Open year round

Wednesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. or by appointment

The Marion Heritage Center was originally a church building used by the Methodists from the 1850s until 1875. Today, it serves as a community center for educational programs, historical displays, art exhibits, and cultural events for audiences of all ages. Displays showcase the history of Marion and its citizens, while lectures and workshops provide insights into the town's past. Gift items and space for small groups to meet are also available.

2009 At the Heritage Center
“Art by Your Friends & Neighbors”

Our EIGHTH ANNUAL exhibit of local artists “ART by Your Friends and Neighbors” will open at the Marion Heritage Center on Saturday, May 16th (same day as the Arts Festival in the Square) and remain on view to the public until Saturday, July 25th. Our local area is blessed with exceptionally talented artists and you will be able to see work by many of them in a beautiful setting here at the Center.  We were happy to introduce six new artists in our exhibit last year and hope to match that in 2009. We are especially eager to attract a few more three dimensional things than we have been seeing. Do you know a potter or a weaver? Contact us at the Heritage Center if you have any ideas.

“Communication by Mail” Fresco Dedication

It is exciting to note that the Marion Historical Society is involved in efforts that are currently underway to preserve a Marion treasure.  The fresco, “Communication by Mail” completed in 1939 by Dan Rhodes for the then new post office reflects  not just the postal service but also Marion’s railroad history.  One of only three true fresco murals in Iowa, it was moved to the Marion Heritage Center in 2008 for restoration and preservation. We are now nearing completion of the restoration process and an unveiling and dedication program is planned for June 6th, 2009 at the Heritage Center.  Jerome Thompson from the Iowa State Historical Society will be our guest speaker and musician and songwriter, Glenn Lonsdale, has agreed to write a new tune to mark the occasion!  Please call the Marion Heritage Center at (319)447-6376/6377 for details and reservations.

“Making Marion Work –City Services”

            Our fall exhibit will open during the Swamp Fox Festival on September 16th, 2009. The exhibit will highlight those things that make the city of Marion work – City Services.   We have enlisted the help of representatives from the fire, library, police, water departments and more to put this exhibit together.  Based on our initial meeting this will be yet another interesting showing of Marion’s past and present. If you have any information or artifacts that you would like to share for the exhibit please let us know, we would be happy to consider it for inclusion in the display.