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State Historical Society announces closure of Centennial Building in Iowa City
The building opened in 1956 and is one of two locations that house historical records
Jun. 19, 2025 5:53 pm, Updated: Jun. 20, 2025 7:27 am
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IOWA CITY — The State Historical Society announced this week it will close its location in Iowa City in an effort to conserve finances and resources.
Beginning July 9, visits to The Centennial Building, located at 402 Iowa Ave., will be by appointment only, Wednesday through Friday. The building will officially close on June 30, 2026.
All artifacts in the building will be moved to Des Moines upon the building's closure.
"The decision was not made lightly. We take seriously the stewardship of Iowa's history through its collection, artifacts, and programs, and we are committed to providing the highest level of care for these items as well as the best possible experience for our patrons and the people of Iowa," State Historical Society Administrator Valerie Van Kooten said in a statement.
The Centennial Building opened in 1956 as part of an agreement between the State Historical Society and the University of Iowa.
It is unclear how many records are kept at the Iowa City building, which is open to the public, but the State Historical Society states it has 209 million artifacts in its collection, which also is housed in Des Moines.
Those artifacts include documents, book, photographs, newspapers, photographs, vital records, objects and more. They are accessed by authors, educators, students, reporters, historians, genealogists and the general public.
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