Some information concerning the State Historical Society of Iowa,1910.

In recent years historical research seems to be the State Historical Society's main function, although it was formed with the principal functions of collection, preservation and exhibition. Now, instead of simply attempting to make the largest possible collection of historical materials in one place, this society will now endeavor to compile, publish and distribute accurate and scientific historical literature. The book also lists publications, information on the library and on membership.

Main Street Messenger, February 2012, Vol. 1

News from Main Street Iowa

Main Street Messenger, 2012 Vol. 2

News from Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Downtown Resource Center

Guidance Document for Executive Order Number 17, March 25, 2010

Executive Order 17, signed by Governor Chester J. Culver on September 25, 2009, emphasizes revitalization of historic properties and cultural and entertainment districts and also supports safe and healthy work places, sustainable design and cost effective use of state resources. Specifically, the Executive Order requires that State entities managing or leasing real estate on behalf of the State shall give priority to the needs of public entities and the populations they serve consistent with the cost effective use of state revenues. It also indicates that existing resources and facilities shall be used where adequate, cost competitive and appropriate for efficient and effective current state operations.

NLG Museum Connecting to Collections, Statewide Planning Grant, Developing a Statewide Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan for Iowa, Final report.

The Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium, Iowa Museum Association, the State Historical Society of Iowa and the State Library requested the IMLS CTC grant funds so we could develop a statewide plan to help the stewards of cultural property plan for protection and disaster recovery of collections. We are very pleased with the results of our grant activities. Thanks to the IMLS CTC grant over 200 Iowa collection care takers have received basic training in disaster preparedness and response, 24 care takers have signed up to become cultural collection first responders, a dozen disaster planning/response trainers are available upon request, and over 40 institutions have ReAct Paks. We have created a variety of training tools ranging from basic awareness to in-depth training, established a website of disaster resources, and geo-referenced hundreds of cultural collection sites around Iowa. In addition, the IMLS grant was just the motivator we needed to participate in other national/international efforts which in turn strengthened our IMLS grant project.

Main Street Messenger, 2012 Vol. 3

News from the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa

The Wever Bypass excavations: Highway archaeology along the Great River Road in southeast Iowa.

This is a story about a highway project near the small town of Wever, Iowa, and an American Indian village that existed at the location prior to the Europeans' arrival. The culture that lived in this village existed in a 10 state region of the Upper Midwest and may have been the ancestors of tribes living in the Midwest when European explorers entered the region. An archaeological recovery of information from the site was undertaken by the Iowa Department of Transportation because four-lane construction of U.S. 61 could not be accomplished without destroying most of the site. This site proved to be one of the richest archaeological finds in the State of Iowa. ǂc Iowa Department of Transportation.

La rehabilitación y el uso del patrimonio histórico industrial

La reutilización de edificios industriales es un aspecto del proceso de reconversión de suelo industrial en otros usos, el cual se ha acentuado con la reestructuración industrial ligada a la aparición de lo que se denomina ciudad postindustrial. Dicho proceso ha llevado con frecuencia al abandono y a la degradación de los viejos edificios industriales, que muchas veces son derribados y sustituidos por otros nuevos dedicados a viviendas o a usos terciarios. En los dos últimos decenios, sin embargo, la conservación y la reutilización del patrimonio histórico industrial ha adquirido una gran importancia. Los viejos edificios industriales funcionalmente obsoletos poseen, en efecto, valores arquitectónicos y técnicos que hacen a veces necesaria y posible su conservación y reutilización adaptativa. Pero eso exige definir claramente criterios de selección, tras un proceso de inventario y catalogación, en el que deben tenerse en cuenta los criterios generales de catalogación del patrimonio histórico monumental. El artículo discute la conveniencia de conservar edificios funcionalmente obsoletos y aborda la cuestión de las estrategias de defensa, haciendo alusión al papel de los técnicos y a la necesidad del compromiso local.

History and Design of Iowa's Highway Maintenance and Weighing Facilities, 2003

In June 2001, the Iowa Department of Transportation announced the imminent closure and disposal of selected highway maintenance facilities as part of cost-cutting measures mandated by the Iowa legislature, an action that was to be completed by July 31, 2001. The DOT recognized that some of these facilities might be "historical sites," which in the Iowa Code are defined as any district, site, building or structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or identified as eligible for listing in the National Register by the State Historic Preservation Office. Section 303 of the Code requires state agencies to "enter into an agreement with the Department of Cultural Affairs [in which the SHPO is located] to ensure the proper management, maintenance and development of historical sites." The DOT saw this disposal action as an opportunity to compile information about its highway maintenance facilities that could be employed in development of a management program for historic highway maintenance facilities in the future. Subsequently, the DOT authorized a similar study of highway weigh stations.

Main Street Messenger, 2013 Vol. 1

News from the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa

Main Street Messenger, 2014 Vol. 1

News from the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa

Main Street Messenger, 2014 Vol. 2

News from the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa

Main Street Messenger, 2014 Vol. 3

News from the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, Main Street Iowa

Issue review : Cedar Rock State Park.

This issue review provides an overview of Cedar Rock State Park, that is part of Iowa's park system and managed by the Department of Natural Resources, or DNR.

Hibernia: An Irish Immigrant Neighborhood in Burlington, Iowa, 2000

Hibernia is mostly a memory today as is so many immigrant neighborhoods. However, there are several guideposts to the past that still witness to the history of years gone by, such as St. Patrick's Church, a beacon reflecting the Irish Catholic heritage. Murray Iron Works and the Embalming Burial Case Company and the worker's homes on the surrounding streets witness to the industrial/employee relationship of the past.