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Tourism and Events Visitors to Oskaloosa can learn much about the community’s heritage by touring some prominent landmarks around town. The Nelson Pioneer Farm, located two miles northeast of Oskaloosa on Glendale Road, takes tourists back in time with its recreation of a 19th century farm. The McNeill Stone Mansion, a local bed and breakfast, takes guests back to the Edwardian era with its ornate decor. The Southern Iowa Speedway propels race fans into the 21st century on Wednesday nights during the summer race season. The Nelson Pioneer Farm is an historical complex administered by the Mahaska County Historical Society. The farm is located on the site of a 153-acre farm that Daniel Nelson staked a claim to in 1846. The Nelson family farmed for 114 years, until 1958 when the family bequeathed the farm to the Mahaska County Historical Society. The Nelson Pioneer Farm features the Nelson Pioneer farm and Craft Museum, a summer kitchen, a meat house, a lumber yard office, a scale house, the 1900-era Wright Post Office, a voting house, a log cabin at the site of an original 1844 cabin and a black smith shop. It also features the Daniel Nelson Barn, a country store, the Coal Creek Meeting House, the Hopewell store Post Office, a coal miner’s home from the former town of Buxton and the Prine School. Across the street from the museum is Bradbury Hall, named after the first president and founding father of the historical society. It was completed in 2005. The 60-foot by 120-foot one-story building has a capacity of more than 320 people. The Nelson Pioneer Farm is the site of the Annual Pioneer Farm Festival, held on the third Saturday in September. The festival features demonstrations of 30 pioneer skills as well as special exhibits and musical entertainment. The event is topped off with a country-style dinner. During the summer months, the Southern Iowa Speedway at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds comes alive with the roar of revving race car engines and the cheers of racing fans. The Southern Iowa Speedway features a half-mile, semi-banked oval dirt race track and grandstand seating for about 3,000 race fans. The drivers of sprint cars, stock cars, modified and hobby stocks compete on Wednesday evenings for cash prizes and the glory of crossing the finish line under a waving checkered flag. Southern Iowa racing action is also found in nearby communities such as Eddyville and Knoxville. The Iowa Speedway at Newton hosts National NASCAR races.