Effective May 4, 2026, the email domain for State Historical Society of Iowa employee addresses and inboxes will change from @iowa.gov to @das.iowa.gov.
The Board of Railroad Commissioners was created by the legislature in 1878 and given general supervision of railroads operating in Iowa. In 1896, the Boards supervisory powers were expanded to include common carriers. Numerous changes followed: in July 1937, the Board of Railroad Commissioners was renamed the State Commerce Commission with additional regulatory functions. In July 1975, the regulation of railroads and motor carriers was transferred from Commerce to the newly created Department of Transportation.
All records pertaining to railroads and common carriers, regardless of creating agency, are included in this Record Group except for the Railroad Commissioners Daily Record and Railroad Commissioners Decision Record, from 1937-1976, which are included in RG 20 Commerce - Commission Daily Record and Decision Record.
