Jasper County Historical Museum

The Jasper County Historical Museum in Newton preserves and shares the stories that shaped Jasper County and the surrounding area. The museum campus includes a 16,000-square-foot Main Building, an agriculture building, an 1865 barn, a steam engine house, and a blacksmith shop, offering visitors a broad look at local history. Inside the museum, exhibits feature furnished Victorian-era rooms, 1930s living spaces, a general store, post office, barber shop, and millinery shop. The collection highlights daily life, agriculture, and industry, including Newton’s role as the “washing machine center of the world.” More than 70 washing machines from Maytag and other Newton companies are on display. With a mix of indoor exhibits and historic structures, the Jasper County Historical Museum offers an engaging way to explore the people, businesses, and traditions that helped define the community.