Bily Clock Museum

There is little that I can add following another review. I was skeptical until I entered the museum and saw the intricate, beautiful work of the craftsmen. The $ 6 entry fee is well worth what a person is about to see.
My only recommendation is that only well behaved, quiet children should be taken in. This is a serious, quiet place with many signs advising not to touch this or that. It’s not a playground.
There is no doubt in my mind that almost everyone who walks through the door will marvel at the fantastic clocks produced by Frank and Joseph Bily. This is a «must visit» place and a real treasure!

Frank and Joseph Bily were bachelor brothers dedicating their lives to working on the family farm, caring for their spinster sister and a physically and mentally handicapped brother. «SPARE» time was spent with nothing but hand tools carving the most intricate clocks you’ll ever witness. Each one has been carefully planned, then executed in the woods native to that area of Iowa. Both men acquired only a 5^th grade education. The clocks were a manifestation of the knowledge gleaned from their immense library. Nothing escaped them, religion, composers, presidents, including other men admired by the brothers. Figures that they felt were worthy of being commemorated in their magnificent works of art. Don’t miss this little gem. Henry Ford offered the two brothers $ 1M for one of their clocks in 1928. They respectfully declined. Their collective works were donated to the city of Spillville, never to be sold or separated. It’s a wonderful collections, don’t miss it if you ever pass by Spillville, Iowa.
My favorite part of the museum tour was the desktop, when leaving school for good the desk was given to the Bily brothers as they had carved it to the point it was of no use to the school. It remained on the farm until one of the brothers discovered it, took the desk top from the piece, carved it and presented it to his mother as a gift.