Decorah, Iowa is a charming town full of surprises. And a small house museum tucked away on Broadway Street might be the most unique, surprising attraction of all!

Without seeing the Porter House and gardens, it might be difficult to imagine how elegant English Victorian life can blend with the unadorned honesty and beauty found in rocks and insects. After you visit this museum, though, you will have a deeper appreciation for both.
Porter House Museum / Facebook
This historic house museum was the home of Adelbert and Grace Porter from 1904 until 1968. The architecture is in the Italianate style, and the house was completed in 1867 during the boom in Decorah following the Civil War.
Porter House Museum / Facebook
Throughout the house, you will explore collections of nature - from beautiful crystals to beetles and butterflies collected from North America, South America and Asia. Adelbert loved nature and contributed significantly to the study of the number and variety of butterfly species present in Northeast Iowa.
Porter House Museum / Facebook

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Elegant furniture and china hand painted by Grace Porter highlight the wealthy Victorian side of life here. 
Porter House Museum / Facebook
Outside, a rock wall fencing the perimeter is so surprising to the eyes and mind there isn’t a category for it.
Porter House Museum / Facebook
This incredibly unique wall features geodes, petrified trees, agate, onyx, amethyst and many other mineral specimens meticulously collected and planned out by Adelbert.
Porter House Museum / Facebook
Make sure to take a close look; you may even find yourself crawling around the entire perimeter so as not to miss a single stone. A map of the rock wall is available in the museum for your enjoyment as you tour this wall.
Next time you are in Decorah, drive down West Broadway Street: you can’t miss the rock wall! Then venture inside; you might discover a wealth of beauty and knowledge that calls you to keep coming back to take it all in.
Porter House Museum / Facebook

The rock wall and gardens can be enjoyed year-round during daylight hours, and make sure to visit the Porter House Museum website for more information or questions related to the availability of house tours or special events. And once you’ve enjoyed your fill of the Porter House, take time to explore the rest of Decorah.

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Porter House Museum, 401 W Broadway St, Decorah, IA 52101, USA