For Release: Immediately
Subject: Terrace Hill to Host Program titled Iowans You Should Know: Stories from the Iowa Almanac
Contact: Allison Wergeland, Terrace Hill Communications & Events Coordinator
allison.wergeland@governor.iowa.gov / 515-281-7205
Terrace Hill, Iowa Governor’s Residence and National Historic Landmark, has received funding from Humanities Iowa, a private, non-profit organization to host a free, educational presentation entitled Iowans You Should Know: Stories from the Iowa Almanac presented by Jeff Stein, on Thursday, March 19 at 5:00 pm in the Terrace Hill Drawing Room.
Did you know that the Eskimo Pie® was invented in Iowa? So was the electric razor, the clip-on bow tie, and the self-filling fountain pen. Iowa was also the childhood home of four Academy Award®-winning performers, and three different Iowa-born musical acts had national #1 pop songs in the 1950s alone. In his presentation “Iowans You Should Know: Stories from the Iowa Almanac”, broadcaster, historian and author Jeff Stein tells the stories of the famous and not-so-famous. From elected officials who prevented presidential impeachment, to record-setting athletes…from famous firsts to displays of strength and grace under pressure…these biographical stories are as inspirational as they are informative. Stories are culled from Stein’s daily “Iowa Almanac” radio segments, which air on 30 stations across Iowa.
Jeff Stein is an author, historian and broadcaster. A 2011 recipient of The National Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History, he is recognized as the foremost broadcast historian in Iowa. A past member of the State Historical Society of Iowa board of trustees, Stein taught at the college level for 25 years, including at Iowa State University, Buena Vista University-Marshalltown Center, William Penn University and Wartburg College. His book Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting is the only comprehensive history ever published of radio and television and their impact on the state of Iowa, while One Week in June: The Iowa Floods of 2008 was a Barnes & Noble #1 best seller. His latest book is The Floppy Show, telling the story of the iconic Iowa children’s television program. Stein has also produced several award-winning radio and television documentaries, including “From the Battlefront to the Homefront: Iowa Broadcasters Go to War,” which was produced with Humanities Iowa support. His daily interview program can be heard on weekday mornings on News/Talk 1540 KXEL, a legendary 50,000-watt radio station based in Waterloo, where he serves as news and program director.
This is a free program, but advanced registration is required as space is limited. Register online at https:// iowansyoushouldknow.eventbrite.com or contact Allison Wergeland at allison.wergeland@governor.iowa.gov or 515-281-7205.
A cultural resource for Iowans since 1971, Humanities Iowa offers many cultural and historical programs and grants to Iowa’s Communities. Terrace Hill, Iowa Governor’s Residence and National Historic Landmark, is located at 2300 Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.