NEW PROGRAM SERIES-Finale Postponed
Hometown Heritage and its partners -- the City of Perry, the Perry Public Library, State Historical Society of Iowa, Inc., Hispanics United for Perry, and Art on the Prairie, will present a series of monthly programs from March through September 2022 highlighting Perry history, Perry stories, and how living in a small town influences lives of those that live there.

Monthly     Programs:                   
​A Conversation With....
Historical Craft
3rd Sunday Program
Tea Party Events
Past Exhibitions and Events
  • February 2023
    • Historical Craft Project:  Vintage Valentines
    • 2023 Chocolate Walk
    • Tea Set Exhibits
    • Valentines Tea Party
    • Boba Tea Party
  • January 2023
    • Historical Craft Project:  Wild Birdseed Ornaments
    • Conclusion 2022 Festival of Trees
    • The Life Journey of Andrew Carnegie
    • English Tea Party
  • December 2022​
    • Historical Craft Project:  Classic gift Wrapping
    • A Conversation with:  Santa Clause
    • 2022 Festival of Trees Latino Night
    • 2022 Festival of Trees
  • November 2022​
    • Historical Craft Project:  Cinnamon Ornaments & Citris Garland
    • A Conversation with:  Dr Neil Hamilton Author of Land Remains
    • Carnegie Libraries of Iowa with Prof. Shana Stuart
    • 2022 Festival of Trees
  • October 2022​
    • Historical Craft Project:  Rock Candy
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Hats, Hats,Hats
    • A Conversation with:  Brian Eiteman Perry Volunteer Firefighter and Historian
    • The restoration of the Perry Carnegie Library Presented by Bill Clark & Susan Kelderman 
    • Scary Books Display
  • September 2022​
    • Historical Craft Project:  Hand Dipped Candles
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Birds of Arizona
    • A Conversation with:  Teachers from the Perry Community Trista Cohea & Kayla Rothmeyer
    • Wall of Witnesses Unveiling
    • Banned Books month
  • August 2022
    • Historical Craft Project: Paper Book covers and Book Marks
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Dining Manners & Menus In Victorian Iowa
    • A Conversation with:  AJ Seely Dallas County Emergency Management Coordinator
  • July 2022
    • Historical Craft Project:  Patriotic Crafts Vintage firecrackers & Pinwheels
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Backyard Birds of Iowa
    • RE-AWAKENING BY TELLING OUR STORIES:  Faith
  • June 2022
    • 3rd Sunday Program:  The history of Entertainment in Perry 
    • A Conversation with:  KwikStar Manager Sarah Cattanach 
    • RE-AWAKENING BY TELLING OUR STORIES:  Loss and Hope 
  • May 2022
    • Historical Craft Project:  May Day Baskets
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Living History Farms Presents Tea Parties Past & Present
    • RE-AWAKENING BY TELLING OUR STORIES:  Work 
  • April 2022
    • Historical Craft Project:  Making Natural Egg Dye 
    • 3rd Sunday Program:  Quilts Classic & Modern 
    • A Conversation with:  Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn 
    • RE-AWAKENING BY TELLING OUR STORIES:  Education 
  • March 2022
    • Historical Craft Project:  Family Quill Pen Craft
    • 3rd Sunday Program: Century & Heritage Farms
    • A Conversation with:  Perry Mayor John Andorf  A program that invites Community members to come in for an information Question and answer session about them selves and what they do in our community
    • RE-AWAKENING BY TELLING OUR STORIES:  Family A unique program series showcasing Perry stories on how living in a small midwestern town influences family, education, work, faith, and loss
  • Carnegie Library Museum Re-Opening Celebration (January 2022)
  • Tracking Perry's Railroader Heritage (2019) Hometown Heritage’s new exhibit at the Carnegie Library will hold special interest for townspeople whose ancestors worked on Perry’s railroads. On display are the names of more than 900 railroaders, from 1880-1980,  obtained from geneology notebooks compiled by the late Arlene Hamman, which are also on display.  Hamman, who worked for the Perry Chief, had access to vintage newspapers and photocopied hundreds of stories for her notebooks.  Forest Park Museum, which contributed artifacts for the exhibit, recently transferred ownership of the notebooks to Hometown Heritage.
  • Becoming American: Family & Community (Oct. 2018). Screening of documentary about a Dominican American family living in Brooklyn and community discussion led by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach's Jon Wolseth.
  • Becoming American: Help Wanted? (Oct. 2018). Screening of documentary about the economic history of immigration and community discussion led by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach's Jon Wolseth.
  • Becoming American: Identity & Acculturation (Oct. 2018). Screening of documentary about Nigerian refugees living in Chicago, IL and community discussion led by Drake University Professor Inbal Mazar.
  • Becoming American: Promise & Prejudice (Sept. 2018). Screening of documentary about immigrants and refugees living in Shelbyville, TN and community discussion led by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach's Jon Wolseth.
  • Becoming American: A Century of Immigration (Sept. 2018). Screening of documentary on the history of immigration in America and community discussion led by Drake University Professor Inbal Mazar.
  • Little Salsa on the Prairie Screening & Community Discussion (Sept. 2018). Screening of documentary on immigration in Perry, with presentations by the filmmakers and community members. 
  • WWI, Superheroes and Comics and Youth Activism during WWI (July 2018). Week-long programming series on the representation of WWI in comics and the contributions of young people at home to the war effort during WWI.
  • Camp Dodge during WWI with Mike Vogt (July 2018). Gold Star Museum Curator Mike Vogt gave a talk on the history of Camp Dodge.
  • Tracing WWI Stories with Leo Landis (June 2018). State Curator Leo Landis led a genealogy workshop on how to find out more about WWI ancestors.
  • WWI Veterans and Life at Home during the War (June - July 2018). Exhibit collecting Perry and Iowa's WWI stories, including photos and documents from community members.
  • Discussion with Sarah Weyer (June 2018). Former NASA contractor Sarah Weyer discussed editing instruction manuals for Mission Control before the days of modern computers.
  • Perry Fire History (April 2018). Assistant Fire Chief and Historian Brian Eiteman discussed Perry's fire history and his recent book.
  • Dallas County History Trivia Night (November 2017). Emceed by author Darcy Maulsby.
  • Amy Worthen Print-making Lecture (October 2017). Curator Lea Rossen DeLong lectured on print-making and Des Moines Artist Amy Worthen.
  • Night at the Carnegie Fundraiser Dinner (October 2017). Charity dinner and history presentations by author Darcy Maulsby and FCCT president Bill Clark.
  • Wall of Witnesses: Jim Walstrom (September 2017). Event unveiling artist's relief of Jim Walstrom for the Wall of Witnesses.
  • Dallas County History with Darcy Maulsby (September 2017). Author Darcy Mauslby spoke about book on Dallas County.