Engage with History
Special Exhibition
Alphabetical Artifacts
February 20-December 19, 2025
The 2025 exhibit at the Cedar Falls Historical Society showcases an alphabetical array of artifacts from the museum's collection. Museums are typically only able to exhibit 2-5% of their collection at any given time. Visit this year's exhibit and learn the stories behind the objects and sample the scope of the museum's collection.
Our annual exhibitions are located in the
Victorian House Museum
308 W 3rd St, Cedar Falls
Hours: Open February-December
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, 1:00-4:00pm
2025 Programs and Events
Download a copy of our 2025 program flier here.
Victorian Parlor Series: C is for CalligraphyMay 10, 2:00-4:00pm, 315 Clay St.
Candice Warby of Whimsical Twist will teach how to do brush lettering in the style of modern calligraphy. Registration required (must be 12 years & older). $10. Supplies are included. Register here or at the Victorian House.
Family Story Time: Chicka Chicka Boom BoomJuly 26, 10:00-11:00am, Victorian House
Join Programming & Outreach Coordinator, Diane Schupbach, for our annual Family Story Time. Listen to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, sing some silly songs, do a scavenger hunt in our exhibit room, and make some fun crafts.
Victorian Parlor Series: T is for Tea ThingsAugust 9, 2:00-4:00pm, 315 Clay St.
Learn about the paraphernalia used to make the perfect cup of tea, and enjoy another sumptuous afternoon tea catered by Moment in Thyme. This program is a fundraiser for the Cedar Falls Historical Society. Registration required (must be 13 years & older). $45.
Alphabet Code Adventure: Decipher the hidden messageSeptember 13, 2:00-3:30pm, 315 Clay St.
Bring the family for an afternoon of fun—decode a mysterious secret message while learning about all kinds of alphabets, ancient and modern!
Cemetery WalkSeptember 28, 2:00-3:00pm, Greenwood Cemetery
Gather at Greenwood Cemetery to learn the stories of those who used and/or donated artifacts featured in our 2025 exhibit, Alphabetical Artifacts. Rain or shine, suggested donation $5
Intro to Art Collecting: How to make informed decisionsOctober 12, 2:00-3:00pm, 315 Clay St.
Join Elizabeth Krambeer, area appraiser and owner of Artrium Consulting, for a program on the basics of art collecting. Learn how to do simple research to make informed purchases, avoid costly mistakes, and select art that has the greatest potential to retain or increase in value.
Adult Show & Tell: Collections from the communityOctober 26, 2:00-4:00pm, 315 Clay St.
Collections Manager, Julie Huffman-klinkowitz, will host an adult Show & Tell featuring four people who will share their own collections during a 15-20 minute presentation. Application and prior approval is required. Contact Julie at cfhscollections@gmail.com for more information.
Wonderful Word Games Open HouseNovember 8, 1:00-4:00pm, 315 Clay St.
Stop by for a fun afternoon devoted to playing all kinds of word games! Bring your own or play with our extensive word game assortment. Snacks will be available for purchase.
Virtual Programs
Where Does the Fish Fork Go? A look at sterling silver flatware
In this program, Kate Martin discusses flatware patterns for all tastes - plain and ornate - and how Victorian era sensibilities led to the introduction of pieces such as asparagus tongs, grape scissors, the bread fork, the marrow spoon, and more.
From Our Victorian House Kitchen: Biscuits
Join Sloan Alberhasky for this virtual program as she demonstrates how to make egg biscuits with rosemary from our Victorian House kitchen.
From Our Victorian House Kitchen: Salads
Join Sloan Alberhasky for this virtual program as she demonstrates how to make two fresh salads from our Victorian House kitchen.
From Our Victorian House Kitchen: Dessert
Join Sloan Alberhasky for this virtual program as she demonstrates how to make a comforting and easy apple dessert from our Victorian House kitchen.
Virtual Exhibition Opening
Enjoy a peek at the 2021 exhibit, Art & Heirloom: Quilts of the Cedar Falls Historical Society.
Cabinets of Curiosity: Rolling Pins and Baking Things
In this program, local Quester, Marcy Hartleip, discusses her collection of cookie cutters and rolling pins. Also, stop by the Victorian House to see a display of these items in our Spring Cabinets of Curiosity exhibit from April-June.
What Do I Do with Grandma’s Quilt?
Join local quilter, Karan Flanscha, for a helpful talk about how to care for, display, store, repair, and restore antique quilts. Learn about light damage, and how folding quilts correctly can extend the life of a treasured heirloom.
Finding Fabulous Fabric
In this presentation, local quilter, Janet O’Neil, explains how to select a color palette and appropriate fabric for a visually stunning quilt.
Looking at Log Cabin Quilts: A bed-turning presentation
Local quilters, Aleta Anderson and Chris Lorenz present a “bed-turning” program featuring a lovely selection of Log Cabin quilts. Learn about the history of this familiar pattern, and see how the use of different fabrics and colors creates a variety of quilts from the same pattern.
Family Story Hour: A Quilt by Any Other Name
Join our Education Coordinator, Diane Schupbach, for our annual Family Story Hour. Listen to tales of quilts and quilt makers, hear about the history of quilting, learn a new song, and make some fun “quilty” crafts. Find more quilt activities here.
Cabinets of Curiosity: Stick A Pin in It! Pincushions, Thimbles & More
Local needlewoman Sheri Lesh talks about her own collections of pincushions and thimbles in this Cabinets of Curiosity program.
Crazy for Crazy Quilts
This program is a two-for-one special! Local quilter, Sharon Walker, talks about crazy quilts, especially one from her personal collection made by her husband’s grandmother. Then watch a fascinating piece called “Crazy Quilts and Mad Women” created by Sara Walcott at the International Quilt Museum to learn more about how crazy quilts were a uniquely female endeavor.
Painted Patchwork: Barn Quilts
This presentation showcases some amazing barn quilts, and tells more about the history of this truly American art form. Maps showing the location of barn quilts in Black Hawk and nearby counties are available for “self-drive” tours.
Cabinets of Curiosity: Gurley (no, not THAT kind of girly) Candles
This Cabinets of Curiosity program, presented by Chris Lorenz, accompanies a display of festive Gurley candles in the Victorian House through December 17, 2021.
Quilted Christmas Ornament Workshop
Learn how to make a quilted Christmas ornament during this hands-on workshop. Kits will be available for purchase in the Historical Society gift shop starting November 2 through December 17, 2021 for $5.
Family Story Hour: Let's Take a Vote!
Visit our Facebook page to follow along at home as our education coordinator, Diane Schupbach, reads stories and rhymes, learn about the fight for women's suffrage, and celebrate the 100th anniversary of this important achievement!
Unlacing the Corset: Fashion and Freedom
Learn about the restrictions of mid-1800s dress and the shocking changes precipitated by suffragists.
Picturing the Arguments Against Woman Suffrage
Dr. Cate Palczewski talks about cartoon postcards opposing suffrage for women at the height of the suffrage movement. This lecture, richly illustrated with examples from postcards from 1900-1919, explores the visual arguments against woman suffrage and notes the way similar images appear in contemporary media.
Standing Up to be Counted
Judith Harrington, Professor Emerita, University of Northern Iowa, talks about the class-action lawsuit, Harrington et al. vs. the University of Northern Iowa, the State Board of Regents, and the State of Iowa, she and fellow women faculty filed in the 1970s because of salary inequities on the basis of gender.
Buttons: Functional and Ornamental
During this Cabinets of Curiosity virtual program, hear all about the history of buttons, and make a adorable button ornament at home. Presented by Dianne Peterson and Jan Hankins . Download the craft instructions here.
