Hoover on the Road
May 30: Hoover on the Road, 9 a.m., Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
Learn about President Herbert Hoover’s humanitarian legacy. The exhibit highlights his work as an engineer, global problem-solver, and public servant whose influence extended far beyond his presidency. Included with general admission.
Summer Kickoff Triathlon
May 30: Summer Kickoff Triathlon, 8 a.m., Little River Nature Trail, 20525 NW Little River Lake Road, Leon
Triathlon begins on the Little River Lake Trail with a 1.5-mile run, continues with a 4.5-mile bike ride and finishes with kayaking about a half mile at Little River Lake Beach. Enter as an individual or with a team of two or three people. Some kayaks will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, or bring your own.
Salute to Service Day at Adventureland
May 30: Salute to Service Day at Adventureland, 10:15 a.m., Adventureland Park, 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona
Honor and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country. The day will feature a special ceremony on the Boulevard, live performances and appearances throughout the park in a celebration of service, community, and gratitude.
Anamosa Hill Climb
May 31: Anamosa Hill Climb, 12 p.m., A10277 Shaw Road, Anamosa
Annual event at the Anamosa hill with a patriotic theme that will include veterans, a color guard, military vehicles and flags.
Clayton County Iowa Museum Crawl
June 1-30: Clayton County Iowa Museum Crawl, Clayton County Iowa Museum, 200 East Bridge Street, Elkader
Learn about the history of northeast Iowa with a museum crawl. Visit six or more of the museums located in Clayton County and have a punch card stamped to be in a drawing for a prize.
Summer Camps at the Grout Museum District
June 1 to Aug. 3: Summer Camps at the Grout Museum District, 9 a.m., Grout Museum District, 503 South St., Waterloo
Themes include Road Trip Across America, Art in Americana, American Folklore, and more. Registration is required at groutmuseumdistrict.org with prices start at $30.
Iowa and the Meskwaki Nation with Jonathan Buffalo
June 6: Iowa and the Meskwaki Nation (1856-Present) with Jonathan Buffalo. 2 p.m., Meskwaki Gymnasium, 349 Meskwaki Road, Tama
Join Meskwaki staff for insights on history, culture, language and natural resources. The Meskwaki Cultural Center will be open to attendees.
Anamosa Hill Climb
May 31: Anamosa Hill Climb, 12 p.m., A10277 Shaw Road, Anamosa
Annual event at the Anamosa hill with a patriotic theme that will include veterans, a color guard, military vehicles and flags.
‘General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad’ premiere
June 7: “General Dodge and the Transcontinental Railroad” premiere screening, 2 p.m., Iowa PBS, 6450 Corporate Drive, Johnston
In collaboration with Camp Dodge Daughters of the American Revolution, join Iowa PBS for an advance screening of our newest documentary exploring the life and legacy of Grenville M. Dodge, a Civil War general, intelligence pioneer and chief engineer for the Union Pacific. Free admission. Registration required at events.iowapubsfoundation.org.
Choose Iowa Calendar Contest
Through June 1: Choose Iowa Calendar Contest
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig invites school-aged Iowa students to participate in the 2026 Choose Iowa Calendar Contest, submitting artwork that combines Iowa agriculture with a patriotic theme. Naig will recognize the winning artists during an awards ceremony Aug. 18 in the Agriculture Building during the 2026 Iowa State Fair. Winning submissions will also be included in the 2026-27 Choose Iowa calendar distributed by the Department of Agriculture. For details and requirements, visit chooseiowa.com and click on the Kids & Teachers tab.
Coolest Thing Made in Iowa
Through June 3: Coolest Thing Made in Iowa (online)
The Coolest Thing Made in Iowa highlights products made by Iowa manufacturers, many of whom have been in business for generations. The competition includes products that have been key to the success of our country and state in the last 250 years. For more information, go to coolestthingia.com
In Flanders Field The Poppies Grow: Cherrywood Poppy Quilt Challenge and Quilts of Valor Exhibit
Through July 5: In Flanders Field The Poppies Grow: Cherrywood Poppy Quilt Challenge and Quilts of Valor Exhibit, 10 a.m., Iowa Quilt Museum, 68 E Court Ave., WInterset
Exhibit includes a collection of six quilts of valor surrounded by 225 cherrywood poppy quilt challenge quilts with a military/veteran theme. Also, an American Album quilt featuring the 50 states in the order of when they joined the union.
40th Anniversary Summer Iowa Games
Through Aug. 31: 40th Anniversary Summer Iowa Games.
The Summer Iowa Games presented by Grinnell Mutual will celebrate 40 years this annual multi-sport festival. More than 40 sports will be offered for athletes of all ages and abilities.
250 Stops in 250 Days along Iowa’s Lincoln Highway
Through Sept. 5: 250 Stops in 250 Days along Iowa’s Lincoln Highway (online event)
The Lincoln Highway was America’s first planned, improved and promoted transcontinental automobile route. Over 250 days, the Facebook page Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway will highlight a different stop daily, from monuments and museums to restaurants and roadside markers, on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, a designated National Scenic Byway.
Paper Money of the Revolutionary War Era
May 25-Sept. 6: Paper Money of the Revolutionary War Era, 11:30 a.m., Higgins Museum of National Bank Notes, 1507 Sanborn Avenue, Okoboji
The Higgins Museum presents a special display of 31 bank notes issued during the colonial period and the early statehood era. Continental currency issued by Congress during the Revolutionary War will be on display.
Prairie, Plows and the People’s College
Through Oct. 2: Prairie, Plows, and the People’s College, Farm House Museum, 601 Farm House Lane, Ames
This exhibition honors key people, moments, objects, and experiences with more than 250 primary source objects representing six themes: early Iowa State Agricultural College and Model Farm; early Iowa; immigration; national imagery; native stories; and innovation and the Victorian home.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What to know about America 250 events coming up in Iowa
Reporting by Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
