State Historical Society of Iowa

06/12/2026

Looking for a fun Iowa history weekend road trip? 🚗🏡 Our friends at the American Gothic House & Center are opening the historic American Gothic House at our state historic site for special tours on Saturday, June 13, and Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 🤩 Located in Eldon, this iconic landmark inspired Grant Wood's famous painting American Gothic and offers visitors a chance to step inside a piece of Iowa history.

We have some exciting news! The House will be open Saturday, June 13th and Saturday, June 27th from 11am-2pm!

*Please note: due to the historic nature of the building, the house interior is unfortunately not handicap accessible.*

06/12/2026

June is warming up, and so are summer events at SHSI! ☀️🏛️ From Summer Family Fridays and day camps to webinars, exhibit tours, and teacher workshops, June is packed with family-friendly fun and opportunities to explore Iowa history.

📅 Check out what’s coming up:

💻 June 11 | Iowa History 101: Hoyt Sherman – Venturing Into The Unknown
✈️ June 12 | Summer Family Friday: Planes, Wagons & Automobiles
🏛️ June 12 | Exhibit Tour: Planes, Wagons & Automobiles
👩‍🏫 June 15-16 | Hands-on History: Bring History Alive in the K-6 Classroom
☀️ June 17 | Junior Curator Day Camp
✊ June 19 | Summer Family Friday: Juneteenth and the Civil War
🏛️ June 19 | Exhibit Tour: Barbers, Buxton and Beyond: Black Iowans and the Formation of Iowa
⛏️ June 24 | Digging Up the Past Day Camp
📚 June 25-26 | Designing Student-Led Historical Inquiries for 7-12 Educators
🇺🇸 June 26 | Summer Family Friday: Revolutionary Iowans
🏛️ June 26 | Exhibit Tour: Revolutionary Iowans

✨PLUS: don’t miss our NEW A250 Revolutionary Iowans Exhibit Experience, FREE! Summer Family Fridays at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, & NaviLens Summer Fundraiser for museum accessibility, all happening throughout the summer!

View the full event calendar, registration details, and tour information at history.iowa.gov/visit/events

06/11/2026

Tomorrow at the Museum! 🏛️ Pop into the museum with the kids for our SECOND ever FREE! Summer Family Fridays at the State Historical Museum of Iowa. 😎 We'll have hands-on crafts, a scavenger hunt (which enters you into a chance for a prize), and a guided Exhibit Tour: Planes, Wagons, & Automobiles for curious minds of all ages! ✨ BONUS: Check off as many Family Fridays from your museum adventure passport for another grand prize drawing at the end of the summer.

Sign up for the tour (required) at https://history.iowa.gov/events/pop-tour-planes-wagons-automobiles

06/11/2026

Tomorrow at the Museum! 🏛️ Pop into the museum with the kids for our SECOND ever FREE! Summer Family Fridays at the State Historical Museum of Iowa. 😎 We'll have hands-on crafts, a scavenger hunt (which enters you into a chance for a prize), and a guided Exhibit Tour: Planes, Wagons, & Automobiles for curious minds of all ages! ✨ BONUS: Check off as many Family Fridays from your museum adventure passport for another grand prize drawing at the end of the summer.

Sign up for the tour (required) at https://history.iowa.gov/events/pop-tour-planes-wagons-automobiles

06/10/2026

☔️ Due to the predicted severe weather this afternoon and for the safety of our staff and visitors, our Montauk Historic Site in Clermont, IA will be closed today, June 10th. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and stay safe, Iowa!

06/09/2026

🏛️ Museums are more than buildings filled with artifacts. They’re places where stories are preserved, discoveries are made, and communities come together to connect with the past, present, and future. That’s why we’re joining Iowa Museum Association and museums across the state in celebrating , June 8-12! 🎉

At the State Historical Museum of Iowa, we share Iowa’s rich heritage through exhibits, collections, educational programs, tours, and field trips that bring our state’s stories to life.

Located in the State Historical Building of Iowa, we’re also home to the State Historical Society of Iowa’s library, archives, and one of two research centers. Follow along this week as we celebrate the people, stories, and impact that make museums such vital community resources. ✨

06/08/2026

History doesn’t preserve itself. It takes dedicated researchers, writers, volunteers, preservationists, educators, and community leaders who work every day to uncover, protect, and share Iowa’s stories. 🏛️💙💫Therefore, a heartfelt congratulations to all of the recipients and honorees recognized with the 2026 Excellence in Iowa History Awards! 🎉

From groundbreaking publications and scholarly research to community history initiatives, preservation projects, and lifetime achievements, this year’s honorees demonstrate the many ways Iowa history is researched, preserved, and shared.

🙏 Thank you for your commitment to preserving our past and helping future generations better understand the people, places, and stories that shaped Iowa.

View the full list of 2026 award recipients and honorees at: history.iowa.gov/iowa-history-awards

06/05/2026

DEADLINE TODAY🚨ATTEN: K-12 Teachers! 📚✨It’s not too late to sign up for FREE professional development this June, hosted by the State Historical Museum of Iowa. Check out this lineup, share with fellow teachers, and HURRY—the next deadline is TODAY, Friday 5!

🔎 Iowa History Institute: Iowa to the Civil War (June 10–11)
📍 State Historical Museum of Iowa
2-day deep dive into Iowa history with artifact access + behind-the-scenes tours.
➡️ Earn 1 license renewal credit + free copy of A New History of Iowa by Jeff Bremer
🚨Register by June 5

🧠 Hands-on History (K–6) (June 15–16)
📍 State Historical Museum of Iowa
Interactive, classroom-ready strategies with artifacts, mock field trips, and a build-your-own mini museum.
➡️ Free copy of Flashes of Brilliance + ready-to-use lessons
🚨Register by June 10

🗂️ Student-Led Historical Inquiries (7–12) (June 25–26)
📍 State Historical Museum of Iowa
Learn how to guide students through real research using primary sources.
➡️ Free classroom materials + behind-the-scenes access + 1 license renewal credit
👀 Small cohorts. Big ideas. Real classroom takeaways.
🚨Register by June 22

👉 Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/e7htkqJk

📬 For more PD and classroom-ready content, subscribe to the The Goldfinch Dispatch: https://bit.ly/48xzN59 💡 Bellringers, Iowa history mysteries, ready-to-use lessons, PD opportunities, and museum updates, straight to your inbox on the first Wednesday of every month!