The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI), a division of the

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is an agency of the Iowa state government, headquartered in Des Moines. Agencies of the department include the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa, the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Iowa City and Des Moines ...

, serves as the official historical repository for the State of

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

and also provides grants, public education, and outreach about

Iowa history Native Americans in the United States resided in what is now Iowa for thousands of years. The written history of Iowa begins with the proto-historic accounts of Native Americans by explorers such as Marquette and Joliet in the 1680s. Until the ea ...

and

archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

. The SHSI maintains a museum, library, archives, and research center in

Des Moines Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

and a research library in

Iowa City Iowa City, offically the City of Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is the home of the University of Iowa and county seat of Johnson County, at the center of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the time ...

, as well as several historic sites in Iowa. It was founded in 1857 in Iowa City, where it was first affiliated with the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...

. As the organization grew in size and collections, it became a separate state agency headquartered near the

Iowa Capitol Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

SHSI publications

The SHSI currently publishes the ''Annals of Iowa''. In the past it published the ''Iowa Heritage Illustrated'', ''Goldfinch'', the ''Iowa Journal of History and Politics'', and the ''Iowa Historical Record''. It also currently produces an e-newsletter, the ''Iowa Historian''.

State and federal regulation

The SHSI is part of the Iowa Department of Cultural affairs, both organizations coordinate the State Historic Preservation Office of Iowa, Iowa's designated SHPO, which reviews state and federally mandated laws and regulations relating to historic and archaeological work.

State Historical Museum of Iowa

Located in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

, the State Historical Museum of Iowa is the society's main museum. Exhibits show Iowa's growth and development and its citizens.

SHSI historic sites

* Abbie Gardner Sharp Cabin in

Arnolds Park, Iowa Arnolds Park is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,110 in the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, a decline from the 1,162 population in the 2000 United States Census, 2000 census. Geo ...

American Gothic House The ''American Gothic'' House, also known as the Dibble House, is a house in Eldon, Iowa, designed in the Carpenter Gothic style with a distinctive upper window.Eldon, Iowa Eldon is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 783 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the site of the small Carpenter Gothic style house that has come to be known as the ''American Gothic'' House. Artist Grant Wo ...

Blood Run Site The Blood Run Site is an archaeological site on the border of the US states of Iowa and South Dakota. The site was essentially populated for 8,500 years, within which earthworks structures were built by the Oneota Culture and occupied descendant ...

Lyon County, Iowa Lyon County is the most northwesterly county of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,934. The county seat is Rock Rapids. Lyon County is named in honor of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, who served in the Mex ...

* Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in

Haverhill, Iowa Haverhill is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 165 at the time of the 2020 census. Sites in Haverhill include the Immaculate Conception oratory, the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop and House, and the Mid-Iowa Co-O ...

* Montauk Historic Governor's Home in

Clermont, Iowa Clermont is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 586 at the 2020 census. Clermont is home to Montauk, the mansion of former Iowa governor William Larrabee, along with much historic architecture. Scenes for the movie ...

Plum Grove Historic House Plum Grove is a historic house located in Iowa City, United States. Plum Grove was the retirement home of Gov. Robert Lucas and the childhood home of the author Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd. History Built in 1844, Lucas lived there with his wife, F ...

Toolesboro Mound Group The Toolesboro Mound Group, a National Historic Landmark, is a group of Havana Hopewell culture earthworks on the north bank of the Iowa River near its discharge into the Mississippi. The mounds are owned and displayed to the public by the State ...

Louisa County, Iowa Louisa County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,837. The county seat is Wapello. Louisa County is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area. History Louisa County was ...

Western Historic Trails Center Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

Council Bluffs, Iowa Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The city is the most populous in Southwest Iowa, and is the third largest and a primary city of the Omaha–Council Bluffs ...

References

External links