The Kalona Historical Society is continuing its mission in preserving the history of the City thanks to a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation.

At the WCRF fall grant reception in November, the Kalona Historical Society received a grant in the amount of $299,300. These funds will be going towards renovations and additions to the train depot at the Historical Village. Plans are also to add a platform near the Rail Car Exhibit and repaint the outside.

Jim Miller, Board Director for the Historical Society stressed to KCII the importance of maintaining these artifacts. ““It means that we can now tell more of the story of Kalona because if it wasn’t for the railroad there would be no Kalona.”

WCRF is the non-profit license holder for the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, which provides its funding. Twenty-six fall grants were awarded in the most recent cycle, totaling more than $2.1 million.