Iowa History Institute – Part I: Iowa to the Civil War

The Iowa History Institute is a 2-day immersive professional development workshop designed to give K-12 teachers behind-the-scenes access to artifacts at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines. This workshop is the first in a three-part series exploring Iowa History across three eras. Every participant will receive a free copy of Jeff Bremer’s book, A New History of Iowa, which aligns with the three-part series to provide background information and context. Attending the first workshop is not a commitment to the series and attendance at the first workshop is not required to attend later workshops. In Part I, you’ll investigate Iowa history from 13,000 BCE to 1870. Learn about the Indigenous communities that first lived on the land, the arrival of settlers and the formation of the Iowa Territory, early statehood, and life in Iowa during and after the Civil War. Our workshop format allows you to explore an early Iowa history subject that is most relevant to your classroom. Workshop Agenda: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Time Description 8:00 – 8:30 Welcome, Introductions, & Overview 8:30 – 10:00 Session I – Iowa History 101 with Professor Jeff Bremer Jeff Bremer, author of A New History of Iowa, will provide context for Iowa’s early history. 10:00 – 10:15 Break 10:15 – 11:45 Session II – Native Iowa: Iowa to 1833 Through an immersive guided tour of the exhibits and interactive archaeology activities, learn about the first inhabitants of the land that would become Iowa. 11:45 – 12:45 Lunch Lunch is on your own. There are restaurants near the museum, and a refrigerator and microwave on-site. 12:45 – 2:30 Session III – Iowa Territory: 1833 to 1846 Engage in interactive activities with photographs, maps, and genealogical records. 2:30 – 2:45 Break 2:45 – 3:45 Session IV – Iowa Statehood: 1846 to 1857 Learn about how to use historical thinking skills to teach about Iowa’s state constitution and Meskwaki Nation’s resistance to removal and land purchase in Tama County. 3:45 – 4:00 Debrief & Depart Thursday, June 11, 2026 Time Description 8:00 – 8:15 Welcome Back & Overview 8:15 – 9:30 Session I – History Mystery Work on historical observation skills while investigating objects from Iowa’s past. 9:30 – 9:45 Break 9:45 – 11:45 Session II – Iowa Civil War Artifacts in the Research Center Do hands-on history in the Research Center investigating artifacts from the Civil War era. 11:45 – 12:45 Lunch Lunch is on your own. There are restaurants near the museum, and a refrigerator and microwave on-site. 12:45 – 2:45 Session III - Collections Storage Tour & Activity Investigate museum objects in Collections Storage with museum experts. 2:45 – 3:00 Break 3:00 – 3:45 Session IV - Curriculum Artifact & Vignette You’ll have time to work on how to bring a curriculum artifact into your classroom to engage students in best-practice inquiry, primary source analysis, and historical thinking. 3:45 – 4:00 Debrief & Depart Required Text Outcomes and Objectives Evaluation Course Requirements: Instructor & Contact Information: