Time Frame Artifact Type Title Description
1930s-1940s Video The Iowa Bystander Publisher Fights for Success

Elaine Graham Estes, longtime director of the Des Moines Public Library, talks about the publisher of The Iowa Bystander. J.B. Morris was a lawyer and businessman who published the African-American newspaper in the 1920s.
1999 Photo Soybeans in pods

Soybeans in pods at harvest time. Iowa is the leading state in the production of soybeans, so harvest time is a very busy time of year for soybean growers. 1999.
2008 Video Midwest Farm Fields Devastated by Floods

Midwestern farmers deal with losses and what the future might hold after the Iowa floods of 2008.
1999 Photo Repairing Gold Dome During Capitol Restoration, 1999

Workers repair gold dome during the capitol restoration. Workers rappelled off the dome to replace the fragile gold on the dome. 1999.
1939 Video Out of Hitler’s Reach

The story of a Quaker boarding school near West Branch, Iowa, which in 1939 offered a safe haven for Europeans fleeing Nazi rule, is featured. This program aired in 1998.
1700's Map Western U.S. shown in 1776 map

This map shows that in 1776 land west of the Mississippi, including Iowa, was divided into large masses by European governments. The map displays the area that would later become the Louisiana Purchase.
1926 Photo Portable sawmill

Portable sawmill in operation near White Breast Creek, Warren County. Owner of mill shown operating controls at right. Near Lacona, Iowa. Spring 1926.
ca. 1940's Video World War II and the Home Front: Vivian Schleihs Works at Aircraft Plant in Des Moines

During some of the breaks between flying missions there was time for relaxation and, of course, letter writing, the most common long distance communication device of the day.
Early to Mid 1900's Video Threshing Day

Threshing day was a community event that brought farm families together to help harvest crops.
1800's Video Steamboats

Steamboats were important forms of transportation in Iowa in the 1800s.