The University of Iowa, the State Archaeologist’s office, and an R-V maker have teamed-up to haul a museum across the state. Dan Reed, UI vice president for research and economic development, came up with the idea.
“One of the great assets we have on campus is the Pentacrest Museum, which includes the Old Capitol Museum and the Museum of Natural History. One of the things we began to think about is how we could capture that and take it around the state? Because not everyone can come to Iowa City to see those things,” Reed said.
The result is a 38-foot-long RV, custom built by Winnebago Industries in Forest City. Reed is hoping the Mobile Museum is a hit with school kids. “Inspiring excitement about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics…that’s one of the reasons we want to take the research from the University of Iowa out to small towns and the larger cities across the state,” Reed says.
State Archaeologist John Doershuk says the Mobile Museum makes its inaugural appearance this weekend. “We’re going to start with an event at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge for the Iowa Academy of Science meeting,” Doershuk said. After Fort Dodge, a few of the scheduled destinations include Decorah, Osage, and Council Bluffs.