State Historical Society of Iowa Press Release

State Historical Museum presents Civil War program Nov. 10

More than 25,000 have visited "Iowa and the Civil War" exhibition

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs invites Iowans to learn more about the state’s involvement in the Civil War during a presentation next week at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.

Presented by Humanities Iowa, speaker O.J. Fargo will discuss Iowa soldiers and their actions in the Civil War from Fort Sumter to the surrender at Appomattox. He will also detail their experiences in the field, the situation on the home front, and the politics of the times. The presentation will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. Admission is free and open to the public.

Fargo’s presentation is offered in conjunction with the State Historical Museum’s “Iowa and the Civil War: Nothing But Victory,” exhibition, which has been experienced by more than 25,000 guests and visitors since it opened in April.

The 10,000 square-foot exhibition recounts the first-hand experiences of Iowans at war and the communities that supported them, and showcases historic battle flags and the actual weaponry – cannons, guns and swords – used in some of the most important events and turning points of the Civil War.

The State Historical Museum of Iowa is part of the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The State Historical Museum is at 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. Hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public. Visit www.iowahistory.org or call 515-281-5111 for more information.

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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.