Traveling Through Nebraska: Iowas Living History Farms
Located just outside Des Moines, Iowa, in the town of Urbandale, the Living History Farms is an interactive museum that showcases Iowa's rich agricultural heritage. The museum's concept of "interpreting farm life" allows visitors to immerse themselves in the challenges and triumphs of Iowa's farmers from the 1700s to the 1900s. The museum's vast 400-acre property spans across the towns of Urbandale and West Des Moines.
Visitors to the Living History Farms can explore the property's four distinct historical areas, each representing a different time period and farm type. The Iowa Prairie, established in the 1700s, features tallgrass prairie plants and animals native to the region. Interpreters dressed in period attire guide visitors through the farm, demonstrating skills such as farming, hunting, and gathering techniques of the early settlers. For example, interpreters will often demonstrate the art of processing flint corn into flour and meal, much like early settlers in the Iowa territory would have done.
In contrast, the 1840s Pioneer Farm represents a era when Iowa farmers began transitioning to row crops and acquiring domesticated livestock. This period marked the beginning of commercial farming practices, with the use of mechanized equipment such as the cast-iron plow and horse-drawn cultivators. One can see interpreters practice historic farming techniques, like planting and harvesting using only basic equipment and manual labor, much like early Iowa settlements did.
Moreover, The 1900s Farm represents Iowa's agricultural practices at the turn of the 20th century, showcasing a period marked by heightened use of electric power and more advanced machine technology. Visitors can explore a restored 1900s farmhouse, featuring authentic period furnishings and an authentic wood-burning stove. Moreover, interpreters are tasked with operating equipment, like early truck and carriages with animal and gear-driven machinery that utilize tools on display at the Farm-to-Action Tractor exhibit.
Another offering of the Living History Farms is hands-on learning for both adults and children, offered through various classes, workshops, and programs. Many programs range from animal care and food production to traditional crafts, with examples such as herbal remedies and candle-making. Furthermore, The Living History Farms Museum Store offers various books, antiques, and handmade items which are not readily available elsewhere.
Behind the scenes at the Living History Farms, the staff work tirelessly in preserving the equipment, working on exhibits, and learning about the importance of each historical period on display. Moreover, many of the interpreters also participate in rigorous historical research on their particular area and offer that information to guests. As such, the museum draws visitors to its immersive and ever-evolving experiences of Iowa's agricultural past.
Throughout its development, private donations, grants, and funding have all contributed significantly to the Living History Farms' operation and research efforts. Such a reputable endeavor to genuinely convey historical experiences necessitates the museums’ collaboration with surrounding organizations that work towards documenting and understanding Iowa’s past.
As one meanders through the museums’ scenery reminiscent of rural historical Iowa, and realizes the ways settlers transformed farmlands from bountiful untamed pastures to more cultivated plots capable of supplying regional consumers - one can reflect and appreciate its profound agricultural influence on present-day.
Visitors to the Living History Farms can explore the property's four distinct historical areas, each representing a different time period and farm type. The Iowa Prairie, established in the 1700s, features tallgrass prairie plants and animals native to the region. Interpreters dressed in period attire guide visitors through the farm, demonstrating skills such as farming, hunting, and gathering techniques of the early settlers. For example, interpreters will often demonstrate the art of processing flint corn into flour and meal, much like early settlers in the Iowa territory would have done.
In contrast, the 1840s Pioneer Farm represents a era when Iowa farmers began transitioning to row crops and acquiring domesticated livestock. This period marked the beginning of commercial farming practices, with the use of mechanized equipment such as the cast-iron plow and horse-drawn cultivators. One can see interpreters practice historic farming techniques, like planting and harvesting using only basic equipment and manual labor, much like early Iowa settlements did.
Moreover, The 1900s Farm represents Iowa's agricultural practices at the turn of the 20th century, showcasing a period marked by heightened use of electric power and more advanced machine technology. Visitors can explore a restored 1900s farmhouse, featuring authentic period furnishings and an authentic wood-burning stove. Moreover, interpreters are tasked with operating equipment, like early truck and carriages with animal and gear-driven machinery that utilize tools on display at the Farm-to-Action Tractor exhibit.
Another offering of the Living History Farms is hands-on learning for both adults and children, offered through various classes, workshops, and programs. Many programs range from animal care and food production to traditional crafts, with examples such as herbal remedies and candle-making. Furthermore, The Living History Farms Museum Store offers various books, antiques, and handmade items which are not readily available elsewhere.
Behind the scenes at the Living History Farms, the staff work tirelessly in preserving the equipment, working on exhibits, and learning about the importance of each historical period on display. Moreover, many of the interpreters also participate in rigorous historical research on their particular area and offer that information to guests. As such, the museum draws visitors to its immersive and ever-evolving experiences of Iowa's agricultural past.
Throughout its development, private donations, grants, and funding have all contributed significantly to the Living History Farms' operation and research efforts. Such a reputable endeavor to genuinely convey historical experiences necessitates the museums’ collaboration with surrounding organizations that work towards documenting and understanding Iowa’s past.
As one meanders through the museums’ scenery reminiscent of rural historical Iowa, and realizes the ways settlers transformed farmlands from bountiful untamed pastures to more cultivated plots capable of supplying regional consumers - one can reflect and appreciate its profound agricultural influence on present-day.
