Recognizing special people across the transportation industry was at the core of the $3.6 million federal appropriation the Iowa Transportation Museum received through the efforts of Senator Chuck Grassley and the Iowa congressional delegation.

Phase One Construction Project Completed In April of 2012 the $4.2 Phase One Construction Project was completed. The former office/administration building of the Spaulding Manufacturing Company has been restored to its original appearance. At the same time however, it has today's modern features which makes it the perfect place to host that special event. A unique facility with a transportation theme can accommodate groups up to the size of 200 people. For further information concerning available dates and times please call 641-236-9860.

To bring this concept to life, Public Communications Inc. of Chicago was retained and has spoken with leaders across the trucking, engineering, aviation, heavy equipment manufacturing and highway construction categories. From this research we have created the National Transportation Heroes Center – an online, interactive database that recognizes both “everyday” and “extraordinary” heroes, past and present.

Nominate Your Transportation Hero Now Over the next few months a call will go out for the nomination of our inaugural group of Transportation Heroes. Nominations will be solicited through the media and the Museum’s website and may come from families, employers, labor organizations, trade associations and anyone else interested in transportation. In particular, students will be encouraged to research potential nominees. At first the system will only recognize Iowans, but ultimately it will become national in scope.

A Selections Committee will review all nominations and the Transportation Heroes website will include interviews and stories about each hero. Related exhibits at the Iowa Transportation Museum will use these stories to tell the larger story of how transportation systems keep our country strong. Nominations are accepted until March of each year. The induction ceremony is held the third Friday in May of each year. 

To view the Transportation Heroes website, click the link in the menu at the upper left.