Celebrating the Farm House

The Farm House Museum reopens its doors Jan. 12 following a six-month closure for updates and restoration work. On Thursday, Jan. 15, the campus' oldest building will be celebrated with a pair of events, free and open to the public.

As part of the "Preserving a Cultural Legacy" celebration, visitors are invited to tour the restored museum and enjoy light refreshments at a campus open house (noon-4 p.m.). An after-hours event, including refreshments and live music, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., with free shuttle service available from the parking lot north of the Scheman Building (3:30-6:30 p.m.). Warren Madden, senior vice president for business and finance, and Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will share remarks at 5:30 p.m.

The restoration work included replacement windows and wallpaper, designed to be historically appropriate. Visitors will find a different look in the house, with rearranged furniture and "recurated" displays. The Farm House, constructed in 1860 as Iowa State's first building, is a national historic monument. Its list of former residents includes Iowa State's first president, Adonijah Welch; President William McKinley's Secretary of Agriculture, "Tama Jim" Wilson; and College of Agriculture dean Charles Curtiss.

A look at the Farm House's library, then and now. Photo by Christopher Gannon, historic photo courtesy of the Farm House Museum.