09/09/2026
HERITAGE CENTER DISPLAYS HISTORIC GUN COLLECTION
The Clay County Heritage Center recently updated an exhibit with the help of a local firearm enthusiast Mark Vandehaar of Spencer.
The exhibit, which includes several guns dating from the mid 1800s through the 1940s, includes bayonets, copper and leather powder flasks, tools, and cartridges that were used by some of Spencer’s earliest settlers.
One Civil War era gun was found in a Clay County prairie field by L.M. Peeso, who was the first general store owner in Spencer. The gun’s story is explained in the exhibit.
The Heritage Center's artifact gun collection has not been on display for public viewing for several years. This spring Vandehaar was volunteering muscle power at the museum and noticed the guns in storage. He offered to clean the fi****ms. Once the job was completed, museum staff asked Vandehaar to assist them in setting up the display in the Dvergsten Gallery.
“Mark did a beautiful job of cleaning the guns. He also meticulously arranged them in the early 1900s display case that was gifted to the Heritage Center many years ago by the Clay County Conservation Board,” explained Susan Christensen, Heritage Center interim director. “We have received excellent feedback and comments about the gun collection. One gentleman insisted we had hired an expert for the job, considering the quality of workmanship. I smiled and said: ‘I know a guy.’ Mark Vandehaar is indeed a person of excellence, and we feel fortunate that he was willing to lend his expertise for the benefit of the exhibition.”
The Heritage Center’s historic guns include shot guns and rifles dating from before the Civil War. Many fi****ms were donated by area residents, including a Japanese rifle from WWII, donated by the late Otto Bjornstad Junior.
“This spring a group of school children were admiring the display and noticed the gun powder bags from the 1860s,” Christensen explained. “One bag, made of leather, remains in excellent condition. We explained the importance of preservation efforts performed by local historians, ensuring the long-term survival of these precious artifacts made of paper, wood, and leather. It’s fun to see kids grasp the importance of preserving history and artifacts.”
The Heritage Center’s historic firearm collection is currently on display in the Dvergsten Gallery at 7 Grand Avenue in Spencer. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 12 to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 712.262.3304.
Mark Vandehaar, Spencer area gun collector and enthusiast, recently donated his time and talent to cleaning the Heritage Center’s historic gun collection, which is currently on display in the main gallery.
