Linn County Historical Society

THE HISTORY CENTER PRESERVES AND TELLS THE STORY OF LINN COUNTY, IOWA

THE HISTORY CENTER (THC) IS DEDICATED TO CONNECTING THE PAST TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LINN COUNTY. IT IS A UNIQUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND MAKES THE HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE. SOME OF THE EVENTS HELD BY THC IN 2023 INCLUDED: TEMPORARY EXHIBITS: ROTATING EVERY SIX TO NINE MONTHS, TWO DIFFERENT GALLERIES TELL COMPELLING STORIES OF LINN COUNTY. DURING NORMAL YEARS, OVER 5,000 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY VISIT THESE GALLERIES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. TOPICS EXAMINED BY THESE EXHIBITS ARE DIVERSE AND COMPELLING. THE HISTORY CENTER'S SMITH GALLERY TELLS THE HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY, AND IS ORGANIZED BY AREA OF INTEREST. THC'S WEST GALLERY TELLS ENTREPRENEURIAL STORIES, AND HELPS VISITORS UNDERSTAND WHY LINN COUNTY IS THE 2ND LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE IN IOWA. THE WILSON GALLERY EXPLORES A VARIETY OF TOPICS, RANGING FROM THE COMMUNAL IMPACT OF QUILTING TO IOWA'S STRUGGLES WITH CIVIL RIGHTS.WALKING TOURS: THIS PROGRAM ATTRACTS OVER 700 PEOPLE EACH YEAR, COVERING DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS, NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN CEDAR RAPIDS AND A VARIETY OF DOWNTOWNS THROUGHOUT LINN COUNTY WITH OVER 16 DIFFERENT ROUTES. THE PURPOSE OF THESE TOURS IS TO PROVIDE THE PARTICIPANTS WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVOLUTION OF EACH OF THESE SPACES.BITE OF HISTORY: ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE SEVEN PROGRAMS SELLS OUT, AND IT SERVES OVER 210 PEOPLE EACH YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS HELD IN DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT LINN COUNTY, AND HISTORIANS SHARE STORIES OF THE BUILDING, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND OTHER DETAILS THAT MAKES THAT PLACE SPECIAL.ORAL HISTORIES LIVE!: ROOM-CAPACITY AUDIENCES HEAR AMAZING STORIES TOLD BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD REMARKABLE HISTORIES IN LINN COUNTY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TWO-FOLD. FIRST, IT PROVIDES A LIVELY AND ENTERTAINING OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR AMAZING LIFE STORIES. SECONDLY, THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE RECORDED, AND THE RECORDINGS ARE TRANSCRIBED. THEREFORE, PRIMARY SOURCE MATERIAL WILL BE AVAILABLE TO RESEARCHERS IN PERPETUITY. OVER 250 PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THESE ANNUALLY IN PERSON AT THE FIVE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND TENS OF THOUSANDS VIEW THEM WHEN THEY ARE ONLINE. THIS PROGRAM WON THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE & LOCAL HISTORY'S GOLD MEDAL FOR PROGRAMMING IN 2023.LINN COUNTY UNBURIED: PARTICIPANTS AT EACH OF THESE FIVE ANNUAL PROGRAMS ARE INTRODUCED TO A DIFFERENT CEMETERY IN LINN COUNTY, AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT INHABIT THESE FINAL RESTING PLACES. IT HELPS TELL THE STORIES OF THE LEGACIES LEFT BY THESE PEOPLE THAT HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE REGION, THE STATE, THE NATION AND THE WORLD. 100 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM ANNUALLY.SPOOKY LINN COUNTY: AUTHENTIC LINN COUNTY GHOST STORIES ARE TOLD BY A CAMPFIRE. ALTHOUGH GHOST STORIES CANNOT BE AUTHENTICALLY PROVEN, THESE STORIES ARE PART OF ANY REGION'S COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE. THIS PROGRAM, HELD ON A SINGLE AUTUMN NIGHT EACH YEAR, IS MORE ENTERTAINMENT THAN EDUCATIONAL. HOWEVER, IT PROVIDES A UNIQUE WAY FOR OVER 200 PEOPLE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE MISSION OF THE HISTORY CENTER.RUDOLPH'S RETURN: THE FINAL HOLIDAY DISPLAY FROM CEDAR RAPIDS' ARMSTRONG DEPARTMENT STORE HAS BEEN LOVINGLY RECREATED USING THE ORIGINAL ANIMATRONIC ELVES. THIS EXHIBIT IS PUNCTUATED WITH LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC, CRAFT MAKE 'N TAKE, HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES AND EVEN A VISIT AND PHOTO WITH SANTA. OVER 200 PEOPLE ATTEND THIS EACH YEAR.CHEW ON THIS: PARTICIPANTS BRING THEIR OWN LUNCHES TO THE HISTORY CENTER AND ARE PROVIDED WITH DESSERT AND DRINK. EACH PRESENTATION IS DIFFERENT, WHICH INCLUDE AUTHOR TALKS, VIRTUAL TOURS AND LECTURES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. 200 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE EVERY YEAR.AUTHOR TALKS: AUTHORS WHO LIVE IN LINN COUNTY OR THOSE WRITING ABOUT SUBJECTS IN LINN COUNTY PROVIDE LIVELY PRESENTATIONS. OVER 150 PEOPLE ATTEND THESE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.EDUCATION PROGRAMMING: PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH FOURTH GRADERS ARE EXPERIENCED BY OVER 900 STUDENTS IN 2023, GIVING THEM A HANDS-ON, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT PRESENTS HISTORY IN A FUN AND ENGAGING FASHION. 50% OF THE PARTICIPANTS COME TO THE HISTORY CENTER (FIELD TRIPS) TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS. TEAMS FROM THE HISTORY CENTER GO TO THE SCHOOLS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE TRANSPORTATION BARRIER.RESEARCH: THE ORGANIZATION'S LIBRARY WELCOMES OVER 350 RESEARCHERS ANNUALLY. THESE RESEARCHERS SEEK INFORMATION THAT CAN BE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT THE HISTORY CENTER'S ROBUST LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE.