Contact:
Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov, (515)
281-3858
(DES MOINES) – The
State Historical Museum will offer special programming this month with an Irish
festival and a Victorian-era fashion show in conjunction with the popular “Civil
War Survivors: Battle Flags Tell Stories from the Front” exhibit.
On March 18, music, stories
and ballads will bring to life the rich traditions of the Irish during the time
of the Civil War. History re-enactors, storytellers and musicians will provide
entertainment, and Café Baratta’s will offer Irish fare. The foot-stomping
Celtic music of Knotwork and family-friendly stories will be featured in the Homefront
Parlor. Performances and presentations will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission
is free and open to the public.
In addition, the Historical
Museum will offer History Hunter tours of its permanent collection at 10:30 a.m.
and battle flag preservation laboratory at 1:30 p.m. on March 18. The permanent
collection tour is $12 for adults/$8 for ages 7-12 and limited to 20 people per
tour. Members of the State Historical Society of Iowa receive a 10 percent discount.
The Battle Flag tour is $20 per person/$18 for SHSI members, and is limited to
10 participants age 7 and older. Reservations can be made by calling 515-283-1757,
by e-mailing Museum.Store@iowa.gov or at the Iowa Museum Store Monday-Saturday
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. History Hunter tours are offered the third Saturday of each
month, and weekday group reservations can be made by calling 515-281-3809 or by
email at hillary.liepa@iowa.gov. The State Historical Museum is at 600 E. Locust
Street in the heart of Des Moines’ Historic East Village.
On March 25, the Historical
Building will host “Fashions from the Homefront: An 1860s Style Show”
at 1:30 p.m.
During the Civil War, the
women of the North dressed differently than those in the South; in different styles
and fabrics, and in specific types of dress for specific occasions. The public
is invited to visit the Homefront Parlor in the “Civil War Survivors: Battle
Flags Tell Stories from the Front” exhibit to watch, learn and try on a
number of different types and styles of clothing worn by women and children in
the 1860s. From bonnets, boots and pantaloons to ribbons, plumes and fancy shoes,
visitors will step back in time during the fashion show. Admission is free and
open to the public. Please contact Katie Flippen at 515-281-4129 or katie.flippen@iowa.gov
for more information.
The exhibit features seven
preserved, historic Iowa Civil War flags from the museum’s collection, which
includes 260 flags borne by Iowa regiments and batteries during the Civil War,
Spanish American War and World War I. The vast majority of the Civil War battle
flags were last seen by the public in the 1890s. Since then, sunlight, smoke and
heavy gauze used to support each flag has caused damage, some of it severe. If
left unchecked, the damage eventually would have become greater than what the
flags suffered in battle. The exhibit opened in February and is scheduled to close
April 20.
The State Historical Society
of Iowa is a trustee of Iowa’s historical legacy and an advocate for understanding
Iowa’s past. It identifies, records, collects, preserves, manages and provides
access to Iowa’s historical resources. Its dual mission of preservation
and education serves Iowans of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates
information, and encourages and supports historical preservation and education
efforts of others throughout the state.
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