Camp Algona POW Museum

Discover a piece of World War II history most visitors never expect to find in rural Iowa. From April 1944 to February 1946, Algona was home to a base camp for German prisoners of war, housing a total of 10,000 POWs over its operation. As the hub for thirty-four branch camps across a four-state region, the Algona camp system had a monthly population averaging 3,216 prisoners, though the number held at the Algona camp itself rarely exceeded 2,500. The prisoners' labor left a lasting economic mark on the region, with work performed across the four-state area valued at an estimated $3,506,000. Today, the Camp Algona POW Museum preserves this little-known chapter of history, welcoming an average of 2,500 visitors a year since 2004. Hours: Weekends, April-December: 1-4 p.m. Weekdays in June, July, and August: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Please visit our website or Facebook page for updated hours and announcements.