Join us on Saturday, May 30 from 10 AM to 4 PM for Snake Alley Days at the Des Moines County Heritage Center and Garrett-Phelps House. Enjoy a day of local history with engaging presentations, live music, and interactive experiences across the Heritage Center and the Garrett-Phelps House. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for… Read more: Snake Alley Days Returns May 30

By Cora Hermann-Wickham A compelling work from the collection is the book Outside In: African-American History in Iowa, 1838-2000, by Bill Silag, Susan Koch-Bridgford, and Hal Chase (Object ID: 2018.001), which offers a powerful reexamination of Iowa’s past. Challenging the long-held belief that Iowa stood at the margins of Black history, the authors demonstrate that… Read more: African-American History in Iowa

By Cora Hermann-Wickham Burlington’s efforts to cross the busy railroad tracks at 6th Street go back to the mid-1800s. When the railroad first arrived in the 1850s, it brought new jobs and growth, but it also made it more difficult for people to move around the city. Local leaders and the Burlington and Missouri River… Read more: 6th Street Viaduct

The Des Moines County Historical Society (DMCHS) invites community members to play a direct role in preserving area history through its Adopt an Artifact program. The fundraising initiative, running throughout the month of January, supports the ongoing care, conservation, and proper archival housing of historical objects in the DMCHS collection. Each adopted item represents a… Read more: Adopt an Artifact Program PreserveS Des Moines County History

As spring blooms in Burlington, the Des Moines County Historical Society (DMCHS) is abuzz with activity. From the near-completion of significant restoration projects to a lineup of engaging events, there’s much to celebrate and anticipate. The Stacks Room: A Glimpse into 1901 The long-awaited restoration of the “Stacks” room is nearing completion. This historic space… Read more: May 2025 at DMCHS: Celebrating Restoration and Community Engagement