AMES, Iowa – March 24, 2026 – Iowans across the state have three new opportunities to rediscover and celebrate Iowa’s place in our nation’s story with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s “Iowa’s America 250 Scenic Byways Road Trip” series. As part of the semiquincentennial birthday, this series commemorates Iowa’s unique contributions to history, and honors the people and places across our prairielands that helped shape the United States.
The once-in-a-generation series featuring monthly educational presentations highlighting six historical locations along Iowa’s Scenic Byways has added new stops and stories in April, May, and June.
The DOT invites the public to join the adventure to rediscover the rich and diverse role Iowa played in the early years of our country with presentations celebrating Iowa’s Underground Railroad connections, milestones in transportation, and the history and culture of the Meskwaki Nation. These events are free and open to the public, offering a welcoming space for Iowans of all ages and backgrounds to connect with their heritage.
Iowa’s America 250 Scenic Byway Road Trip Spring Schedule:
- Saturday, April 11, 2026 – 1:30-2:30 p.m., Hitchcock Nature Center-Honeycreek, Iowa, Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, “Iowa’s Underground Railroad Connections” with Barry Jurgensen. Iowa history has deep roots into the Underground Railroad. Explore those connections that highlight conductors, safe houses, and powerful stories of freedom.
- Friday, May 1, 2026 – 2:30-4:00 p.m. Ames Public Library, Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, “Insights into Iowa’s Transportation History” with a panel of experts including Bill Whittaker, Brennan Dolan, Ray Werner, and Libby Wielenga. Gather insights into Iowa’s transportation history following Iowa’s path from pre-settlement roads, early Highway Commission history, the Good Roads Movement, and key innovations. Following the presentations organized by the Iowa DOT, the Lincoln Highway Association/Prairie Rivers of Iowa RC&D will be sharing presentations about railroad history in Iowa from 4-5 p.m.
- Saturday, June 6, 2026 – 2:00-3:00 p.m. Meskwaki Gymnasium-Tama, Iowa, Iowa Valley Scenic Byway, “Iowa and the Meskwaki Nation” (1856–Present) with Jonathan Buffalo. Join Meskwaki staff to learn insights about their tribe’s history, culture, language, and natural resources and tour the Meskwaki Cultural Center.
“The final presentations in our series reflect some of Iowa’s most significant moments and the role the state played in linking our past to our future,” said Iowa DOT’s Cultural Resources Lead Brennan Dolan. “The opportunities for the public to engage with some of the truly remarkable places, people, and histories that have shaped our state are unprecedented. We encourage everyone to soak these experiences in,” Dolan added.
Iowans have shown great interest in attending the first three events in the special commemorative series, that kicked off in January with “An Assessment of Iowaville (1765–1824)” at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park Lodge on the Historic Hills Byway.
Organizers followed it up in Clermont on the River Bluffs Scenic Byway with February’s “An Overview of Montauk (1874-1912), revisiting the story of the home of Governor Larrabee now on the National Register.
The March program featured “Fort Madison and the War of 1812,” exploring the U.S. westward expansion and key archeological finds in Fort Madison along the The Great River Road National Scenic Byway.
For more information and updates on upcoming America 250 events across the state, visit Iowa America 250 Events | Governor Kim Reynolds
When making plans to attend any event, the latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot.gov/travel-tools/iowa-511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.
It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive email/text alerts. Visit https://new.511ia.org/#login to sign up. For instructions and help with this feature, visit https://www.511ia.org/help/section/how-to-create-and-manage-a-511-account.html.
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For general information about this project, contact Brennan Dolan, Iowa DOT, at 515-239-1795 or Brennan.Dolan@iowadot.us.