In Algona, Iowa, a new museum opened in November telling the story of Camp Algona, German Prisoner of War facility during World War II. Camp Algona held 10,000 prisoners from 1943-46, who were deployed to work in local farms, replacing local manpower busy in Europe capturing more Germans.

The official ribbon-cutting was held on November 11, Veteran's Day, attended by a crowd of over 200. The museum's web site, at www.pwcamp.algona.org, provides information in both English and German, and encourages Germans to visit Algona.

The small town of Algona was already on the tourism map for two reasons:

1) A Nativity scene built by the German prisoners, a half-size version fashioned from wire framing, concrete and plaster, created in 1944. It has been a popular sight at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds between Advent and December 31 each year.

2) Algona is the same town that acquired the World's Largest Cheeto in 2003. The orange, tennis ball-sized snack food mutant was donated to the town by a Naval officer stationed in Hawaii (via a radio station that promoted the discovery). It can be seen at Sister Sarah's Restaurant. [12/04/2004]

February 10, 2012