State Historical Museum Announces New Children's Programming

DES MOINES - Goldie the goldfinch is one tough bird.

While most of Goldie's feathered friends flew south this winter, Iowa's beloved state bird hunkered down at the State Historical Museum of Iowa and hatched a clutch of fun, entertaining programs that will have children learning about Iowa history throughout the entire year. It's all part of Goldie's Kids Club, which offers various activities and events for children 3-12 years old.

Here's an overview of Goldie's master plan:

• Storytime programs let children 3-7 years old enjoy short stories and examine related museum artifacts and exhibitions. Programs are offered from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• History Makers activities and topics focus on the STEAM umbrella of learning for children 8-12 years old. Programs are offered from 2 to 3 p.m. on the first early-out Wednesday of each month. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• History Mystery events explore historic objects from the museum's collection and are geared for children 8-12 years old. Adults and children can guess how the objects were used in the past and then work together to solve the history mystery from 10 to 11 a.m. on a few Saturdays throughout the year. Online pre-registration is required at iowaculture.gov. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Goldie's Kids Club programs will be presented at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines.

Meanwhile, Goldie has been working up another plan to visit historic sites across the state this year. The bird is still working up a final itinerary, but here's the plan so far:

• May 19 - Goldie will visit the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in Haverhill, Iowa, to try some hands-on blacksmithing. The museum's "Iowa History 101" traveling exhibition housed in a Winnebago RV will be there, too.
• June 9 - Goldie will join the Gothic Days program at the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa, where Grant Wood created his famous "American Gothic" painting. The "Iowa History 101" RV will be on site.
• June 16 - Goldie will fly to the Montauk Historic Site near Clermont to play Victorian lawn games and see a temporary exhibition about the history of leisure. The "Iowa History 101" RV will be on site.
• July 7 - Goldie will travel to the Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs to hike trails and play games. In August, Goldie will be a guest at Plum Grove in Iowa City, the home of Iowa's first territorial governor, Robert Lucas. Goldie is still working on a date for this program.

View the schedule for Goldie's Kids Club Storytime, History Makers and History Mystery programs at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines.