Join the State Historical Society of Iowa for an online learning series that focuses on the past lives of Iowans to help commemorate the 175th anniversary of Iowa. In this week's webinar, titled "From Coal Palace to Closing the Plant: Coal and Community on the Lower-Des Moines River," Kevin T. Mason, Associate Professor of History at Waldorf University, explored the history of coal in southeastern Iowa. Incorporating elements of Mason’s 2021 walk across Iowa to follow the route of the 1st United States Dragoons, the presentation focused on how early observation of coal deposits paired with boosterish enthusiasm to develop a significant Iowa industry. The talk highlighted early exploration, dispossession, industry development, the Ottumwa Coal Palace, and diverse communities including Buxton.
