Marion Historical Society & Marion Heritage Center

Marion Historical Society & Marion Heritage Center Oldest building in Uptown Marion's square c.1850s, the Marion Heritage Center was a Methodist church until 1875. Public non-profit 501(c)3.

Today it serves as a center to showcase Marion's history & culture. The Marion Heritage Center was originally a church building used by the Methodists from the 1850s until 1875. Today it serves as a community center for educational programs, historical displays, art exhibits, and cultural events for audiences of all ages. Displays showcase the history of Marion and its citizens, while lectures and workshops provide insights into our past.

Check out our upcoming collaboration with the Marion Public Library in September!The Big Marion Read is made possible th...
08/22/2026

Check out our upcoming collaboration with the Marion Public Library in September!

The Big Marion Read is made possible through the support of NEA Big Read, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Marion Public Library Foundation, and the Friends of the Marion Public Library. NEA Big Read is a program of The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

📰 August 2026 Newsletter Now Available!Catch up on all the latest updates from the Marion Historical Society, and get re...
08/17/2026

📰 August 2026 Newsletter Now Available!

Catch up on all the latest updates from the Marion Historical Society, and get ready for what's coming next!

📣 Upcoming Event: Join us on Saturday, September 19th at 11:00 AM in the Community Room of the Marion Library for a special visit from the Revolutionary War General our city was named after, the legendary "Swamp Fox" himself! He'll be there to teach everyone about his early life, how he earned his nickname, and will be hosting an interactive Q&A session.

You can read the full newsletter online at www.marionheritagecenter.org or by flipping through it below, to see everything we've been up to and what's next.

For membership information, you can reach us at 319-447-6376 or [email protected]

It is with sadness that it must be herewith announced the passing of Wally Funk, the female astronaut candidate of the M...
07/26/2026

It is with sadness that it must be herewith announced the passing of Wally Funk, the female astronaut candidate of the Mercury Space Program who aced all physical and mental exams equal to the male candidates, but was refused flight into Space by NASA. She was featured in a recent presentation at the Heritage Center and this signed aircraft model shown by a local historian who asked her to autograph it, continues that pioneering legacy. May she rest in peace... high in the sky... her favorite place to be.

The 334th BSB of the Iowa National Guard opened up their trucks and military vehicles for public inspection (and for chi...
07/11/2026

The 334th BSB of the Iowa National Guard opened up their trucks and military vehicles for public inspection (and for children of all ages to climb up inside) during the America 250 Touch-a-Truck affront the Heritage Center on July 11. Long lines formed in front of all vehicles and crowds filled the trucks and tractors and motorcoaches throughout the duration of the event.

The official motorcoach of the University of Iowa's Athletic Department visited the Marion Heritage Center during the Am...
07/11/2026

The official motorcoach of the University of Iowa's Athletic Department visited the Marion Heritage Center during the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Saturday July 11. The public stood in long lines to enter and sit in Kaitlin Clark and Kerk Ferentz's seats (among others) aboard the luxury bus. Even Cyclone fans were impressed!

Large crowds turned out for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck affront the Heritage Center and in honor of tbe 105th annivers...
07/11/2026

Large crowds turned out for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck affront the Heritage Center and in honor of tbe 105th anniversary of Marion's first firetruck!

Tractors and trucks (and a little of everything else) are starting to line up for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Tribute ...
07/10/2026

Tractors and trucks (and a little of everything else) are starting to line up for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Tribute to Veterans and First Responders on the Green Block affront the Marion Heritage Center.
Saturday (July 11) the Iowa National Guard will be setting up camp with their vehicles, West Side Transport will be opening their Warrior Wagon, and the Marion Fire Department will showcase their latest fire engines and apparatus in celebration of the 105th anniversary of the community's first firetruck.
Tractors, dump trucks, semis, and more will fill the property with other vehicles for the public to climb on and gain first hand experience with everything from child size to the largest of rolling machinery in Iowa.
The event runs from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Roll on in for a fun and educational celebration of America's 250th anniversary year and the 105th anniversaey of Marion's first firetruck.

Vic and Bonnie Klopfenstein hosted a special lecture at the Marion Methodist Church highlighting the history of the deno...
07/10/2026

Vic and Bonnie Klopfenstein hosted a special lecture at the Marion Methodist Church highlighting the history of the denomination in Marion including the local origins of the faith (in what is today the Heritage Center) and the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Memorial Window (which was brought from the 1895 sanctuary Uptown for display at the current location on the far north side of the community).
The large crowd was encouraged to attend the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Saturday July 11 on the Green Block affront the museum as well as the National Aviation Day hot air balloon rides on the Green Block scheduled for the evening of August 15.
The group was also invited to attend the 9/11 Memorial Service to be held in the Heritage Center at the hour of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, and join in on the cemetery walk scheduled for Halloween at Oak Shade Cemetery.
The crowd shared their stories of Civil War soldiers in their families and the legacy of the church's congregants in times of war and peace.
An evening enjoyed by all.

Marion fireworks lit up the night on July 3rd. Come to the Touch-a-Truck event in Uptown anytime between 10:00a.m-3:00p...
07/04/2026

Marion fireworks lit up the night on July 3rd. Come to the Touch-a-Truck event in Uptown anytime between 10:00a.m-3:00p.m. July 11 and watch children's faces light up with joy as they climb aboard firetrucks, ambulances, military tactical trucks, dump trucks, semi-trucks, motorcoaches, excavators, combines, and tractors for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Tribute to Veterans and First Responders. The event also celebrates the 105th anniversary of Marion's first firetruck.
Stop by and hop aboard Marion's biggest machinery. Bring the kids and bring out the kid in you!

Everyone get fired up for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Tribute to Veterans and First Responders which will be held on t...
06/30/2026

Everyone get fired up for the America 250 Touch-a-Truck Tribute to Veterans and First Responders which will be held on the Green Block affront the Marion Heritage Center, 590 10th Street, in Marion from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Saturday July 11th!
In commemoration of America 250 and the 105th anniversary of Marion's first firetruck, fire engines, emergency vehicles, tactical trucks of the Iowa National Guard, and the famed West Side Transport Warrior Wagon will be on display along with deluxe motorcoaches, excavation equipment, and the largest tractors and combines to be found anywhere.
All ages are welcome to climb up on their favorites and be a warrior, first responder, trucker, farmer, or construction worker for a day. Come meet the big wheels of Marion!

Address

590 10th Street
Marion, IA
52302

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13194476376

Website

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