America 250
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Programs by reservation November-April
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About the Farms
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Events & Programs
Upcoming Events
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Historic Dinners & Teas
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America 250
Events celebrating the semiquincentennial of the United States at Living History Farms
Exhibit: The Road to Liberty
Ongoing
This interactive exhibit brings to life the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the women of the Revolution, and key scenes from the battle for U.S. Independence.
Details
Hoover on the Road
Through May 30
Learn about President Herbert Hoover’s humanitarian legacy. The exhibit highlights his work as an engineer, global problem-solver, and public servant whose influence extended far beyond his presidency.
Details
Voices of Freedom
April 10
THIS EVENT IS FULL. Under guidance from the Smithsonian Transcription Center, learn to transcribe documents from the Smithsonian’s Freedmen’s Bureau collection.
Details
Barnyard Readers: Paul Revere’s Ride
April 18
Preschoolers and their adults will read “Paul Revere’s Ride: Fly on the Wall History,” participate in an activity based on the book, and visit a historic site.
Details
Hoovers in the White House
April 23
A free presentation by historian Sarah Fling of the White House Historical Association.
Details
Folk Art Fair
April 25
FREE! Celebrate the creativity and heritage skills of Iowa artisans with the inaugural Folk Art Fair at Living History Farms. Watch demonstrations and purchase items made with time-honored methods and materials throughout our 1876 town.
Details
Freedom Truck
May 12–23
FREE! Come see the mobile museum traveling the country for America 250. Learn how 13 colonies declared and won independence from Britain.
Details
Exhibit: Freedom—A History of US
May 12–June 5
This exhibit traces the evolving concept of freedom from the founding era to the election of Barack Obama. Among the highlights are a rare 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence and a printed draft and the official copy of the U.S. Constitution.
Details
Barnyard Readers: America’s Founding Figures
May 16
Preschoolers and their adults will read “John, Paul, George, and Ben,” participate in an activity based on the book, and visit a historic site.
Details
America 250 Book Club
May 21
“Summer of 1787” by David Stewart with excerpts from the Federalist Papers.
Details
Decoration Day + Baseball
May 23
Learn about the Civil War-era origins of the holiday that came to be known as Memorial Day. A ceremony at the New Hope Ceremony honors those who gave “the last full measure” to preserve our Union.
Details
America 250 Day Camp
June 1–August 7
Explore the “American Experience” and share your predictions for the future at a Birthday Party for America. Grades 4 & 5.
Details
Exhibit: Becoming the United States
June 2–26
Explore individuals, groups, and documents that have contributed to who we are as a country.
On loan from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Details
Emancipation Day + Election Day + Slice of History +
Historic
Baseball
June 13
Our nation was born with the words “all men are created equal,” but equality was slower to come for many Americans. Today we explore Black heritage in Iowa and the history of voting rights.
Details
Victorian Centennial Garden Party Day Camp
June 15–July 17
Learn 19th-century etiquette, handcrafts, cooking, and social routines, then throw a Victorian-style George and Martha Party. Grades 6 & 7.
Details
Barnyard Readers: America’s Flag
June 20
Preschoolers and their adults will read “F Is for Flag” and “Why Are There Stripes on the Flag?,” participate in an activity based on the book, and visit a historic site.
Details
Sounds of America Day Camp
June 29–July 3
Study composers, musicians, and artists spanning over 300 years of history, all while preparing a concert. Grades 6-7-8.
Details
Independence Day + Historic Baseball + America’s Potluck
July 4
This year is the semiquincentennial of the United States, but in our 1876 town of Walnut Hill, it’s the centennial! Celebrate the way a small town in Iowa might have done in the 19th century with a parade, games, and of course “America’s pastime.”
Details
America 250 Book Club
July 16
“People’s Guide to the Constitution” by Dave Kluge with the U.S. Constitution.
Details
Barnyard Readers: America—Then, Now, and the Future
July 18
Preschoolers and their adults will read about Century Farms, participate in an activity based on the book, and visit a historic site.
Details
American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit
August 1–11
This collaborative project of the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution connects modern audiences with the fascinating story of our nation’s origin, introducing visitors to a cast of historical characters with diverse experiences.
Details
America’s Birthdays Day Camp
August 10–12
It’s not America’s first big birthday. Learn about past celebrations, then celebrate with your own party. Grades 4 & 5.
Details
Indigenous Iowans Day
October 10
The 250th anniversary of the United States as a nation is also a time to honor the original Americans. Today we explore the lives of Iowa’s very first farmers, the Ioway, and other Indigenous Peoples.
Details
Living History Farms Race
November 7
Our annual cross-country race will celebrate America 250 with a tribute to veterans and a patriotic costume contest.
Details
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