Prospect House Museum

About Us

The Prospect House and Civil War Museum, formed to share the story of “Cap” Colehour, Civil War Veteran and entrepreneur, who settled in the West Central Minnesota community of Battle Lake after the Civil War. The purpose of sharing “Cap’s” house, observations, memorabilia and life is to open a door to history through which those who pass achieve greater understanding and appreciation for an earlier and important time in the making of our nation.

The Prospect House, a Georgian-style “mansion”, is a treasure in its own right. Cap Colehour built the first house in 1882, based on architectural drawings from his home in Chicago. In 1886 Cap built an addition onto his house and began to offer his home, which he then called “The Prospect Inn“, as a seasonal resort. He operated the resort until 1924 when his wife made him retire at age 82. The Prospect Inn was perhaps the first and largest resort in the lakes area, operating for 38 years. Cap’s daughter, Kathrina, and her husband, Ernest Wilkins, remodeled the interior five years later, in 1929. The house’s furnishings and décor have not been changed since that time.

Continually inhabited by descendants of Cap Colehour since 1882, the Prospect House features the Civil War Museum in the lower level. Century old trees define the grounds where the Prospect House was originally built and remains today as a historical site in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Historical markers around the yard tell the story of the Prospect House.

Tours

Regular Tour Times: (May 1st – Labor Day)

• Recommended Tour times are:
  10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
• Please call in advance and schedule your tour time (218) 864-4008. All tours are guided tours!
• Typical tour takes 45-90 minutes.
• Recommended tour size is 10 people or less.

New Fall & Winter Tour Times:
(effective 11/1/2014)

• Open from Noon – 5pm
• Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Tour Times – All Tours are Guided Tours
12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

• Special Tours can be arranged by calling (218) 864-4008.
• Typical tour takes 45-90 minutes.
• Recommended tour size is 10 people or less.
• We will gladly accommodate bus group tours. Just give us call with your planned day and time and we will work with you.

The house contains many stairs. There are options for watching a video of the tour if you prefer not to climb stairs.

Admission: 

• Adult $8.00
• Children $5.00
• Children 5 years and younger – Free
• Group Tours – Based on a group fee – for more information contact us
• We are a Blue Star Museum which offers free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Free on-site Parking.