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Museum History

Timeline of Significant Milestones

1999

March 1999
Group founded

July 1999
Incorporated as a nonprofit

2000

March 2000
Site search initiated

2001

August 2001
Agreement on Spaulding-Grinnell site and Mark Hudson named Executive Director

2002

April 2002
First grants awarded

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

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

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

2006

January 2006
Work completed on administration building including new roof and wall repairs

June 2006
Master planning process completed. Schematic design begins

2007

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

Mission Statement
Moving people, goods and ideas is essential to creating any vibrant culture. The Iowa Transportation Museum explores the evolution of transportation in Iowa, making it come alive to enhance our understanding of how transportation systems and workers contribute to the culture and quality of life we enjoy.