An important message from the Project Leader: My ultimate goal was to dedicate a portion of each day to Iowa History Net. Unfortunately, both medical issues and family commitments, have prevented this from being reality. Therefore, rather than completely throwing in the towel on this project, I have elected to “do as I can” status.
If anyone reading this would like to help with this project please send me an email. OR, if you have valuable information pertaining to a Historical Marker, Monument, Site or Event please send the information, pictures, latitude/longitude, etc. . . to me by email and I will get it on the website.
Hopefully, I well soon be able to return my efforts back to full-time. In the mean time thank you for your support and understanding.
Bob Fleege
An important message from the Project Leader: My ultimate goal was to dedicate a portion of each day to Iowa History Net. Unfortunately, both medical issues and family commitments, have prevented this from being reality. Therefore, rather than completely throwing in the towel on this project, I have elected to “do as I can” status.
If anyone reading this would like to help with this project please send me an email. OR, if you have valuable information pertaining to a Historical Marker, Monument, Site or Event please send the information, pictures, latitude/longitude, etc. . . to me by email and I will get it on the website.
Hopefully, I well soon be able to return my efforts back to full-time. In the mean time thank you for your support and understanding.
Bob Fleege
I was extremely surprised to learn that the State of Iowa does not maintain an inventory of its many Historical Markers, Monuments, Sites and Events. While visiting these various Historical Sites I began to notice a disturbing trend, our precious Historical Landmarks had fallen into disarray due to years of Federal, State and Local budget cuts.
“At this point I knew that something had to be done if there was going to be any hope of my grandchildren being able to visit these landmarks and learn about Iowa’s great historical heritage”
I knew one thing for sure, I know just enough to maybe make it happen. I love history, particularly Iowa History. I have owned a handheld GPS since Garmin first introduced them and I have built and managed several website for none-profit organizations I belong to. So knowing I had the basic skill sets I decide to give it a try.
Going out and gathering the data on sites was the fun part, finding a WordPress theme that would allow me to create a website the way I envisioned it proved to be a much more difficult task. Finally after a year of testing various templates I reached a point where I was ready to give up on this project. It was at this time I learned I had to have my left leg amputated so I decide to put the project on hold. Once I returned home from the hospitals I picked the project back up just to have something to keep me busy during my recovery. It was then that I found a template by ATI Themes called Directory. Although not perfect it was much closer to what I was looking for than any other one I tested.
So in March, 2013 I began the process of building the framework for our new website. I then began inputting the information I had been gathering for the past 10 years. At this stage I realized I had to have a procedure in place to insure that the data in this site had been verified accurate. I also had to setup a policy on contacting authors of copyrighted material to get permission to reprint there articles. I decided to make Iowa History Net a Creative Common Licensed site so others may use my material. I do ask that all of our visitors please honor the copyright wishes of our guest authors.
Finally I decide to create a category called Iowa Folklore. I find this subject to be perhaps the most interesting on our site.
“When I was growing up in Central Iowa we would travel North from Fort Dodge to Pocahontas to have dinner with my Dad’s parents. The lived on a 720 acre farm 3 miles north of Pocahontas. After dinner we would venture 4 miles east on a gravel road to my Mom’s parents. In both cases our patents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, etc… would sit around the table handing down stories they heard from their parents and Grandparents. This was how history was past down from generation to generation.”
This was how family history was passed on to other family members; unfortunately, times have changed and we no longer do this. Today we visit our grandparents on our cell phones either texting them or talking with them through FaceTime. So I wanted to provide a section where you will be able to go into and share some of these stories with the rest of us.
I hope you enjoy the site and that what you see entices you to come back often just to see what new things have been added to it. If you know where some of these historical landmarks are located and you would like to share them please send a detailed message to https.admin@iowahistory.net