With an array of artifacts from the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s collection, two exhibitions called Iowa History 101 dig into the bedrock stories that every Iowan should know. One is a traditional museum exhibition and the other is a “hands-on” learning gallery for children, called Hands-on History.
Iowans share a fascination with being Iowan. But what does it really mean to be Iowan? Iowa History 101 explores the history of Iowans at home, work and play—and how that shapes who we are today. Like a visit to your grandparents’ attic, this exhibition unpacks the stories of Iowa’s past with dozens of artifacts from the State Historical Museum of Iowa’s collection.
Highlights
- Examine one farm family’s first radio and imagine how electricity changed life for rural Iowans.
- Admire sprinter Natasha Kaiser-Brown’s Olympic warm-up jacket.
- Study the boots Charlie Wittmack laced up to hike Mount Everest.
- Marvel at the NASA flight suit Peggy Whitson wore into space.