The Muscatine Art Center's new exhibition "Pedal Power: Bicycles from the Collection of Charlie Harper" is on view in the Stanley Gallery through August 2, 2015. As part of the exhibition programming, State Historical Museum of Iowa Curator, Leo Landis, will present "Bicycling Through History: Iowa's Love Affair with Two-Wheeled Travel" on Thursday, July 16th at 5:30 p.m. in the Music Room of the Muscatine Art Center. Admission is free, and reservations are not necessary.
As part of his presentation, Landis will discuss how cycling started as a pastime of wealthy men and became a recreational opportunity all Iowans can enjoy. He will also share stories of cycling from across the state, ranging from the first bicycles in the 1860s to John Entler's scrapbooks highlighting his stove and bicycle shop in Bonaparte in the late 1800s.
The State Historical Museum of Iowa currently features the exhibition, "Riding Through History", with 3,000-square feet of space dedicated to artifacts, stories, photos, and videos exploring the history of cycling in Iowa. The exhibition highlights the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa as one of Iowa's iconic traditions, largest cultural events, and economic drivers. "Riding Through History" was developed in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation and The Des Moines Register and Register Media, who ensure RAGBRAI's tradition continues as the longest, largest, and oldest bicycle event in the world. Visit www.iowahistory.org to learn more about the exhibition.
As curator, Landis works with nearly 100,000 artifacts in the State Historical Museum collection in Des Moines and historic sites across the state. He previously worked at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Conner Prairie in Fishers, Inddiana, and eight years as a curator at the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.
He received his Bachelor of Science in History from Iowa State University, his Masters of Arts in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, and has completed all but his dissertation toward a Ph.D., in History from Iowa State University.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.
