Altoona Area Historical Society

Name: Altoona Area Historical Society
Address: 104 2nd Street SE, Altoona, IA, 50009, US
Telephone: (515) 957-1352
Price range: $

Home
United States
Altoona, IA
Altoona Area Historical Society

Recognized in 2003, the Altoona Area Historical Society preserves local history, promotes education, and works to create a museum for the community.

08/25/2026

📣This is your friendly reminder!

Join us today for the Altoona Area Historical Society's monthly presentation, as we dig into a hidden piece of our local history in Southeast Polk County.

Presented by Dawn Bentley, this talk will explore where the mines were located, the conditions miners endured, notable accidents that occurred, and the story of Polk County's first coal mine inspector.

Come learn how this rugged industry helped shape our community. Bring your family and friends!

📍 Location: Museum, 104 2nd St SE
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
💵 Admission: Free

We can't wait to see you there!

08/24/2026

🎒 Happy First Day of School! 🌟

From all of us at the Altoona Area Historical Society, we're wishing every student, teacher, and family in our community a wonderful start to the new school year!

Today marks more than just a return to the classroom, it's the beginning of another year of curiosity, discovery, and growth. Learning has always been at the heart of what shapes a strong community, and every lesson learned, every question asked, and every friendship formed in these halls helps build the future of Altoona.

Here's to a new school year full of learning, growth, and community pride. Welcome back to school! 📚🍎

08/18/2026

Come learn how this rugged industry helped shape the community we know today. Bring your family and friends-Admission is FREE!

📅 Tuesday, August 25th
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 The Museum, 104 2nd St SE

We can't wait to see you there!

07/28/2026

🌾 Tonight's the Night! Discover the Story of Altoona's Earliest Settlers! 🌾

We'd love to have you spend your evening with us at the Altoona Area Historical Society for an amazing presentation, "Altoona's First Settlers: Anthony Yant and Gilbert Taylor," presented by Dawn Bentley.

Travel back to a time when the Iowa prairie stretched for miles and discover the remarkable stories of the two pioneers who laid the foundation for the community we know and love today.

🏡 Learn about the challenges and triumphs of Altoona's earliest settlers
🌾 Explore how a wild prairie grew into a thriving town
📜 Hear the stories that helped shape our local history

📅 Tonight – Tuesday, July 28, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Altoona Area Historical Society
104 2nd St. SE, Altoona
💵 FREE Admission

Can't wait to see you at tonight's presentation! Whether you're a lifelong Altoona resident or new to the community, you'll enjoy an evening filled with fascinating local history, great stories, and wonderful company.

Bring a friend, bring your curiosity, and join us tonight at the museum. We look forward to seeing you there!

07/20/2026

🌾 From Wild Prairie to Thriving Town — Discover Altoona's Beginnings! 🌾

Join us at the Altoona Area Historical Society for this month's featured presentation: "Altoona's First Settlers: Anthony Yant and Gilbert Taylor"

Step back in time with us as we explore the incredible story of the two men who first called this land home long before Altoona became the vibrant community we know today. From untouched prairie grasses swaying in the wind to the bustling town it has grown into, this is a journey through the roots of our local history.

🕰️ Discover the challenges these early settlers faced
🏡 Learn how their courage and vision shaped the Altoona we love
📜 Hear stories passed down through generations
🎙️ Presented by Dawn Bentley
📅 Date: July 28th, 2026
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: 104 2nd St SE, Altoona
💵 Free Admission

Whether you're a lifelong Altoona resident or new to the area, this presentation offers a fascinating look at where it all began. Bring your curiosity and maybe a friend or two! We'd love to see you there. Mark your calendars!

07/11/2026

🏛️ We're Open Today! 🏛️

July is in full swing, and we're excited to welcome visitors back to the Altoona Area Historical Museum!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for last Saturday's 4th of July Parade and Ice Cream Social. We loved celebrating with our community and appreciate everyone who stopped by!

If you're looking for something to do today, come visit us between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Explore our newest exhibits and displays, share your favorite Altoona memories, or simply stop in to say hello. We'd love to see you!

📍 Altoona Area Historical Museum
104 2nd St SE, Altoona, IA
🕙 Open today: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

07/09/2026

🎆 A HUGE Thank You to Our 4th of July Volunteers! 🎆

This year's 4th of July celebration was an incredible success, and it wouldn't have happened without an amazing group of volunteers who poured their time, energy, and heart into making it special.

What people see is the fun — the celebration, the smiles, the memories made. What they don't see is everything that happens behind the scenes: the months of planning, the early mornings, the last-minute problem-solving, the running around setting up and breaking down, and the countless hours that go into pulling off an event like this.

To every single volunteer who gave their time whether you were there for five minutes or five months of planning, please know that your dedication does not go unnoticed. You are the reason this community gets to celebrate together, and we are endlessly grateful for you.

🤝Thank you for showing up, for working hard, and for caring enough to make this celebration one to remember. We couldn't do this without you!

07/07/2026

🎆 Thank you, Altoona! 🎆

What an incredible way to celebrate America's 250th birthday! Thank you to everyone who came out for our 4th of July celebration — you showed up in the biggest crowd yet to wish our country a happy birthday, and we couldn't be more grateful.

From the incredible parade to a full day of fun at Haines Park, this was a celebration we will never forget:
🍦 28 gallons of ice cream donated by Fareway — over 1,000 scoops with all the yummy toppings!
🎨 Spin art fun courtesy of the Lions Club
🎉 Inflatables and laser tag from JP Party Rentals
🚚 Amazing local vendors: Sparkle and Stitch, Planet Smoothie, Daily Grind, Lula Lather, Serenity Rose Crafts and the amazing food from For the Love of Birria

📸 Did you snap some great photos from the celebration? We'd love to see them! Share them in the comments or tag us — help us relive the memories!

A huge THANK YOU to the City of Altoona for being such incredible partner in bringing this celebration to life, none of this would have been possible without you!

From all of us at the Altoona Area Historical Society — THANK YOU for showing up and celebrating with us!

📅 Mark your calendars — we'll see you next year!

07/04/2026

🎆🇺🇸Happy 4th of July from the Altoona Area Historical Society!

This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate America's 250th birthday a milestone Semiquincentennial that connects us to 250 years of history, resilience, and the enduring American spirit. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the story of our own Altoona community, we're proud to be part of preserving the history that has shaped who we are today.

Join us for our community celebration!
🎉 Parade starts at 10:00 AM
🍦 Ice cream & activities to follow at Haines Park, until 1:00 PM

Come celebrate with your neighbors, enjoy some sweet treats, and take part in the festivities as we honor 250 years of American history together!

From all of us at the Altoona Area Historical Society, have a safe and happy Fourth of July. Here's to 250 years and many more to come!

🎇 Preserving our past, celebrating our present 🎇

07/03/2026

🇺🇸 Altoona 4th of July Parade – Tomorrow! 🇺🇸

Join us as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday at the 2026 Altoona 4th of July Parade! 🎉

📅 Saturday, July 4
🕙 Parade Begins: 10:00 AM (Rain or Shine!)
🏁 Ends: Haines Park

🚧 Important Reminder:
• 8th Street will close to traffic at 9:45 AM
• Plan to arrive early to find parking and enjoy the festivities.
🎈 After the Parade:
Head over to Haines Park for a FREE Ice Cream Social, inflatables, family activities, food trucks, music, and more!

Address

104 2nd Street SE
Altoona, IA
50009

Opening Hours

10am - 2pm

Telephone

(515) 957-1352

Website

http://www.altoonahistory.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Altoona Area Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Altoona Area Historical Society:

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Altoona?