State Historical Society of Iowa

07/09/2026

Labor Day gives us a chance to pause, look back, and remember the people whose work has shaped our communities and our history. 🇺🇸

In the late 1800s, many Americans worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, helping fuel the movement for fairer working conditions. Today, we acknowledge the efforts of Iowans and workers everywhere, from the farmers who feed the world to the teachers, tradespeople, caregivers, and countless others who keep our communities moving forward. 🤝

The collections at the State Historical Society of Iowa preserve many of these stories, made possible by generations of people who worked to build, create, and preserve our shared history. We’re grateful for our own dedicated team who continues that work today. 💛

📸 Revisit these historic photographs from our collections with us, and reflect on the lives and labor of Iowans who came before us.

Wishing you a safe, happy, and well-earned Labor Day!

03/09/2026

When you realize some Iowa historic sites close after Labor Day…you listen to Goldie! 🚗 👀 Labor Day weekend is your FINAL WEEKEND to visit some State Historic Sites during their regular open-season hours. (DETAILS BELOW!)

FINAL WEEKEND:
📍 Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin | Open Sat. & Sun., 12–4 p.m.; closed Labor Day
📍 Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop | Open Sat. & Sun., 12–4 p.m.; shop closed Labor Day

OTHER SITES:
📍 Montauk Historic Site | Open Sat., Sun. & Labor Day, 12–4 p.m.; adjusted hours after Labor Day
📍 Plum Grove Historic House | Open Sat. & Sun., 12–5 p.m.; closed Labor Day; adjusted hours after Labor Day
📍 Toolesboro Mounds | Open Sat. & Sun., 12–4:30 p.m.; visitor center closed Labor Day; adjusted hours after Labor Day
📍 American Gothic House | Visitor Center open Sat. & Sun.; closed Labor Day. Grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset
📍 Blood Run | Grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset
Can’t make it this weekend? The history doesn’t close! Many of our historic site grounds remain open year-round, sunrise to sunset, so there are still plenty of opportunities to explore and check in.

👉Plus, we’ll continue rolling out bonus Check Into History digital passport check-ins at locations across Iowa throughout the season. 📍

📱 Check Into Iowa History Digital Passport: https://www.traveliowa.com/historic-sites-passport-sign-up/
🚘 Historic site hours and visitor information: https://history.iowa.gov/visit/historic-sites


—
Meme alt text:
Goldie, the State Historical Society of Iowa mascot, sits in a 1919 electric automobile from the museum’s collection, posed as if ready for a road trip. Luggage and road-trip supplies are piled onto the car, which is overlaid on a collage of Iowa historic sites. Text reads, “ME: SOME HISTORIC SITES CLOSE AFTER LABOR DAY… GOLDIE: GET IN THE CAR.”

03/09/2026

🇺🇸 Make Iowa history this Labor Day weekend—visit the Historical Building in Historic East Village! Cool off in the galleries, explore Iowa’s past, and enjoy family-friendly, hands-on activities at Mornings at the Museum: Toys and Games this Saturday, Sept. 5, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. 🧸 No registration needed, just drop in anytime for a themed scavenger hunt, activities, and a hands-on craft.

🕰️ Holiday Weekend Hours:
Museum: Tue–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Sat, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Research Center: Wed–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | CLOSED Saturday, Sept. 5

🛍️ PLUS, we’re having a Labor Day Weekend Gift Shop Sale!
Thursday, Sept. 3 through Saturday, Sept. 5

Get 10% off all merch, mugs, museum favorites, and America 250 commemorative pins while you’re here!

Make the museum part of your Iowa holiday weekend tradition. 💛🇺🇸 Plan your visit: https://history.iowa.gov/visit

02/09/2026

🇺🇸 Planning a visit to the State Historical Building this Labor Day weekend? We’d love to see you, PLUS we’re having a Gift Shop Sale! (Hours + details below!)

🕰️ Holiday Weekend Hours:
Museum: Tue–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Sat, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Research Center: Wed–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | CLOSED Saturday, Sept. 5

Mornings at the Museum: Toys and Games ➡️ 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

🇺🇸 Holiday Weekend Museum Gift Shop Sale: 🏷️
Thursday, Sept. 3 through Saturday, Sept. 5
Get 10% off all merch, mugs, museum favorites by Iowa artists, and America 250 commemorative pins while you’re here!

Cool off in the exhibit galleries, and make Iowa history part of your holiday weekend tradition. 💛 Plan your visit: https://history.iowa.gov/visit

01/09/2026

September is here, and there are plenty of ways to make Iowa history part of your back-to-school tradition! 🍎📚🏛️ Here’s what’s coming up:

🧸 Sept. 5 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Mornings at the Museum: Toys and Games
🎨 Sept. 10 | 12-1 p.m. | Iowa History 101: Christian Petersen Before Iowa State
🙋 Sept. 17 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Museum Docent Orientation
✈️ Sept. 18 | 11-11:45 a.m. | Guided History: Planes, Wagons, and Automobiles Tour
🔎 Sept. 18 | 2-2:45 p.m. | Inside the Collections Space: Family Tour
🏛️ Sept. 23 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Guided History: Iowa State Capitol Grounds

🇺🇸 Plus, our Revolutionary Iowans Exhibit Experience remains open all year long as America celebrates its 250th anniversary!

👉 Visit history.iowa.gov/visit/events for registration information and our full event calendar.

31/08/2026

Missed it on TV? No PIG deal! 📺🐷 You can now watch the full Iowa State Fair Historical Walking Tour segment on C-SPAN! ✨ Join SHSI State Curator Hanna Howard as she takes C-SPAN’s American History TV's Peter Slen on a special tour of the Fairgrounds, exploring the stories, people and traditions behind one of Iowa’s most beloved events, including the history of the famous hog-calling contest! 🎡🚶‍♀️📚

Watch it here: https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/iowa-state-fairgrounds-historical-walking-tour/683973

🙏 A big thank-you to our friends at American History TV for taking a walk through Iowa State Fair history with us!

C-SPAN walked through the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines in advance of opening day. Iowa State Historical Society Curator Hannah Howard highlights landmarks and stories from the Fair's past.

31/08/2026

⚠️ Construction update from our Montauk Historic Site!

🚨IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT🚨
We will be CLOSED for tours on Tuesday, September 1st.
We need to shut off electricity to the site for the entire day and while a pre-1910 (when the house was electrified) experience may be fun we think it best we close for the day.