Forest Grove School No. 5 Now Open for Tours

 

The newly restored 1873 Forest Grove School No. 5 opens its doors to the public for Saturday morning tours beginning May 22 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The one-room school is located at 24040 Forest Grove Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa and is FREE to visitors of all ages, with donations welcome.

Docents will guide visitors through the one-room school’s fun exhibits and share details about the country school experience. A newly installed kiosk allows guests to view the short museum film “Remembering Forest Grove” by award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films. The 10-minute documentary gives a quick overview of the history of one-room schools in Iowa, the people who attended Forest Grove No. 5, and a look at the actual restoration work that took place at the schoolhouse over a seven-year period.

Multiple shorter films about farming, history, and former students and teachers of Forest Grove School, are also accessible by using an interactive touchscreen on the kiosk.

Forest Grove School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Forest Grove School Preservation is a 501©3 charitable organization dedicated to preserving and telling the history of rural education through the historic rehabilitation of Forest Grove Schoolhouse No. 5. Visit ForestGroveSchool.org for more information