Events

Event Details One of our nation's most iconic First Ladies, Mamie Eisenhower endured and triumphed through adversities through her extraordinary life. Mamie held numerous roles in her lifetime and witnessed--and shape--incredible history along the way. She did it all with a "spine of steel" and a graceful spirit. Register to join Eisenhower National Historic Site Park Ranger […]

Corn and KhrushchevThe Garst Family has deep roots in the history of Iowa. Based on her family experience in Coon Rapids, Liz recounts the history of agricultural development in Iowa, from early settlement through the fabulous mid-century explosion of farm productivity, based on the hybrid seeds, machinery, fertilizers and livestock technologies promoted by her grandfather. Liz […]

Join CultureALL in the heart of Iowa for an evening of community dancing where you will experience the sights, sounds and flavors of the vibrant cultures living here.  "Enter through a global bazaar with street performances and craft making, then join us in the ballroom for high energy dance moves from every continent in the […]

Cost:  IMA Members $75; IMA Student Members $35; non IMA members $130This gathering is open to all - "small" is subjective.  You decide how you would define your organization. Schedule:9 a.m. Registration & Refreshments 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.  Bringing History to Life Through Visual Art at Hoyt Sherman Place - Emily Roeder, Education Program Coordinator, Hoyt Sherman Place […]

Event Details We invite you to join the Des Moines Art Center in welcoming artist Jeffrey Gibson as the featured speaker of the annual Fingerman Lecture series. Gibson (American, born 1972) is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and convener celebrated for his painting, installation, video, and performance work. For over two decades, he has explored how […]

6-on-6 Girl’s Basketball in Iowa: Traditions, Transitions, and LegaciesFor most of the 20th century, Iowa was known for its devotion to a unique form of women’s sport known as 6-on-6 girls’ basketball. As other states abandoned 6-on-6 in the 1970s, Iowa remained committed to this half-court game until 1993, when the final 6-player championship was […]

Event Details Join historian Bill Douglas as he explores how efforts to establish religious norms in Iowa were balanced by the need to cooperate with people from the diverse religious traditions that made Iowa home. The Iowa History 101 webinars share Iowa stories and the history of the state through a cultural history lens on […]

Hear from poets of all ages and backgrounds, including 2025-26 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador Daniel Somotochukwu Umemezie, at the Poetry in Public Reading on the last day of the Iowa City Book Festival. This event is free and open to the public. Find more details at iowacityofliterature.org/event/poetry-in-public-reading/

Event Details Presented in recognition of LGBTQ+ History Month, join Ben Millett, the Des Moines Art Center’s 2025 Iowa Artist, for an artist lecture. During this talk, Millett will discuss how he came to the technique of quilting as his artistic medium, the influence of modernist artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, and how his work has […]

Event Details Join author Megan Bannister to uncover some of the state's wackiest attractions and guide your next adventure around Iowa. Dive in and discover the state’s unique history and quirky places through the book, Secret Iowa: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Learn about hidden gems and the surprising backstories of places […]

Just Before the Battle Mother—A Visit from a Civil War SoldierMr. 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). […]

The Terrace Hill Partnership will host historian and author Darcy Maulsby on November 5, 2025 at 5 p.m. 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 […]