Rensselaer Russell House Museum

Go back into the history books and explore all about Victoria life and elegance at the Rensselaer Russell House Museum in Waterloo.

During your time at this historic property, listing on the National Register of Historic Places, you can marvel at the lovely brick structure and one of the state's finest examples of Italianate architecture - lived in by three generations of the Russell family.

In fact, it's one of the oldest homes in Black Hawk County!

Guided tours will bring the property and its stories to life, with original furnishings to set the scene of life over 100 years ago, and stores of the Russell family and their experiences in Victorian Waterloo.

We imagine it's a pretty different life to what you are used to today!

The house was actually built by the Russell's in 1861, and is actually the largest artifact in the Grout Museum District's collection. Restored to the 1890s (when electricity was added to the home), it's a fine example of an era of gracious living, being the showcase of the community.

Another fun fact about the Rensselaer Russell House Museum is that an 1899 Steinway grand piano can be seen, and was one of the first grand pianos in the area!

So take a step back in time to this historic Iowa property and experience Victorian life first hand!