History

In his new book, historian Kevin Mason looked into the 1835 Dragoon Expedition along the Des Moines River to better understand how Iowa’s landscape has transformed over time. He retraced the 371-mile expedition on foot. He joins 'Talk of Iowa' to share insights from his journey and new book.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa turns 100 this year and the way we care for our pets has changed dramatically in the last century. Spaying and neutering and regular vaccinations were once revolutionary, and they’re only a small part of the story. Host Charity Nebbe explores the evolution of animal welfare with ARL Iowa CEO Tom Colvin and Janet M Davis, author of The Gospel of Kindness.

Violins of Hope, a project built around a private collection of over 70 restored instruments connected to musicians before and during the Holocaust, is currently touring the state.

A new nation, a divided country, a lonely fort in a harbor. Bestselling author Erik Larson will be in Iowa to talk about his latest book, The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War. He joined the show ahead of his visit. Then, we hear firsthand accounts from two Iowans, Mary Sellers and Susan Judkins, who just returned from Cuba amid tensions with the U.S. and the energy crisis.

The Violins of Hope all have connections to Jewish musicians and the Holocaust. These instruments are now touring in Iowa, keeping history alive. Plus, Emily Bright shares her new poetry collection 'This Ground Beneath Our Feet.'

Larger-than-life bison sculptures made of bronze will make a stop at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History on March 15 as the exhibit heads to Washington, D.C. It's one of several ways Iowa is participating in the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S.

One of the New York Times' 10 best books of 2025, Angel Down is a World War I story told as one continuous sentence, which vividly portrays the horrors of that conflict. Author Daniel Kraus is no stranger to horror. Growing up in Fairfield, he would watch horror movies like Night of the Living Dead and episodes of The Twilight Zone as a five year old with his mom. Kraus joins this episode to talk about his horror and Iowa roots, Angel Down, which is development for a film adaptation, and his 2023 novel Whalefall, whose film adaptation is to be released later this fall.

100 years ago, historian Carter G. Woodson founded what would in 1976 become known as Black History Month. This centennial is happening at a time when exhibits and signage in National institutions are being altered and, in many cases, removing the stories of Black Americans. Founder and publisher of Black Iowa News Dana James and Abena Sankofa Imhotep — author and CEO of Sankofa Literary and Empowerment Group and Sankofa Literary Academy — join Talk of Iowa to talk about Black History and what this month means.

The Iowa State Normal School held its first classes on Sept. 6, 1876. This year, the University of Northern Iowa is celebrating 150 years of educating students. We learn about UNI's early history and then talk with organizers of various celebrations connecting with alumni, performing acts of service and special concerts.

Protest movements have been part of American history since before the United States was founded. In this episode, we hear from historians Ashley Howard, Amy Rutenberg and Daniel K. Williams about three different and powerful protest movements in U.S. history — the civil rights movement, anti-war movement during the Vietnam War and the anti-abortion movement. We’ll also talk about the strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures of these movements.