State Historical Society of Iowa

What State Historical Society of Iowa does

The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) is a state government agency established in 1857, headquartered in the State Historical Building in Des Moines, with an additional research branch in Iowa City. It operates as the official custodian of Iowa's historical record, running the State Historical Museum of Iowa, maintaining multiple historic sites across the state, administering state historical markers, and providing research access through two physical research centers plus the Iowa History Collections Catalog, which is hosted on a third-party Minisis platform (iowa.minisisinc.com). The technology footprint consists of a standard CMS-backed web property and a vendor-hosted digital catalog — no proprietary platforms or in-house technical products are described. Educational offerings include K-12 curriculum support, National History Day coordination, family programming, adult lifelong learning, and the History Podcast Camp for high school students, complemented by The Palimpsest historical magazine.

SHSI is funded primarily through Iowa state appropriations, with supplemental revenue from facility rentals (atrium, auditorium, classrooms, terrace), a gift shop operated through Ray Gun Custom, membership dues, donations, and re-granted preservation funding distributed to local history organizations. Customer engagement is decentralized across five segments: K-12 students and educators (the primary segment via National History Day), families and youth, adult learners, professional researchers and genealogists, and caretaker organizations for local history assets. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for core services, consistent with the agency's public-sector mandate to provide broad access to Iowa's cultural heritage at low or no cost.

The agency is governed by a Board of Trustees; Scott Foens was elected to the board in June 2026. SHSI participates as a core partner in the Governor's America 250 Iowa initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, which has driven flagship programming such as the 'Revolutionary Iowans' exhibit running May through December 2026. An administrative reorganization is signalled by the May 4, 2026 migration of employee email domains to @das.iowa.gov, placing SHSI operationally under the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.

Name

State Historical Society of Iowa

Legal name

State Historical Society of Iowa

Website

https://iowahistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1857

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The State Historical Society of Iowa is a state agency founded in 1857 that preserves and interprets Iowa history through a museum, research centers, historic sites, educational programs, and publications, serving K-12 students, researchers, families, and local historical organizations statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Cultural and Historical Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• State historical preservation
• Museum education programs
• Public archive services
• Heritage site interpretation
• Government cultural services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a state agency under the State of Iowa, the organization is primarily funded through government appropriations and public funding mechanisms. No specific revenue generation details are disclosed.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The State Historical Society of Iowa (SHSI) preserves, interprets, and shares Iowa's history through the operation of the State Historical Museum of Iowa, two research centers, and a network of historic sites. It provides public programs including K-12 and National History Day educational offerings, adult/teacher workshops, the History Podcast Camp, and a published historical journal (The Palimpsest). It also administers historical markers, grant funding for history-related projects, Iowa government records management, and a membership program supporting its mission.

Product overview

The State Historical Society of Iowa operates as a unified service organization offering multiple interconnected programs and facilities for preserving, interpreting, and sharing Iowa's history. Core services include the State Historical Museum of Iowa, historic sites, research centers, and extensive collections and archives accessible via the Iowa History Collections Catalog. Educational offerings encompass K-12 programs, National History Day, family and youth learning, and adult lifelong learning including the History Podcast Camp. The Society publishes The Palimpsest, Iowa's history magazine, and provides grants supporting historic preservation and research. Facility rentals of the State Historical Building spaces support community events while generating revenue for operations. The America 250 Iowa initiative coordinates statewide commemorative activities for the nation's 250th anniversary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State Historical Museum of Iowa The state-owned historical museum in Des Moines presenting Iowa history through exhibitions and public programs for visitors of all ages.
• Research Centers (Des Moines and Iowa City) Two research centers providing public access to Iowa historical archives, primary-source collections, and government records for researchers, historians, and genealogists.
• Iowa History Collections Catalog Online digital catalog providing searchable access to SHSI's historical collections for researchers and the public.
• Historic Sites (Blood Run National Historic Landmark, Fort Des Moines, Honey War) State-administered historic sites operated by SHSI that preserve and interpret significant Iowa locations, open to public visitation.
• K-12 and National History Day Educational Programs Curriculum-aligned educational programming for Iowa K-12 students and teachers, including National History Day in Iowa and Teacher Workshops.
• History Podcast Camp Youth-focused history media program introducing participants to historical research and podcasting.
• The Palimpsest (historical journal) Long-running published historical journal produced by SHSI presenting Iowa-focused historical scholarship for adult readers and members.
• SHSI Grants Program Grant funding program administered by SHSI supporting Iowa history-related projects undertaken by local history and preservation organizations.
• Membership Program Membership program enabling individuals and institutions to financially support SHSI's mission and receive associated benefits.
• State Historical Markers Program Statewide program designating and marking historically significant Iowa locations for public interpretation.
• Iowa Government Records Management Records management function for Iowa state government records maintained and made accessible through SHSI.
• Facility Rentals Rental of SHSI-operated museum and historic site venues for events and gatherings.

Quantifiable outcome

• State Historical Museum of Iowa provides public access to exhibits including Revolutionary Iowans running through December 2026

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• America 250 Iowa (Governor's Office)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The State Historical Society of Iowa is a key partner in the America 250 Iowa initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The society contributes historical expertise, programming, and exhibits such as the Revolutionary Iowans exhibit to celebrate Iowa's connections to the American Revolution and Early Republic.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Missouri State Museum: Missouri's official state museum and historical institution operated as part of state parks. Directly comparable as a state government-operated historical institution serving a neighboring Midwestern state with museum, collections, and educational programming.
• Minnesota Historical Society: Minnesota's official state historical society, operating the Minnesota History Center museum, historic sites, research centers, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a peer state historical society serving an adjacent Midwestern state with similar mission scope and operational model.
• Ohio History Connection: Ohio's official state historical society operating museums, historic sites, archives, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a state historical society with comprehensive museum, research, and preservation operations.
• Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin's state historical society operating a major museum, extensive archives, historic sites, and educational programming. Directly comparable as a neighboring Midwestern state historical society with comparable age (founded 1846) and institutional scope.
• State Historical Society of Missouri: Missouri's private state historical society operating extensive research collections, publications, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a state-level historical society serving a neighboring Midwestern state with comparable research and educational mission.
• Indiana State Museum: Indiana's official state museum and historical institution featuring exhibits on Indiana history. Directly comparable as a state government-operated museum and historical organization serving a Midwestern state with similar exhibit and educational programming.
• Kansas Historical Society: Kansas's official state historical society operating museums, historic sites, research services, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a peer state historical society serving a neighboring Midwestern state with comparable mission and operations.
• Illinois State Museum: Illinois's official state museum system featuring historical, natural history, and art collections. Directly comparable as a state government-operated museum and historical institution serving a neighboring Midwestern state with similar scope and operational model.
• Nebraska State Historical Society: Nebraska's official state historical society operating museums, historic sites, research collections, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a peer state historical society serving a neighboring Midwestern state with similar operational structure.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress: The U.S. national library and research institution providing archival, curatorial, and educational services at the federal level. Comparable as a broader governmental cultural institution performing similar archival, preservation, and public education functions, though at national rather than state scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IowaHistory
• Facebookfacebook.com/iowahistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/iowahistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-historical-society-of-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about State Historical Society of Iowa