The following exhibits, consisting of photographs, copies of original documents, and text mounted on art board panels, were created by staff at various times, and are available at no charge for loan to Ames organizations. Contact us to borrow an exhibit.

Ames Community Arts Council (18 panels)

Turn of the Century -- The Teens – The Twenties -- The Thirties -- The Forties (2) -- The Fifties – The Sixties (2) – The Seventies (3) – The Eighties (3) – Octagon (3) – ACTORS (2) – Valerie Williams Co’Motion Dance Theater (2).

Ames Names

Highlights early figures important in Ames history.

O. Ames -- Blair -- Brown -- Cole -- Duff -- Greeley -- Grove -- Hoggatt -- McCarthy -- Morris -- Munn -- Sheldon -- Snook -- Starr -- Sunday -- Tilden -- Underwood -- Welch -- Mayors -- Teachers -- Original Street Names -- Population up to 1900 -- Timeline of World & Ames Events.

Bauge Family Log Home (2 panels)

Details the preparation and move of an 1866 log home from near Huxley to McFarland Park in 1988.

Behind the Badge (20 panels)

Title panel – Political Era, 1870-1940 – Town Marshals: Wright, 1870 & Shockley, 1875 -- Town Marshals: Ricketts, 1896 – Chief of Police Willey, 1904 – Chief of Police Cure, 1919 (3) – Traditional Era, Crime Fighting, 1940-1995 – Chief of Police Erickson, 1948; 1960s riot – Chief of Police Siedelmann, 1967 – The 70s – Bombing of City Hall, May 1970 – The 80s, Chief of Police Ballantine – Veishea Riot, 1988 – The 90s – Community Policing (2) – Current Programs (2).

Chautauqua (15 panels)

Traces the history of Chautauqua in Ames.

Beginnings 1904 – Lidia Tilden CSLC certificate 1904 --1906 Official Program – 1908 Official Program – 1911 – Group Portrait – Teams Tied near Squaw Creek – 1915 Program – Swiss Bell Ringers – 1918 Program – 1919 – 1921 – 1923 – Temple Festival Singers 1923 – 1925 – The Good Singers.

Early Ames Builders: Egemo & Hansen (8 full panels + 7 small panels)

Hans Hansen: Migration to America -- Drawing School -- Kintzley & Buckton Homes -- Chautauqua Auditorium, Murphy & Hansen Boast Homes -- Tores Egemo: Norwegian Roots, Coming to America -- Tores Egemo, Artisan -- Building of First Houses -- Storied Houses: Notable Ames Homes.

Electric Plant Centennial (7 panels)

Illustrates the history of the Ames Electrical Department, 1896-1996.

Farwell T. Brown: Stories of the Historian (2 panels)

Food Ways: the Cs of Food (9 panels)

Title panel: Eat, Drink, and be Modern: Foods and Beverages in Ames

Introduction – Consumer Confidence – Constant Companions – Cars, Crates & Containers – Curriculum & Communication – Cost, Comfort & Convenience – Conservation & Coordination – Conscience & Conduct – Corporate Complements.

The History of Ames Utilities ( 8 panels)

The History of Water Treatment in Ames – Current Operations, Statistics – Meters and Test Kits – Services and Savings – Monthly Logs, Monitoring and Maintenance – Water Towers, Then and Now – Public Charges, Service Changes: the Emergence of Municipal Electricity – Power Lines, Past, Present and Prospective.

Hoggatt School

Details the discovery, move and restoration of an 1862 one-room schoolhouse.  Involvement in this project was the impetus for the formation of the Ames Heritage Association in 1980.

Joseph P. Lawlor

Depicts the career of Ames civic and business leader, Joseph Lawlor (1893-1982), using photographs, artifacts, and textual captions mounted in a portable, lighted, hinged, wooden case (72 x 24 x 16”).  Lawlor served as a military officer in both world wars, founded General Filter Company, and was elected mayor of Ames.

 

Main Street Piers

Features stories behind the terra cotta tiles created for piers at street corners in downtown Ames.

Main Street Stories

Profiles early Ames businessmen..

Adams – Alm -- Cagwin -- Edwards -- Grove -- Hasbrouck -- Joy -- C.G. Lee – Maxwell -- Sheldon -- Valentine – Wickham.

Next to Godliness: Keeping and Cleaning House (5 panels)

Introduction – Sudsless and Scrub-free “Many Duty Cleansers” – Keeping Current: Marketing Modern Methods – Everything in Everyday Life: Home Economics Education – Color Coordination: Tints, Textiles, Tiles.

Old Town Architecture (15 panels)

Original Town Map & Blair’s Addition Map – About the Neighborhood – The Restoration Process – House Restoration/Changes (804 Duff; 803 Burnett) – House Restoration/Changes (702 Clark; 712 Duff) – Italianate Architecture (804 Kellogg) – Italianate Style Architecture (829 Douglas) – Houses - Then and Now (726 Duff) –  Houses - Then and Now 823, 812, 722 Douglas) – Color Scheme Change (109 9th St.) –

 Historic Photo (703 Duff) – Historic Photo (720 Duff) – Prairie Style (905 Douglas).

The Railroad in Ames (15 panels)

From Necessity to Nuisance: The Railroad in Ames – Ontario and New Philadelphia – Chicago & North Western Territory – Railroad Timeline – Crossings, Shanties & Towers – Excitement-Danger – The Nuisance – Entertainment: Circus Train, Friendship Train, Football 400, Decorated Cars – Downtown Yards – Locomotives – The Interurban – Employment – On Board (2) -- Facts.

Time Capsule (3 panels)

Features materials found in the 1915 time capsule contained in the cornerstone of the Old City Hall in the course of its remodeling for use by Youth and Shelter Services.

Living in Ames – Learning in Ames – The City of Ames.

Sesquicentennial - Iowa Timeline (5 panels)

8000 B.C.-1794 – 1795-1844 – 1845-1893 – 1895-1944 – 1950-1994.

WOI Radio & Television (3 panels)

Shows highlights in the history of WOI, Iowa State College’s educational television station.