Northeast Iowa – Discover Iowa’s agricultural heritage at more than 70 museums throughout Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage (SSNHA) Area during Iowa Museum Week, June 9-16, 2013. On May 13, 2013, Governor Terry Branstad proclaimed this week as a celebration of the role museums play in Iowa. From nationally recognized museums and small town historic sites to dairy farms and tractor assembly tours, the Heritage Area has more than 100 Designed Partner Sites, including a wide range of museums, sharing their own unique piece of America’s agricultural story in a federally designated 37-county region of Northeast Iowa.
Iowa Museum Week celebrates the crucial role museums play in preserving the historical fabric and memory of the state through preservation of artifacts; providing educational opportunities for all ages; contributing to local/state economies and enriching the community’s quality of life. Iowa’s museums are supported in their missions by the Iowa Museum Association, a statewide association of museums including art centers/museums, botanical gardens, children’s museums, historic sites, historical societies, living history sites, nature centers, natural history museums, zoos, planetariums and science/technology centers. For more information on Iowa museums or the Iowa Museum Association, visit their website at www.iowamusems.org.
“Iowa Museum Week is a great chance to discover the history of agriculture in Iowa and the role it plays today in feeding the world,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President. “The exhibits at Heritage Area museums offer families a chance to spend time together and learn about the importance of American agriculture in a fun and engaging environment.”
Experience what life was like living without the aid of tractors or technology on the farm at Living History Farms, Urbandale, IA; the preservation of heirloom plants for future generations at Seed Savers, Decorah, IA; how the Mississippi River aids in the transportation of food products at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque, IA and many more! To find all the Heritage Area museums visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
SSNHA is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities—past and present.
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