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Historic house · Pella, Iowa
Scholte House Museum
The 1848 house of Pella’s founder, Hendrik Pieter Scholte, with furniture brought from the Netherlands and gardens with thousands of tulips in spring.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Scholte House Museum
The Scholte House was the home of Hendrik Pieter Scholte, the pastor who led the roughly 800 Dutch immigrants who founded Pella in 1847. Construction began in 1848, and the house remained with the family for more than a century before becoming a museum.
The rooms hold furniture, china, paintings and objects the family brought from the Netherlands or bought in Iowa in the 19th century. The visit tells the story of the journey, the land purchase and the colony’s early years, and of Maria Scholte, the pastor’s wife, who left letters about life on the prairie.
The gardens behind the house are maintained by the local historical society and in spring host thousands of tulips. The house is open from mid‑March to December in the afternoons, Monday through Saturday; the adjacent tearoom is open year‑round.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour.
Best time
In late April and early May, when the garden’s tulips usually bloom.
How to get there
It’s on Washington Street, about two blocks from the Klokkenspel and the windmill.
Tip
There is a combined ticket with the windmill and historical village; buy it at the Vermeer Windmill ticket office.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Scholte House Museum
Who was Scholte, the founder of Pella?
Hendrik Pieter Scholte was a Dutch pastor who, in 1847, brought about 800 followers to Iowa and founded Pella.
When do the Scholte House gardens have tulips?
Generally in late April and early May, during the Tulip Time festival.
Is the Scholte House open year-round?
The house is open from mid-March through December in the afternoons, Monday through Saturday. Confirm before you go.