State begins to remove Iowa City historical society collections ahead of lawsuit hearing

The Iowa State Historical Society began removing collections from its Iowa City facility to Des Moines on October 6, with assistance from Prison Industries laborers. This relocation follows a June announcement of plans to close the Iowa City location by June 2026, igniting local opposition. Residents have rallied to save the historical archive, creating a Change. org petition that has garnered approximately 7,600 signatures in three months. Seventeen residents, including historians and archivists, have filed a lawsuit to halt the move, asserting that many artifacts were donated with the promise they would stay in Iowa City.

The lawsuit seeks a temporary injunction to stop the relocation and return any recently moved artifacts. The state filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming the plaintiffs did not seek administrative relief first. The district court is set to rule on the proposed injunction during a hearing on October 14. As of now, no legal barriers are preventing the ongoing move.