Jennifer Sterling: 6-on-6 Girl’s Basketball in Iowa

Wieting Theatre 101 S Church St, Toledo, IA, United States

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 […]

Poetry in Public Reading at the Iowa City Book Festival

Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

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/

Des Moines Art Center Hosts Artist Lecture: Ben Millett

Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA

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 […]

Speakers Bureau Presents: 6-on-6 Girls’ Basketball in Iowa: Traditions, Transitions, and Legacies

Ackley Public Library, 401 State St, Ackley, IA 50601, USA

The Friends of the Ackley Public Library will host Jennifer Sterling on October 21, 2025 for a Speakers Bureau program. Sterling, a Lecturer in Sport Studies at the University of Iowa, explores Iowa’s unique 6-on-6 girls’ basketball tradition, which lasted until 1993. This multimedia presentation traces the history of the game, its role in shaping […]

State Historical Society of Iowa Presents Iowa History 101: Secret Iowa: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

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 […]

OJ Fargo: Just Before the Battle, Mother

FoVMP (AL Post 26) 702 W 35th St, Davenport, IA, United States

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). […]

Obermann Center Presents: Obermann Editor-in-Residence

Sara Jo Cohen, Editorial Director at University of Michigan Press, will conduct a faculty book proposal workshop, graduate and undergraduate student sessions, one-on-one editorial consultations, and give a public lecture.

Speakers Bureau Presents: Savor Iowa’s Culinary History

Terrace Hill Historic Site 2300 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States

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 […]

Speakers Bureau Presents: Camp Dodge: Home Away From Home, 1917-1918

Speakers Bureau Event: Michael Vogt – Camp Dodge: Home Away from Home 1917–1918The Adams County Historic Preservation Commission will host historian Michael Vogt for two programs on Thursday, November 6, 2025, exploring the pivotal role of Camp Dodge during World War I. Vogt, curator at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, will share the story […]

Speakers Bureau Presents: Women of Warmth, Wisdom, and War: Images of Native American Women in Westerns

Pella Public Library, 603 Main St, Pella, IA 50219, USA

The Pella Public Library will host educator Helen Lewis on November 11, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. for a thought-provoking exploration of how Native American women have been portrayed in Western films. Using film clips, Lewis highlights their roles as healers, counselors, and warriors, challenging stereotypes and offering a fresh perspective on these classic movies. This […]

State Historical Society of Iowa Presents Iowa History 101: Amelia Bloomer: Journalist, Suffragist, and Anti-Fashion Icon

Event Details If you've heard of Amelia Bloomer, it's probably for the last thing she wanted as her legacy: bloomers. Join Sara Catterall, author of the new biography Amelia Bloomer: Journalist, Suffragist, and Anti-Fashion Icon, to learn about Bloomer's life and work after her move to Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1854. There, Bloomer continued her […]