Visit the Sioux City Art Center in May-September 2026 to see David Plowden’s Iowa, a traveling exhibit of David Plowden's photography from Humanities Iowa. David Plowden’s Iowa, a series of black and white photographs shot over four decades, takes a sharp and expansive view of Iowa’s rural communities and agricultural landscapes, including barns, grain elevators, […]
Step into Iowa’s rich baseball history at this daylong public program hosted by the Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation. Featuring a free exhibition of historian John Liepa’s extensive collection of Iowa baseball memorabilia—spanning the 1850s to today—visitors can explore rare artifacts, historic photographs, and stories of Iowa’s early players and pioneers. Knowledgeable volunteers, authors, and baseball […]
Explore the shared history of baseball and international diplomacy. Join IRIS, Iowa Sister States, Japan America Society of Iowa, and the Des Moines Sister Cities Commission for a screening of Diamond Diplomacy, followed by a Q&A with director Yuriko Gamo Romer. This documentary traces how baseball became a cultural bridge between the United States and […]
In recognition of Memorial Day, the City of North Liberty welcomes the public to attend a free Civil War history performance at Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park on Friday, May 29. Arrive at noon for a free performance of "Unconditional Surrender: A Visit with Ulysses S. Grant" by Pete Grady, former Iowa Department of Justice […]
Join Sarah Pratt, official butter sculptor for the Iowa State Fair, at Western Home Communities on June 1 for a fun and interactive workshop celebrating Iowa’s beloved butter art tradition. The session begins with a brief history of butter sculpting, the butter cow’s significance in the Iowa State Fair, and Pratt’s journey from apprentice to artist. […]
Join the Adel Public Library on June 2, 2026 for this presentation by speaker Chad Timm. Working with the Enemy: German, Italian and Japanese Prisoners of War in Iowa during the Second World WarAs part of a relatively quiet and under-publicized government program, thousands of enemy soldiers invaded Iowa in 1943. With the hugely successful […]
Join Humanities Iowa for an Open Book program at West Des Moines Public Library — an evening of storytelling, dialogue, and authentic personal connection. Meet the Books: This free program invites participants to hear, reflect, and engage with these compelling stories, fostering dialogue and connection across diverse experiences.
Join the Newton Public Library for Dennis Goldford's presentation, Political Polarization: It's Ugly, and There's No End in Sight, on June 4. Program description: American politics has entered a troubling if not potentially dangerous era that erupted in the 2020 elections, but this era did not begin and will not end with the Trump presidency. […]
Bricker-Price Block will welcome historian Chad Timm on June 5, 2026 at 10 a.m. for a presentation on Iowa’s little-known World War II prisoner of war camps. Chad Timm explores life in the camps at Algona and Clarinda, the labor POWs provided to local farmers, and the complex relationships between prisoners and communities. This program […]
An original full-length play written by Cianon Jones and directed by Josh Turner, Barberman brings to life Alexander Clark, a Muscatine resident and early advocate for equal rights in Iowa. Developed in partnership with the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and the Muscatine Art Center, the production features University of Iowa theatre graduate students in a […]
The Iowa Rural Schools Museum of Odebolt will host Pete Grady on June 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. for a one-man performance that brings Civil War General and 18th President Ulysses S. Grant to life. Through storytelling, period music, and historic images, Grady explores Grant’s military victories, presidential leadership, and personal life, offering an informative, […]
An original full-length play written by Cianon Jones and directed by Josh Turner, Barberman brings to life Alexander Clark, a Muscatine resident and early advocate for equal rights in Iowa. Developed in partnership with the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and the Muscatine Art Center, the production features University of Iowa theatre graduate students in a […]
Humanities Iowa utilizes funding from sources including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the Federation of State Humanities Councils or the Mellon Foundation.
