The History Center commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Douglas Starch Works Explosion, an event with repercussions for the entirety of Linn County – including the workers at the plant, local residents, business owners, and beyond. The exhibit explored the disaster itself as well as the days immediately following. It’s a story of tragedy and resilience – and it’s a story of a community coming together at a moment that could have sown division. 

The exhibition “Snapshots by William Baylis” highlights the numerous works of William Baylis in both print and postcard formats. Baylis was born on September 12, 1873 in Wheatland, Iowa. At the age of 15, Baylis relocated with his family to Cedar Rapids where he developed an interest in photography. With a successful career spanning decades, Baylis is credited with shooting close to 25,000 photographs of early Linn County.  

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William Baylis, landscape photographer of eastern Iowa, captured Linn County at the turn of the 20th century. Busy street scenes of long ago are frozen in time and cinematic landscapes offer up visuals of days long since past. Come enjoy these snapshots of Linn County and experience the artistic personality of William Baylis through his true-to-life prints and postcards.

Baseball is a sport loved by young and old. The roots of the National Pastime in Linn County go back over 150 years to games played by men newly returned home after the Civil War. Through photographs and artifacts from The History Center’s collection – as well as loaned objects – visitors to The Old Ball Game exhibit will discover local baseball history. From the first teams organized in Marion to the Manufacturer & Jobbers League, which included teams from Quaker Oats, Collins Radio, and Iowa Manufacturing, to the evolution of minor league baseball in Cedar Rapids, The Old Ball Game explores the  game from a variety of perspectives. 

The story of Judge George Greene—for whom Greene Square is named—is the story of the founding of the second largest city in Iowa. Greene brought the railroad to Cedar Rapids, donated the land and first $25,000 for the first hospital (which became St. Luke’s Hospital), and was instrumental in founding Coe College, among many other contributions. His vision and tenacity made Cedar Rapids a significant city. 

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The History Center has many items in its collection pertaining to Greene on display. In addition, the Sisters of Mercy have loaned several items from their collection, including the silver service presented to Greene on July 4, 1876 by the city of Cedar Rapids. The service has not been seen publicly since that presentation. The exhibit takes its name from the presentation of the silver service. In his remarks, one of Greene’s peers declared, “Cedar Rapids shall pay thanks and blessings to the name of Judge Greene and honor to his memory as long as the city stands.” 

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The exhibit introduces visitors to Greene around 1840 with the true story of Greene stopping his horse somewhere near where the Scottish Rite Temple now stands. He looked about and stated, “In 40 years, 40,000 people will live, work and thrive here.” 

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While it took somewhat longer to reach that mark, Greene’s vision for the city was strong. The exhibit tells the story of how he planned each step that made his dream a reality. As Long as the City Stands: Honoring Judge George Greene is made possible, in part, by a gift from the Mike and Esther Wilson Donor Advised Fund of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. The exhibit is a collaboration with the Cedar Rapids Public Library. 

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This collection features fifty-one vintage and contemporary examples that review the apron’s role as an emotionally charged vehicle for expression with a rich and unique craft history. Using aprons dating from the late 1930s through the present, the exhibition chronicles changing attitudes toward women and domestic work. It also surveys the wide range of design and craft techniques apron-makers have used to express themselves. The exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. ExhibitsUSA sends more than 25 exhibitions on tour to more than 100 communities every year.

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Today, Iowa alone produces 9 percent of corn globally. In Linn County the corn processing industry has been and continues to be one of the most significant economic engines in the area. The story of corn is woven into the landscape of Iowa and into our own daily lives. The Carl & Mary Koehler History Center’s latest exhibit, “Corn County” explores the many ways that we rely on corn. The exhibit and related programs are funded in part through a grant from Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area and a corporate donation from ADM.

A quilt is a window into the life and soul of its creator. Its fabrics, patterns and stitching tell a story about the person and times from whence it came. Stroll through the “Quilts” exhibit and discover the history told through these magical pieces of folk art.