Big Creek Historical Society

Webcam Photo of Square. Click to enlarge.

The museum is open by appointment only.

Membership Form

BIG CREEK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
'Preserving the Past for the Future'

Located in Polk City, Iowa the Big Creek Historical

Society (BCHS) was established in 1993. BCHS

operates a museum displaying Big Creek area

artifacts and history. The museum is located in the

historic City Hall at 116 3rd Street. The organizations

name was taken from the name of the original

settlement built on the banks of Big Creek - Big Creek

Settlement founded in 1850 by George and Hester

Beebe. BCHS is active in the community promoting

the rich history of the Big Creek area. History of the

area is brought to life by the Big Creek Players.

The hold vault, built in 1880, located in the historic

Polk City Cemetery was restored in 1995. The

cemetery is the resting place for many of the early

pioneers of the area, builders of Polk City and forty five

Civil War veterans.

The Beebe family cemetery, located on Broadway

Street in Polk City, not far from the location of the

family's log cabin, is the resting place for six of the

family's children. The cemetery was restored in 2001.

The Beebe family remained in the community for

approximately thirty-five years prior to continuing

their journey on to Salt Lake City, Utah.

A school bell, taken from a school that was built in

1893, which was cast in 1905 is displayed in the

town square. The bell was cast with the school

board members names and the statement

"Knowledge is better than Gold". The bell was

placed in the town square in 2002.

Restoration of the Big Creek School House, built

in 1863.