New windows replace the old skylights at the State Historical Building of Iowa, which was built in 1987.
At the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, a new exhibition called “Civics in Action” opens Saturday with a lineup of activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can take a closer look at the key figures, court cases and historic turning points that shaped Iowa’s political history, including the Iowa caucuses as we know them today. The exhibit features more than 60 artifacts from the last 150 years, including the works of political cartoonist Ding Darling.
Saturday’s event also marks the State Historical Building’s full reopening after five years of renovations that included new floors and new windows that offer expansive (and rain-proof) views of the state Capitol. The day’s programming includes Civil War stories from Iowa historian Frank Hanna and a presentation about the museum’s Benoist biplane from early days of Iowa aviation. Tours of the permanent exhibits, stories for kids and a historical scavenger hunt round out the schedule of family-friendly activities.
The event is free and open to the public, but some of the special activities require registration. Food trucks will be outside from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
