Exhibits

                                               Foundation 2                                                                              "40 Stories for 40 Years"      

       
   The History Center is collaborating with Foundation 2 on a special exhibit that continues through August 7th. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Foundation 2. On July 6, 1970, Foundation 2 (which was the name until the 1990s) opened its doors at a small house on C Avenue NE that was donated by Coe College. Established in 1970 by an “anti-establishment” group of Coe College and Kennedy High School staff and students, Foundation 2 intentionally positioned itself outside the mainstream. Early Foundation 2 staff and volunteers made this structure their model.
 







   



The 1970s was a period of tremendous social change in which issues like drugs, sexuality, and women’s issues resulted in mental health needs that were not being met through mainstream providers. Foundation 2 was a behind-the-scenes place where individuals in need could feel comfortable and understood. Forty years later, that grassroots spirit of helping others in need still underlies the agency's mission to be a trusted, compassionate resource for people in crisis by offering counseling, safety, and support during difficult times.
   In celebration of 40 years of services to the Cedar Rapids community, Foundation 2 is exhibiting its history at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center. This exhibit will allow Foundation 2 to both increase the community's awareness of the agency’s services and to reinforce the community's image of Foundation 2 as a vital part of the Cedar Rapids area. One highlight of our History Center display is called "40 Stories for 40 Years." To honor Foundation 2’s origins and some of the people who have been a part of the story so far, Foundation 2 staff has compiled interviews, photos, and videos of 40 people who have been involved with the agency since 1970. The list of people includes former clients, staff, donors, volunteers, and board members. Some of the people highlighted in the exhibit include Lois Buntz, Craig Wood, Lu Barron, and Scott Jamieson.
   Foundation 2 is proud to showcase its 40 year history of serving the community and is looking forward to many more years of serving youths, adults, and families in crisis.
 

George Henry; A Lifetime Behind the Camera  ... Exhibit Continues at the History Center

Photographer George Henry will share his works spanning the length of his career. Photographs will be displayed in the Conference Room and throughout the building.


League of Women Voters

The Carl  and Mary Koehler History Center is partnering with the Cedar Rapids-Marion League of Women Voters to present a temporary exhibit celebrating the 90th anniversary of the league.  The exhibit will open Saturday, July 15, 2010 and run through August 7, 2010. 
The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920, by Iowa native Carrie Chapman Catt, just six  months prior to the ratification of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote.  The LWV is a non-partisan, political, grassroots organization that believes citizens should be informed and that they play a crucial role in government.
The League of Women Voters Cedar Rapids and the Johnson County League were both formed in 1920 and play an important role in shaping local government, from encouraging anti-pollution laws, advocating for new libraries and schools and registering voters. The history of the Iowa League of Women Voters as well as the national history will also be highlighted. 
 

"Corn County" Exhibit  -  Opens August 28th

Visit the History Center and learn everything you always wanted to know about corn. We eat it, fuel our cars with it, and rely on it to solve everyday problems. We can even wear it - thanks to a new line of fabric made from corn. How did the plant become such a part of American life, and what comes next for corn and this county where it is grown, processed and consumed? The "Corn County" exhibit will run through May 17, 2011. It is an exhibit you won't want to miss!
(See our "Education" page on this website for further details and schedule of special programs, demonstrations, displays, videos and panel discussions.)

Call Joyce at the History Center (319) 362-1501 to schedule a group tour, or email: joyce@historycenter.org.

Chautauqua Movement

chautauqua exhibitChautauqua is a community-based cultural and social movement that started in the 1870s and flourished in the United States until the mid 1920s. During that time there existed hundreds of touring Chautauquas that presented lectures, dance, music, drama and other forms of cultural enrichment. To learn more about  Chautauqua, visit The History Center, 615 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Union Station Fireplace

union station fireplace exhibitIf you remember the days of passenger trains and the Cedar Rapids Union Station, you’ll want to visit the History Center to see the recently unveiled rebuilding of the fireplace that stood for many years in the Cedar Rapids train depot. The Union Station fireplace exhibit features and audio presentation with photos depicting the history of the train station.

Permanent Gallery Exhibits

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Visit our museum gallery to learn more about Linn County, Iowa. The gallery features information and displays on archaeology , Native Americans, farming, immigration, local industries and people.