Pella Historical Society and Museums (PHSM) invites the community to explore and celebrate immigration to Iowa in a new display “In Trunks, Hands, and Hearts: What Immigrants Bring to Iowa.”

Executive Director Valerie Van Kooten tells KNIA/KRLS News the display explores immigration through a series of banners that feature objects, skills, and traditions that were brought.

“Some objects were needed for the journey, some for the new home, and some things were just too special to leave behind,” she says. “We all enjoy a richer and more vibrant life because of immigrants and the things that they bring.”

It will be on view starting today, through November 9th. There will be a free talk about the exhibition on Tuesday, October 23rd at 7:00pm at Scholte Church.

Thirteen museums and organizations shared stories, artifacts, and historic photos for this traveling banner display; from Pella comes the trunk that the original 800 settlers used to store their gold on the journey. The exhibition was created by Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, and is sponsored by Humanities Iowa, the National Endowment for Humanities, and Edwin R. and Joan T. Hemphill.