Museum History
Timeline of Significant Milestones
2011
September 2011 The 12th Annual Salisbury Concours Driving Tour brought 15 elegant cars and about 40 people to Grinnell to visit notable local sites. The tour members went first to the Iowa Transportation Museum to view construction and hear the history of the former buggy, wagon and automobile manufacturing site.
August 2011 Govenor Terry Brandstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Mary Cownie Director Iowa Departmnt of Cultural Affairs and other invited guests enjoyed a lunch and a tour of the museum construction site.
June 2011 Windows brighten ITM Corner...windows made at an Oregon JELD-WEN plant arrive in Grinnell. The building once again features large windows letting in significant natural light.
May 2011 Third Annual Transportation Heroes Ceremony. 41 Transportation Heroes have been inducted to date. The next ceremony will be held on May 18, 2012.
January 2011 ITM wins grant for Phase II. Iowa Transportation Commission (IADOT) approves funding for $73,500 for the 2012 fiscal year
2010
December 2010
Theisen’s “More for your Community Grant Program” awards $500 to the Transportation Heroes Program
October 2010 ITM inducts 10 Iowans into Transportation Heroes Center. Henry Spaulding and Billy Robinson is Class of 2010
September 2010 ITM breaks ground on $4.2 Million project. An audience of around 70 people applauded the official launch of the project at the southwest corner of Fourth and Spring Street.
August 2010 Selected Neumann Brothers Construction as general contractor
July 2010 Efforts to build the museum received a boost with the issuance of $3.7 million construction loans with a partnership between MidWestOne Bank and Lincoln Savings Bank
June 2010 A vote of the Grinnell City Council completed the work necessary to start the project toward construction later this summer
January 2010 Roger Fread joins the ITM as the Project Leader for the TransportationHeroes program
November 2009 A live auction with over 40 people present bid on items ranging from Iowa Speedway ticktes to art objects donated by local artists raised over $3100.
October 2009 The Annual Meeting was held providing information on the financing and the status of Phase One Construction plans. Ken Bucklin of SIgourney, IA, a member of the ITM Advisory Committee gave a program on :"Memories of Building I-80 Across I
May 2009 Fourteen volunteers were recognized for their work in re-creating the 193 Spaulding Model 40 automobile. The handsome early 2th century car started out as boxes of car parts scattered like five or six jugsaw puzzles, halfthe pieces useless, accoding to chief assembler Pat Brooks. Lincoln Savings Bank donated funding to sponsor the volunter recognition dinner.
May 2009 1st Induction of Transportation Heroes is held. Astronat Peggy Whitson gave the keynote address for the kickoff for the "Transportation Heroes Center." Twenty-three heroes were honored in three categories: Heroes of Example, Heroes of INdustry and Technology and Heroes of Valor. For more information, visit www.transportationheroes.org
January 2009 ITM launches 2009 capital campaign. The financial goal for the local campaign is $2 million, and one-half of this goal has already been pledged by an anonymous donor.
January 2007 Design Craftsmen of Midland, Michigan and Vincent Ciulla Design of Sarasota, Florida selected as exhibit designers
May 2007
Historic buildings review completed. Architects begin preparation of final design documents
July 2007
ITM receives the $35,000 Historic Resource Development Program grant from State Historical Society of Iowa to restore to rolling condition the only remaining 1913 Spaulding Model 40 Touring Car
2006
January 2006
Work completed on administration building including new roof and wall repairs
June 2006
Master planning process completed. Schematic design begins
2005
January 2005
Roof replaced on west building and north wall stabilized. East building roof repairs and debris clean-out completed
May 2005
Partial roof collapse on administration building. Repair and stabilization begun immediately
July 2005
Senator Grassley secures $3.6 million grant for ITM to develop a national transportation heroes center and regional, muti-state research library and archive
September 2005
Museum confirms it will receive $1 million private, unrestricted donation
November 2005
Museum and facility master planning process begins
2004
April 2004
Program-facility identification and conceptual planning started
June 2004
Stabilization/preservation construction started on east and west buildings
October 2004
Program/facility stabilization construction started
2003
January 2003
RDG Planning-Design of Des Moines selected as Architect of Record>
June 2003
Acquisition of Spaulding property and buildings
July 2003
Mark Hudson dies
September 2003
John Swanson named Executive Director
2002
April 2002
First grants awarded
2001
August 2001
Agreement on Spaulding-Grinnell site and Mark Hudson named Executive Director
2000
March 2000
Site search initiated
1999
March 1999
Group founded
July 1999
Incorporated as a nonprofit
