s Church moved here 1985
• Bank built here 1988

1990's

• Telephone/Post office donated & moved here 1990
• Fire Station donated & moved here 1990
• General Store built here 1991
• Bison Saloon built here 1992
• Soda Shop built here 1993
• Barber Shop built here 1994
• Doctor/Dentist office built here 1994
• Carpenters Shop built here 1994

2000's

• Jail built here 2009