Join Humanities Iowa and CultureALL for an Open Book program at Drake University — an afternoon of storytelling, dialogue, and authentic personal connection. Meet the Books: This free program invites participants to hear, reflect, and engage with these compelling stories — sparking dialogue and connection across experiences and perspectives. This program is part of By […]

Join the Muscatine Art Center for a special presentation of speaker Tom Milligan's one-man show: Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel. In this 45-minute, one-man show, Grant Wood chats with the audience as if talking to an old friend across the backyard fence, or maybe at his home at Five Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids. He tells […]

The Malvern Public Library will host historian and author Darcy Maulsby on February 9, 2026, for a fun, interactive exploration of Iowa’s food heritage. From chili-and-cinnamon-roll traditions to Maid-Rites and RAGBRAI feasts, Maulsby shares the stories behind the state’s iconic dishes and culinary customs. Based on her book A Culinary History of Iowa, this program offers fascinating insights […]

Join the Gibson Memorial Library for the presentation "Still We Move: Migration, Memory, and the Making of Black Iowa" by speaker Abena Sankofa Imhotep. This talk traces Black movement through Iowa, from early migrations like Buxton and the Great Migration to the modern pursuit of justice and belonging, revealing how Black Iowans have not only […]

Old barns are more than just functional farm buildings—they’re living symbols of Iowa’s agricultural heritage. In this engaging Speakers Bureau presentation, Rich Tyler explores the stories our barns tell about community, craftsmanship, and change. Drawing from his own experience restoring the historic Secrest farmstead and octagonal barn near West Branch, Tyler delves into the golden age of […]

Join the Elk Horn Public Library for a captivating presentation by Iowa-based storyteller, musician, and photographer Jason Walsmith. For more than 30 years, Jason has traveled across North America—touring with his rock band The Nadas, performing solo from Seattle to the Florida Keys, and photographing people and places for brands and publications around the world. His life […]

Mr. Fargo dresses in full Union Army regalia and focuses the first person presentation on an individual Iowa soldier’s Civil War experience. After a brief overview of the state’s involvement, the audience is introduced to a returning Civil War veteran (played by O. J. Fargo). He will detail the experiences of an Iowan during the […]

Join Humanities Iowa and CultureALL for an Open Book program at Coralville Public Library — an engaging hour of storytelling, dialogue, and authentic personal connection. Meet the Books: This free program invites participants to hear, reflect, and engage with these powerful stories — sparking dialogue and connection across diverse experiences and perspectives.

Join DeWitt Community Library for the Speakers Bureau presentation “Response to Coop, the Story of an Amish Conscientious Objector” by Mary Swander. Mary Swander will discuss her writing process and the research that went into her new drama called Coop. She will explain object theatre and why she embraced it for this work. She will recount […]

The City of Indianola Parks & Recreation will host historian John Liepa on February 23, 2026 at 1 p.m. for an engaging look at Iowa’s immigration history. From the state’s earliest Indigenous peoples to waves of European settlers, African Americans, Hispanics, and more recent immigrant communities, Liepa traces the diverse stories that have shaped Iowa’s […]

O.J. Fargo dresses in full Union Army regalia and focuses the first person presentation on an individual Iowa soldier’s Civil War experience. After a brief overview of the state’s involvement, the audience is introduced to a returning Civil War veteran (played by O. J. Fargo). He will detail the experiences of an Iowan during the […]

The Polk County Conservation Board will host Larry Stone on March 3, 2026 for a Humanities Iowa Speakers Bureau program. A longtime journalist, author, and nature photographer, Stone draws on decades of experience exploring Iowa’s outdoors to share the beauty and history of the state’s natural resources. His presentation, Iowa: Portrait of the Land, is […]