What’s over four decades old, has a mountain of collectibles and exhibits and is within the city of Rugby?

Give up?

It’s the Prairie Village Museum which soon will be celebrating its 25th Village Fair on Sunday, Aug. 8.

The museum provides visitors a nostalgic look back into the past with its countless displays within its many buildings. The museum, which is located just south of the Northern Lights Tower and Interpretive Center along U.S. Highway 2 and is under the care of the Geographical Center Historical Society, is also a great place to learn about the history of Pierce County.

Many of the donated and loaned items on display come from current and former Rugby and area residents. Over the years, the museum has steadily received more and more exhibits.

Not every community has a museum and certainly not one which is as large as Rugby’s Prairie Village Museum.

Indeed, it’s one of our community’s treasures, but one which is often forgotten about by our residents.

While hundreds of out-of-town visitors pass through the museum each summer, the number of local residents is relatively small.

Of course, that’s human nature.

Residents don’t usually consider their own community as a place to spend some of their free time. Vacations are about getting away. A change of scenery and an opportunity to see new attractions.

No one can argue with that.

However, we can still appreciate some of our local sites and the museum is certainly one of them.

It’s hard to find anyone who comes away not being impressed with the volume and variety of exhibits. And with the 25th annual Village Fair approaching what a perfect time to check it out.

So, if company is in town, or you’re simply looking for a good place to spend an afternoon without having to drive far, make plans to tour the Prairie Village Museum.

Even if it’s just for a few hours. You’ll be glad you did.