Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) is proud to welcome five new ag-related sites to the Heritage Area. There are now 108 Partner Sites designated to interpret different stories of American agriculture, ranging from dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly plants. New Partner Site designations include:
Belmond Historical Society Museum, Belmond. The Museum features a permanent exhibit on the history of the sugar beet industry in Belmond, including the story of growing and refining sugar beets along with the economic impact on this farming community.
Cascade Historic Limestone Silo, Cascade. Built in the early 1930s, this unique historic limestone silo is located on the North Fork Maquoketa River. Visitors to the site learn why the silo’s location made it ideal for farmers to store feed for fattening livestock.
Eagles Landing Vineyard & Winery, Marquette. Located along the banks of the Mississippi River, Eagles Landing treats guests to a true taste of Iowa where they can purchase products made from grapes grown in the vineyard including jams, jellies, table syrups and the sites award winning wine.
Museums of Story City, Story City. The four museum sites in Story City tell of the hardships and successes of the Scandinavian and pioneer immigrants. Visitors learn about the transformation of the prairie into rich productive farmland along with the development and sustainment of a thriving community.
Wagaman Mill & Museum, Lynnville. Built in 1846 by John R. Sparks as a paddle wheel saw mill on the North Skunk River, the mill was converted into a grist mill in 1848 with a hydraulic turbine added in 1868 to allow year-round operation. Through an interactive tour, visitors learn of the mills history producing flour, animal feed, meal and electric power.
“These five new sites were the first to go through the newly retooled Partner Site designation process. They worked deliberately to become a recognized Partner Site, and their hard work is apparent in how they have presented previously untold stories about Iowa’s agricultural heritage,” stated Candy Streed, SSNHA Program & Partnership Director.
Each SSNHA Partner Site works to interpret and preserve its own unique story related to America’s agricultural story. If you are interested in learning more about the process to become a Partner Site, please visit the Partner section at www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an 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 past and present farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities.
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