The Farm at Prophetstown

After walking the beautiful grounds at The Farm, you will see what life was like on a 1920s farm. Amazingly, there were no televisions, recliners, computers, electric washing machines, gas lawn mowers, microwaves, rechargeable battery-operated weed whackers, or Internet. Why, there wasn’t even an air fryer! How those folks survived is a mystery.

A visit to The Farm inside Prophetstown State Park offers a glimpse into what farm life was like in the 1920s on these exceptional grounds. Among the many highlights are:

• The I. Floyd Garrott Tenant House — an original “Hampton”, 1920's model kit home from Sears & Roebuck that was moved to The Farm in 2004. A tenant house was where a farm tenant might have lived with an agreement to work the land for the farm owner.

• The Gibson House — a replica of a 1920's “Hillrose” Sears model kit home that was built in 2000. The “Hillrose” featured three floors, including a basement. The house at The Farm has been updated to include an elevator for accessibility.

• 1920s-era livestock, including horses, various chicken breeds, turkeys, cattle, sheep, hogs, and many others.

• Farm-to-table five-course dinners, offered several times a year. These take place in the Gibson House and are served on antique china.

• Farm buildings such as a machine shed, barn, windmill, milk house, corn crib and blacksmith shop.

On this working farm, all of these buildings and areas are available to explore as part of a self-guided tour. A visit here is a wonderful trip back in time that can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace or as a school outing.