Tucked within the Des Moines County Heritage Center lies one of Burlington’s most breathtaking and historically significant treasures: The Stacks.

Originally constructed between 1900 and 1907, this soaring iron-and-glass library stack room once served as the intellectual heart of Burlington’s public library. With its towering gantries, ornate brass railings, and stained glass centerpiece — the luminous “Hypatia” window — The Stacks was considered one of the most exquisite library interiors of its time.

Now, thanks to the support of the Baker Foundation ($30,000 grant) and the nationally awarded Cynthia Woods Mitchell Grant for Historic Interiors ($7,500), this architectural masterpiece is undergoing a thoughtful and historically accurate restoration.

Restoring History, One Detail at a Time

The goal? To return The Stacks to its original turn-of-the-century elegance — a space that reflects its grandeur from the early 1900s while accommodating the needs of a modern exhibit and visitor experience.

Highlights of the restoration include:

• Reproduction Sconces: Twenty custom-blown glass sconces created by Old Brick Lighting, modeled directly from a 1901 archival photograph, now cast a warm, golden glow across the room’s main aisle.
• Bird Cage Lights: Soon to be reintroduced, these ornate overhead lights originally stretched between the upper stacks, combining elegance with functionality.
• Coil Curtains: Once used to “protect” the stacks from lightning strikes, these quirky chain-link curtains speak to a bygone era’s scientific curiosities and superstitions.
• ADA-Accessible Design: A newly constructed period-style ramp, built with salvaged flooring and historic railings donated by Preservation Station, makes the exhibit fully navigable for all visitors.

A Community Effort

The restoration of The Stacks has brought together local tradespeople, preservationists, historians, and volunteers. Southeastern Community College’s Automotive Collision & Repair Program provided expert advice and support in safely cleaning a century’s worth of grime from the stacks’ ironwork — revealing details not seen for generations.

Our carpenter, Ellie Jacobs, meticulously crafted the ADA ramp to blend seamlessly into the space. Local donors and supporters have helped furnish and electrify the room using period-appropriate materials and techniques, down to the hand-buffed brass and restored flooring.

What’s Next?

While much of the room’s beauty has already been revealed, restoration continues. Over the coming months, visitors can expect new exhibit installations, interpretive signage, and interactive displays telling the story of the stacks, the people who built them, and the community they served.

The Stacks are now open during regular museum hours. We invite you to visit and witness history come back to life — to walk where generations once studied, read, and dreamed.

For those inspired to help us complete this once-in-a-lifetime restoration, volunteer opportunities are available for exhibit setup, painting, polishing, and more.