The Pot Hollow School Story: Preserving a Schoolhouse

The Pot Hollow School Story: Preserving a Schoolhouse

Posted: January 22, 2026

A woman in period dress teaches children and adults in a historic classroom with wooden desks and green curtains.

Nestled among the historic buildings of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum is a one-room schoolhouse that tells a broader story of rural education in northeast Iowa — the Pot Hollow School.

Built in 1915 on Wagon Road north of Decorah, Iowa, Pot Hollow School served generations of students before beginning a journey of preservation that would eventually bring it to Burr Oak. Though the schoolhouse is not connected to the Ingalls family, it represents the kind of educational setting familiar to Laura’s world and to countless rural communities across Iowa.

A Schoolhouse with a Second Life

In the 1960s, the Pot Hollow School was moved to Burr Oak, where it continued to serve the community as both a classroom and later an art studio. By the early 2020s, the building needed care and a new purpose — one that would allow it to educate once again.

In 2022, the schoolhouse was donated to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum, launching a major preservation effort known as the “Move the Schoolhouse” project. Community fundraisers, including Laura’s Sack Lunch, helped raise the funds needed to relocate the building, prepare a foundation, and begin essential repairs.

Small, weathered red cabin with white trim, surrounded by grass and trees on a sunny day.

Moving Day and Restoration

After months of planning and preparation, the Pot Hollow Schoolhouse made its move in July 2022, traveling to its new home next to the historic Masters Hotel in Burr Oak. Local contractors and skilled movers worked carefully to ensure the building could be safely relocated and restored.

Additional improvements, including accessibility features and electrical upgrades, helped prepare the schoolhouse for its next chapter — welcoming visitors and supporting educational programming.

Open for Exploration Today

Following its restoration, the Pot Hollow School officially opened to visitors in 2024. Guests are invited to explore the schoolhouse at their own pace, stepping inside to see original features like the slate chalkboard and wood flooring, along with period furnishings donated to help recreate the feel of a one-room classroom.

Inside, visitors will also find a display highlighting early 1900s one-room schools across Winneshiek County, connecting Pot Hollow School to a wider network of rural education sites that once dotted the landscape.
Many guests choose to explore the schoolhouse while waiting for their guided tour of the Masters Hotel, making it a quiet, hands-on way to experience history.

A man in vintage clothes teaches a group in an old-fashioned classroom with desks and a chalkboard.

Continuing the Mission of Education

Today, the Pot Hollow School stands as a symbol of preservation, community support, and lifelong learning. While it no longer echoes with daily lessons, it continues to educate — helping visitors better understand rural life, early schooling, and the importance of preserving historic places.

The Pot Hollow Schoolhouse is just one of many ways the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum keeps history alive in Burr Oak, Iowa.

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