Emergency Relief Fund

We at the Prospect House & Civil War Museum recognize that our country is once again going through another event that will go in the history books. The corona virus is hurting all of us in one way or another.

The Prospect House normally sees thousands of visitors a year from all parts of the country. Sadly, due to the spread of COVID-19, the museum is only able to host a few small tours a day. We've either had to cancel or postpone our social events, and our popular Minnesota Civil War education program is also cancelled. Revenue generated from these programs and events cover our yearly operating expenses—or they used to. This is why we need your help, now more than ever!

Even a small donation of $5 will go a long way and help us continue to provide our community with educational programming and fun and interactive events, as well as help local businesses attract customers to our small town of Battle Lake, MN.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us. Even if you can only give a little--a lot of "little" adds up.


Jay Johnson
Founder and CEO


About the Prospect House

Built by Civil War Veteran, James A. “Cap” Colehour in 1882, the eighteen room Georgian-style mansion was the first house, and later first resort in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Unchanged since it’s remodeling in 1929, the historic Prospect House is an incredibly unique resource for Civil War and regional history. The Civil War objects, photographs and letters Cap Colehour brought to the area along with the furniture, clothes, and toys owned by his descendants serve as an enduring connection to the life of a Civil War soldier and his pioneering family. The museum has the largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the state and is the only house museum in west central Minnesota.

Our Goals

The museum is continuously working to create educational programming to help students, residents, and visitors to Battle Lake, Minnesota, achieve a greater understanding of the Civil War and deepen their appreciation for the settlers that migrated to Minnesota after the war. In 2017, the museum launched an interactive Civil War learning experience for 6th grade students and is currently developing a companion program that will focus on the evolution of west central Minnesota as influenced by the growth of industry and immigration. 

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