Did you know that March is Iowa History month?? Take the quiz below and see how much you know about our state. You may want to have your students try it as well.
How Much Do You Know About Iowa History?
Below are some additional resources to explore during the remainder of the month of March.
Join Goldie's Kids Club
Participate in Goldie’s Kids Club to introduce children aged 12 and under to Iowa history – starting with Goldie the eastern goldfinch, the state bird. Delve into the online library of past activities and find fun ways to learn about Iowa history from your own home.
Innovative Iowans highlights an Iowan through interactive activities that connect history with STEAM education – science, technology, engineering, art and math. Learn about the historic Iowans and try a hands-on activity connected to the historical topic.
Storytime presents a book recommendation and hands-on activity with an Iowa connection. Iowa's past has many exciting stories to tell.
With At-Home Collections historians of all ages can learn more about State Historic Sites, National Historic Landmarks and Iowa history topics through Innovative Iowans activities, crosswords, coloring sheets and more!
Interested in Goldie’s Kids Club? Join Today!
Visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa
Discover the stories of Iowa’s growth and development through exhibits displaying a rich collection of artifacts and documents. Visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. The museum is free to visit for all ages.
If you can’t visit the museum in person, tour the museum’s exhibit Iowa’s People & Places from your home or attend an upcoming virtual program such as the Iowa History 101 series or the Iowa History Book Club.
Research the Past at the Historical Library & Archives Research Center
Explore the renovated State Historical Library & Archives Iowa History Research Center in Des Moines, now open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Visitors will find numerous upgrades and improvements and can dive into collections filled with state government records, books and periodicals, newspapers, county records, manuscripts, photographs and more.
Saturday, March 23
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
11 a.m. Presentation
Des Moines - Caring for Personal Collections
Museum Collections Coordinator Kay Coats and Special Collections Archivist Jessica Nay will share how items in the State Historical Society’s collections are stored for long term preservation and will offer advice on caring for your own collections of personal and family treasures, including objects, photographs, documents, scrapbooks, and more.
Iowa City - Collections Care: Preserving an Iowa Map
Our lead conservator and instructor, Paige Wilkinson, will demonstrate how to preserve an historical Iowa map from our collection, including dry-cleaning, mending and encapsulation.
1 p.m. Presentation
Des Moines - Intro to Vital Records/Where to Find Online
Records of Birth, Marriage and Death are some of the most in demand and utilized records the government creates. Join us for an overview of what vital records are, where to find them and how to access them.
Iowa City - Objects from the Artifact Loft
In an exciting new project at our Iowa City location, two University of Iowa students are currently working to catalog and organize historical artifacts. They will present a diverse selection of historical artifacts from our artifact storage in Iowa City along with detailing their project and future plans.
Friday, March 29
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
11 a.m. Presentation
Des Moines - Overview to the Underground Railroad in Iowa
Dave Holmgren with the Iowa Freedom Trail Project at the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines will share highlights from the ongoing study of the Underground Railroad in Iowa before and during the Civil War.
Iowa City - Iowa Musicians Project
Come see our music collections by Iowa artists, including vinyl, cassette tapes, posters, and more! We will be listening to selections from the collection and available to answer questions about the project.
1 p.m. Presentation
Des Moines - Military Records in State Archives
Military records in the State Archives of Iowa are voluminous and well documented. In this presentation, State Government Records Archivist Kelsey Berryhill will discuss records regarding the Civil War, World Wars I and II, as well as the National Guard and how to use them to find an ancestor or use them for more general military research.
Iowa City - Intro to Conducting Property Research
This program provides an overview on historical resources available to conduct property research in the State of Iowa.