Ames Historical Society Gallery Talk - October 2, 2014

Join us Thursday

For the next Gallery Talk in our series titled
 "The Ames Connection to WWII's Manhattan Project"Presented by Kathy Svec, daughter of a Project researcher

The desperate, top-secret race during World War II to master the military technology of nuclear fission before Nazi Germany played out in 32 sites across the U.S. and Canada. The story of how Ames became one of these sites will be told by the speaker, whose father, Harry J. Svec, was pulled into the research while a graduate student in Chemistry at Iowa State. The role that small group of scientists played was critical to the timing and success of the Project.

When: Thursday, October 2nd at 7pm

Where: The Octagon Center for the Arts-Main Gallery

For full calendar of events visit www.AmesHistory.org

Ames Historical Society Gallery Talk - September 18, 2014

Join us Thursday

For the next Gallery Talk in our series titled
 "Culture Under Canvas: Chautauqua Comes to Ames by Train and Tent"Presented by Dr. Charles Kniker, Emeritus Professor of Education, ISU

Imagine you were an Ames resident from 1904 to 1926. What would you do for entertainment? Radio and movies were in their infancy. One option was to attend something called "Chautauqua." Performers and the large tent they used arrived by train. The site was near what is now Brookside Park. During the daytime, there were lectures for women and Sunday School-like classes and play times for children. A season ticket cost $1.50 and every night for a week there was something new. The entertainment in Ames ranged from a Shakespearean play to instrumental music by the Cleveland Ladies Orchestra or the Royal Hungarian Orchestra; from watching a demonstration of the wireless telegraph to shaking hands with a presidential candidate like William Jennings Bryan or lecturer Booker T. Washington. Dr. Kniker will highlight other events at Chautauqua in addition to displaying pictures and artifacts from that bygone adult movement, called by some as "the most American thing in America."

When: Thursday, September 18th at 7pm

Where: The Octagon Center for the Arts-Main Gallery

For full calendar of events visit www.AmesHistory.org