Liberty Hall Historic Center: Joseph Smith III Home

03/16/2024

12/10/2023

Join us for a Christmas Tea today, December 10th from 2-4 pm.

06/02/2023

Enjoy Antique Cars & Ice Cream at Liberty Hall


(Pictured: The Good Roads rally in 1912 at the junction of Main and Linden Streets.)

On Sunday, June 4th, antique car owners will be coming to Lamoni for the Jefferson Highway 2023 Sociability Caravan to begin the next day. That evening, starting at 6:00 p.m., the Lamoni Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the caravan with an ice cream social at Liberty Hall. Ice cream will be served between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m., and the public is invited to come and enjoy antique cars, ice cream, and Liberty Hall.

Pictured is a similar caravan that visited Lamoni in 1912. That rally was a part of the Good Roads campaign pushing for gravel to be placed on the dirt roads. Jefferson Highway was the first international highway in the United States. Built between 1910-1920, it was a two-lane gravel road that winds 2300 miles from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. It was nicknamed the “Palm to Pine Highway” or “Pine to Palm Highway” – which has been a hundred-year-old argument depending on where the speaker lives – for the varying types of trees found at either end.

This Caravan will be similar to the historic caravans of old. It will begin in Lamoni, Iowa on Monday, June 5, with overnight stays in Des Moines and Iowa Falls arriving in Mason City on Wednesday, June 7 for the Jefferson Highway Association Conference.

05/23/2023

Leon 5th Graders Experience Liberty Hall Historic Center: Joseph Smith III Home

Fifth grade is the year students study Iowa civics, and Central Decatur 5th graders improved their Iowa knowledge with their recent visit to Liberty Hall. They learned about the history of this historic residence and how it relates to settlements across the state with a guided tour and hands-on activities. The students also “attended” Spurrier School and learned about the daily reading, writing, and math life of students in the 19th century. They began this school day pledging allegiance to the flag followed by learning multiplication tables to the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy and participating in a spelling bee. The fifth graders enjoyed recess after school by participating in activities that were popular in the 19th century which included stilts, graces (whoop tossing), jacks, and marbles. “Stilt School” led by Jim Simpson was an especially popular activity.

During the field trip, one of student commented: "This is like living history farms all in one place." The guides found it interesting that as much as stilts, jacks and marbles had been a part of growing up for them none of the students had ever experienced playing these games.

Liberty Hall, located in Lamoni, gives visitors a glimpse into a middle-class family, an era of late Midwestern Victorian culture, and the story of the significant development of a religious denomination in American history. The house, furniture, and antiques uniquely represent that time. Liberty Hall is a premier restoration site listed on the Iowa and National Registers of historic homes.

Liberty Hall group visits also have included the Lamoni Schools’ 5th graders, Girl Scouts, Lamoni Area Home School Association, and the delegates from French Polynesia. Liberty Hall welcomes group tours and student field trips which can be tailored to the group. To schedule a field trip, please write, call, or email Steve Smith, 1138 West Main Street, Lamoni, IA 50140  (641) 784-6133  (360) 362-0585 (Cell)  [email protected].

(Pictured: Jim Simpson demonstrates stilt’s walking and provides hands-on teaching to eager Central Decatur 5th graders.)

04/07/2023

Young, well-dressed, Victorian girl in 1902.

11/17/2022

Join us on December 4th for the annual Liberty Hall Christmas Tea.

07/26/2022

The Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation is hosting an online Summer Series, featuring our local Liberty Hall, this Thursday at 7pm.

"A virtual adventure exploring a new historic site each week including: Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith Historic Site, Plano stone church, and Liberty Hall. Join Apostle Lachlan Mackay and Barb Walden this summer as they share the fascinating stories, architectural details, historic people, and powerful lessons behind Community of Christ historic sites." Free, but you must register at this website to get the zoom link, look for the July 28th date.

Virtual Tours Every Thursday in July

07/14/2022

And another view of Liberty Hall from the Lamoni Recreation Trail--which ends/begins in the Liberty Hall parking lot