Lenox College, Presbyterian educational institution and museum in Hopkinton, Iowa.
Lenox College is a former college in Hopkinton, Iowa, now operating as the Delaware County Historical Museum across nine restored buildings on a small campus. The collection covers agricultural equipment, historical vehicles, and everyday objects from different periods.
The institution was founded in 1859 as Bowen Collegiate Institute and was among the first colleges in the United States to teach men and women together. Educational operations ceased in 1944, after which the campus was kept for historical purposes.
The museum displays an original drugstore setup, a 1930s print shop, and clothing from different eras that show how people lived and worked. Walking through the buildings gives a concrete picture of trades and everyday objects that are rarely seen today.
The grounds are open from June to September, with visits outside that period possible by arrangement. Pathways connect all the buildings, so it is easy to move from one to another at your own pace.
A monument from 1865 on the grounds honors students who served in the Civil War and is considered the first military memorial on any college campus in the United States. It was erected before the war had even ended, reflecting how quickly the community chose to recognize its losses.
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