ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

On the cover: Photographer Grant Webster captured the northern lights above Central Iowa on a quiet night in April 2023.

Big news: The new ia magazine is out now

The latest greatest issue of ia is hot off the press and chock-full of new sights, sips, tastes and talents to discover across the state. Learn about a groundbreaking art gallery on a farm near Northwood and plans for the world’s longest human-made wildlife bridge, across the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. Find stories on the state’s top mixologists, the colorful namesakes of each and every county, and other noteworthy attractions to add to your Iowa bucket list.

Didn’t get a copy? Find all the stories online, and subscribe to get your own print edition sent directly to your home.

Floating orbs? Or floating dust? Skeptics might change their minds after a tour of Edinburgh Manor in Monticello. Photo: Edinburgh Manor

Four hot spots for horrifying haunts and spooky specters

Does “Iowa Nice” apply to ghosts? Not always. Our fair state has no shortage of urban legends, scary stories and paranormal sightings. So you can celebrate Halloween with a trip to some of the places in Iowa with haunted reputations. (But don’t say we didn’t warn you.)

Malvern Manor, Malvern: This spooky destination began as a thriving hotel in 1869, an easy rest stop near the railroad station. The hotel’s business dwindled as cars replaced trains, and it was eventually converted into a nursing home, which closed years ago. Present-day visitors have reported hearing voices, feeling touches or pushes, and seeing spirits of long-dead residents.

Franklin Hotel, Strawberry Point: The historic hotel first opened in 1903 and still welcomes guests today, following a 1989 restoration. It’s rumored that one ghostly guest never checked out: An apparition of a woman named Lily is sometimes spotted wandering the halls to and from her old room, singing to herself and wearing her 1920s gown. A spirited former employee named Leo also haunts the halls and is known to ring the hotel’s bell system at night.

Edinburgh Manor, Monticello: This property was originally designated as a poor farm. Residents were allowed to stay at the house rent-free in exchange for their labor. More than 150 people died on the property over the course of its operation, from 1850 to 1910, and the building was eventually converted into a home for elderly, disabled and mentally ill patients for the next 100 years. The last patients and staff vacated the building in 2010 … or did they? Ghosts of the dead are said to roam inside the house and the surrounding fields.

Farrar Schoolhouse, Maxwell: The schoolhouse opened in 1922, consolidating several classes from one-room schoolhouses in the surrounding towns. The school closed in 2002 and sat empty until 2006 when a local couple bought the building and moved in. They were restoring it to its original splendor when they realized they weren’t alone. One owner felt a hand steady her as she lost her balance on a flight of stairs, saving her from a nasty fall. Other guests have reported hearing children’s laughter and phantom footsteps running the halls. And guess what? The property is for sale, so you could become the lucky new owner of your very own haunted school.

So much more to explore: Take a look into the microscopic world of nanoscience. Photo: Ken Stanek for the NISE Network

Good things come in small packages in Waterloo

Remember when Ms. Frizzle shrunk her “Magic School Bus” to tour red blood cell superhighways and the rest of the human body? What if that was possible in real life? Journey into the minuscule with the latest traveling exhibit at the Grout Museum District in Waterloo, "Nano." This mini exhibit introduces the biggest ideas in nanoscale science, engineering and technology. You'll have the chance to get hands-on with interactive components that explain the basics of nanoscience and reveal real-world applications.

"Nano" was created by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, with support from the National Science Foundation. You can see it through Dec. 11.

The painter Fahamu Pecou's diptych "IBEJI TAIWO AND IBEJI KEHINDE" is on display in Clarinda.

‘Beautiful Black’ art in Clarinda

A dynamic collection of contemporary artwork by Black artists from Africa, Europe and North America are on display through Nov. 12 at the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum in southwest Iowa. The paintings, photographs and sculptures in “Beautiful Black” vary widely in style and subject, but they all come from the private collections of two couples — Kathryn and Marc LeBaron and the museum’s founders, Karen and Robert Duncan — and they’re all worth a visit.

Some of the artwork by leading artists like Nick Cave, Gordon Parks and Zanele Muholi explore the ripple effects of systemic racism, from the era of European colonialism in Africa on through the struggle for full civil rights here in the United States. But there are lighthearted notes, too.

“One need only to look to Oliver Jackson and Willie Birch’s musical references to feel joy, or the bubbly pinup girl in Wanda Ewing’s work to feel flee, or to the grace and dignity of Whitfield Lovell’s figures to feel optimism,” curator Anne Pagel wrote in a photo-filled introduction on the museum’s website.

Between stops for activities and shopping, enjoy the views from the comfort of your car. Photo: Lynn Danielson

Foliage, food and fun in Van Buren County

This weekend, slow things down in a county untouched by fast food restaurants or even stop lights during the Scenic Drive Festival in the Villages of Van Buren County. All along the 11-town route, you’ll find food, drinks, craft vendors, flea markets and more activities than we could possibly include in this list.

Stop by Lebanon for glass-blowing presentations, pick up locally made cheese in Milton to pair with the native Iowa wines you’ll sample in Bonaparte. (We’re especially intrigued by the Bigfoot Tenderloins and Texas Tators in Douds.) And of course, you can’t forget the parade in Keosauqua.

Each town has different hours of festivities Friday through Sunday, so you’ll want to download the brochure to plan your trip.

New windows replace the old skylights at the State Historical Building of Iowa, which was built in 1987.

Renovated museum spotlights 'Civics in Action'

At the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, a new exhibition called "Civics in Action" opens Saturday with a lineup of activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can take a closer look at the key figures, court cases and historic turning points that shaped Iowa’s political history, including the Iowa caucuses as we know them today. The exhibit features more than 60 artifacts from the last 150 years, including the works of political cartoonist Ding Darling.

Saturday’s event also marks the State Historical Building’s full reopening after five years of renovations that included new floors and new windows that offer expansive (and rain-proof) views of the state Capitol. The day’s programming includes Civil War stories from Iowa historian Frank Hanna and a presentation about the museum’s Benoist biplane from early days of Iowa aviation. Tours of the permanent exhibits, stories for kids and a historical scavenger hunt round out the schedule of family-friendly activities.

The event is free and open to the public, but some of the special activities require registration. Food trucks will be outside from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

During the festival, film fans can see films in various genres at FilmScene’s five theaters. The lineup includes classic book-to-movie adaptations, as well as newer projects that are just starting on the festival circuit. Photo: Refocus Film Festival

Iowa City film fest focuses on book-to-movie adaptations

Iowa City has a rich history in the arts, including the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop. But a newer addition is the Refocus Film Festival, which celebrates cinema and various other art forms today through Sunday. The new festival started in 2022 and focuses on film adaptations, highlighting stories that jumped from one medium to another.

“We are a community that loves storytelling, and cinema’s a big part of that tradition,” said Andrew Sherburne, a filmmaker and co-founder of the local nonprofit cinema FilmScene. “We want to celebrate that, strengthen it and make sure that everyone else, not just here in Iowa but from the other 49 states and around the globe, really understands just how special this place is.”

During the festival, film fans can see films in various genres at FilmScene’s five theaters. The lineup includes classic book-to-movie adaptations, as well as newer projects that are just starting on the festival circuit. The multimedia festival also features local musicians and writers, enlisted with help from the Iowa City Book Festival.

For something a little spookier, head for the annual Halloweenapalooza film festival this Friday and Saturday in Ottumwa. Oh and there’s a zombie walk. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.