McPherson County Old Mill Museum

We had a terrific time touring the museum!I especially enjoyed the mill portion of this Lindsborg tour, and especially (as also appealed to fellow Yelper Sarah G.) the St. Louis World's Fair Swedish pavilion so carefully transported and displayed.Whoever said that a jaunt through a small Scandinavian-heavy town in rural Kansas could be so much fun?Must recommend to friends in both Kansas City and Wichita alike, plus anyone else who happens to be zig-zagging through the Midwest in search of something fun and informative all at once.

My family greatly enjoyed our visit. The exhibits are well done in the museum. Lots of artifacts and examples early town life. The story of Lindsborg is carefully documented and easy to follow. The mill is beautifully restored and looks as if it could operate today. My family experienced a wonderful afternoon exploring the buildings and the museum. Lots to see and experience!

This museum is a little gem nestled into the Swedish town of Lindsborg, Kansas. While the main exhibits could use some updating there is plenty of charm to go around. The mill itself is the most spectacular part, especially since you can walk all levels and really explore. Additionally the original Swedish pavilion from the St. Louis worlds fair is across the street and is really cool to check out.

This is a fully restored and functioning 1880's style flour mill, with small natural history museum, a campground, an agricultural museum, and the Swedish pavilion from the 1904 world's fair all more or less across the street from each other.For a small town (population 4,000 or so) museum this is quite the package. The three story mill is fully tour able, completely functioning flour mill lovingly restored to it's original condition. The space where the water wheel was is still there-although it's now powered by electricity they left the water powered engineering in place. Every year in spring they run it up and make the whole event a community festival appropriately enough called Millfest. They also have a small natural history section in the first floor which consists of the extensive taxidermy collection of one of the early founders of the local college(Dr. Lindquist). It's interesting enough but as it's been a long time since those poor wee beasties were mounted and stuffed time is wearing on them. Not quite nightmare fuel yet but some of them are well on their way. They have discretely (and thankfully) removed the two headed calf. There is also a small folk art collection. Across the street a half dozen historically significant buildings-a one room school house, the old depot, a barn -which contains a functioning rumley oil-pull tractor and Yellow Kid threshing machine amongst other old timey agricultural implements,an original blacksmithy, a steam locomotive, and yes, the 1904 St. Louis world's fair Swedish pavilion which was a personal gift to the city from the king of Sweden himself. No, really.The grounds allow for camping. Assuming you don't need an electrical hookup your site fee will be five dollars, seven if you need electricity and the site includes a fixed grill and fire pits. So camping and admission to the museum will be less then ten dollars which is quite the bargain. On the downside on weekends bored teenagers will sometimes come out to try to spook you.Quite a lot of lovingly restored and maintained items (with the possible exception of some of the stuffed animals) in total really. Totally worth a visit.

My husband and I came here on our own during his first visit to KS, then we brought his parents when they came on a KS trip a couple years later.The first part of the museum is a bit strange, so I move through that pretty fast. If you interested in taxidermy and various species of dead animals, you might not mind it so much.Then you get a look a life in the old days. Nothing high tech, but it's somewhat interesting.The best part to me, my husband and his parents is touring the Mill - from top to bottom, inside and out. We'd love to see it humming and buzzing the one time a year or so that they actually run the mill. The whole system of making flour is amazing.Across the street you can look at an old schoolhouse, train depot (and train engines) and other old building. One is like an old barn scene full of old equipment. Hopefully when you round of the corners in the barn area you won't be startled by the big stuffed horse!This would be the place do be during Mid-Summer Festival and to dance around the pole. Definitely worth a stop while traveling through Lindsborg.

http://www.oldmillmuseum.org/Where do I start? This configuration of buildings swings wildly between elegant, picturesque antiques and bizarre "museum pieces" that seem out of place in any setting. That said - I loved it! The first thing you see when you walk in (through the gift shop) is a room lined with wierd taxidermy cases of native animals - I can see how a lot of people would find this CREEPY, but it's so straight-out-of-the-1970's "life science museum" I had to love it. Then you tour the 3 floors of the mill, which they've restored and diagramed nicely. The wood beams inside are SURPRISINGLY complex and cool to look at. Then, across the street, there are buildings set up in a U-shape, immitating the formation of an "old west" town with various artifacts of life in Lindsborg through the ages, a bank, a one-room schoolhouse, a dry goods store - all cool to walk through. At the center (bottom of the "U") is the Swedish Pavillion - a GORGEOUS old ball room that has weird artifacts in cases around the perimiter of the building. It KILLS ME to see a room that was made for parties NOT BEING USED FOR PARTIES. I know, I know, historic building, yada yada yada, and maybe they do use it for cultural events, but I'm talking about parties. Ah well.

Nice stop on a road trip. If you are near this on the drive. Several buildings to see.