Event Recap
Walk into Iowa history—one step at a time!
Join us for the 11th Annual Historical Walking Tour at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 7 at 8:15 a.m., starting near the Administration Building on the Grand Concourse. This fun, FREE, and educational way to kick off your Fair day is co-hosted by the State Historical Society of Iowa & the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.
Led by SHSI Curator, Hanna Howard, and Education Coordinator, Rachel Hansen, this 1K fun walk (about 1,500 steps!) will guide you through fascinating stories and historic spots across the fairgrounds—just in time to wrap up at the Fair’s Opening Ceremony at Fun Forest.
This year’s tour stops include stories about:
• Louis H. Pammel, conservation pioneer and father of Iowa’s state park system
• Ruth Law, death-defying aviator and Grandstand thrill-seeker
• Great Depression-era improvements by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
…and more!
Special appearances by Governor Kim Reynolds, SHSI Administrator, Valerie Van Kooten, the Iowa State Fair Queens, and more—let’s walk through history together!
Event Details
Walk into Iowa history—one step at a time!
Kick off your Iowa State Fair morning with a free, fun 1K walk exploring historic landmarks and untold stories from the Fair’s past—led by experts from the State Historical Society of Iowa, in partnership with the Healthiest State Initiative.
Join us for the 11th Annual Historical Walking Tour at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 7 at 8:15 a.m., starting near the Administration Building on the Grand Concourse. This fun, FREE, and educational way to kick off your Fair day is co-hosted by the State Historical Society of Iowa & the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.
Led by SHSI Curator, Hanna Howard, and Education Coordinator, Rachel Hansen, this 1K fun walk (about 1,500 steps!) will guide you through fascinating stories and historic spots across the fairgrounds—just in time to wrap up at the Fair’s Opening Ceremony at Fun Forest.
This year’s tour stops include stories about:
• Louis H. Pammel, conservation pioneer and father of Iowa’s state park system
• Ruth Law, death-defying aviator and Grandstand thrill-seeker
• Great Depression-era improvements by the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
…and more!
Special appearances by Governor Kim Reynolds, SHSI Administrator, Valerie Van Kooten, the Iowa State Fair Queens, and more—let’s walk through history together!