The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI), a division of the
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, 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 th ...
and also provides grants, public education, and outreach about
Iowa history 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 landsca ...
. The SHSI maintains a museum, library, archives, and research center in
Des Moines and a research library in
Iowa City, 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 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 organized into 12 col ...
. As the organization grew in size and collections, it became a separate state agency headquartered near the
Iowa Capitol
Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, 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: Wiscon ...
in
Des Moines.
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, United States. The population was 1,110 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 1,162 population in the 2000 census.
Geography
Arnolds Park is located at (43.365636, -95.129805).
According to th ...
*
American Gothic House in
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 ...
in
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 ...
in
Iowa City
*
Toolesboro Mound Group in
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 in
Council Bluffs, Iowa
See also
*
History of Iowa
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 ...
*
Iowa archaeology
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Iowa
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
*
List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
The List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa contains the landmarks designated by the U.S. Federal Government for the U.S. state of Iowa.
There are 27 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) in Iowa.
;Key
Current NHLs
...
*
Iowa Archeological Society
The Iowa Archeological Society is an organization of academic, professional, and amateur archaeologists. It promotes education about Iowa's cultural past, conducts excavations, and encourages ethical collection and recording of archaeological site ...
*
Preservation Iowa
References
External links
State Historical Society of Iowa
{{DEFAULTSORT:State Historical Society Of Iowa
State historical societies of the United States
Historic preservation organizations in the United States
State agencies of Iowa
Museum organizations
Museums in Des Moines, Iowa
History museums in Iowa
Historical societies in Iowa
State history organizations of the United States
1857 establishments in Iowa
Organizations established in 1857