User:Dmchistsoc/sandbox

The Des Moines County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization based in Burlington, Iowa. DMCHS owns and operates three museums in Des Moines County. Their Mission is to communicate to residents and visitors the history and creative spirit of those who have lived in the area known as Des Moines County, Iowa. The Purpose of the DMCHS museums and outreach programs is to educate visitors about the people and history of the community.

The Heritage Center Museum is located in the old Burlington Public Library at 501 N. 4th Street. It boasts an immense rotunda with a skylight that has been renovated in recent years. The building, built in 1898 features several galleries with unique themed exhibits such as (2016) clothing and other memorabilia from the Harry & Virginia Murray Trip Around the World in 1956. The Exhibit includes a slide show compiled of Harry Murray's photos from Madeira, Gibraltar, the French Riviera, Italy, Egypt, and many more locales.

Other exhibits include a nineteenth century gallery featuring a horse drawn carriage, toy store and music room. A flintknapping diarama, an original printing press, an homage to the underground railroad are also featured. The Grand Gallery exhibit includes two well known statues: Minnehaha, the Indian figure made from a single block of wood, believed to be one of three female Indian statues in existence. In addition Chief Blackhawk, the cast iron statue weighing upwards of 900 pounds was retired from his post in Crapo Park and now stands watch in the Heritage Center Museum.

The stained glass window, original to the building, of Hypatia, who was widely respected in the late fourth and early fifth centuries as a mathematician, scientist, and philosopher still adorns