Tama County Historical Society & Genealogical Library

06/13/2026

Thank you Amy Snyder for presenting your wonderful program June 10, 2026 at the Wieting Theatre. Amy and her late husband Ron Snyder, a retired Fire Marshall and veteran, toured all the 100 Freedom Rocks in Iowa painted by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II. It was an inspiring story and clearly one that the audience enjoyed with many speaking about their experience visiting different Freedom Rocks as well as asking questions. Amy has a photography business called Have Camera, Will Travel and is active with The Guiding Star Marshalltown, Family Life Services as well as other interests. You can also find out more about Iowa Freedom Rocks at https://www.thefreedomrock.com/iowa-fr-tour/ Thank you to all who attended.

06/08/2026

We hope you join us this Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM at the Wieting Theatre in downtown Toledo, Iowa for the Tama County Historical Society’s program The Snyders’ Freedom Rockin’ Tour presented by Amy Snyder. She will share with you about her and her husband Ron Snyder’s adventure of going to Freedom Rocks, photographing them and their time together.

06/08/2026

Today was cleaning day at the Haven School located SW of Chelsea, Iowa for ISU Extension & Outreach’s upcoming Haven Schoolhouse Day Camp. Thank you to Jean Bolen, Diane Caloud, and Marcia Lenhart for their time and efforts. These three, along with myself, cleaned the school. We also volunteer on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at the museum for visitors and researchers from 1-4:30 PM. We would also like to thank the Haven Church for allowing the kids and staff to use their restrooms. It is greatly appreciated.

If you, or your group would like to tour any of our properties, such as the museum, cabin, or the Haven School, please contact us ahead of the time you are thinking to see if we can find volunteers to meet with you. We ask that you please contact us at 641-484-6767 and leave a message or contact us at [email protected]

Below are two pictures of inside the school taken today. On the left is looking northeast and the right looking at northwest.

06/02/2026

What a beautiful day for all of us who got to see the Union Pacific’s Big Goy No. 4014 steam locomotive stop in Tama, Iowa June 1, 2026. It was wonderful to see so many people in downtown Tama sharing in this experience. According to the UP’s website, No. 4014 is the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. More information is at the following link: https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/big-boy-4014

Below is the picture I took of it sitting in Tama. Appropriately enough, that is where they would have stopped back in the day. Directly to the south were the early train depots where the trains would stop. On the south side of the railroad tracks, was the passenger train depot that was to the west of McClellan Street and the freight depot located to the east of McClellan Street. Also below is a composite of an 1888 Sanborn Fire Map of 3rd Street in Tama with the noted depots circled. Later the depot was on the west side of Siegel Street on the north side of the tracks.

Thank you to everyone involved including our local law enforcement. There were many photographers there and we encourage you to look for all the different postings of this locomotive’s travel.

06/01/2026

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of patriotic music, storytelling, dance, and community celebration on Sunday, June 14 from 2–4 PM at the Tama County Courthouse lawn & bandstand. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a family-friendly event honoring our nation’s history, flag, and spirit—complete with performances by local talent, community singing, and special appearances inspired by America’s founding story.

🎶 Patriotic music by the Community Band, group singalongs & more
🎨 Kid-friendly activities, coloring contest & prizes
🍦 Free cake & ice cream following the program

🎥 Bonus! Catch the documentary “After Ike” at 1 PM at the Wieting Theater before the celebration.
☔ In case of rain, the event moves to the Wieting Theater. Follow the Tama County Economic Development page for updates!

05/31/2026

Just a reminder about tomorrow morning’s opportunity to see this (June1, 2026)! And it sounds like The Pump in Tama has a food special lined up as well as someone else with a coffee food truck set up. I know from traveling and seeing some of these beautiful trains it is quite the experience so please find the time for this opportunity.

05/28/2026

Calling all photographers! Youth and adults are invited to showcase their creativity and capture the beauty, meaning, and inspiration of flags flying across our county! Submit up to two original photos to Jake Buchanan, Tama County Economic Development Director at [email protected]. Please include your name, the location where the photo was taken, and your contact information with your submission. Tama County Board of Supervisors will select inspiring entries to be displayed in the Tama County Annex Building. Don’t miss the chance to have your photography featured and celebrate community pride through your lens! Deadline to submit is June 12.

02/26/2026

An exciting day is planned for March 21st in Traer! Be sure to mark your calendars! There are four new books written by author Cherie Dargan in the Traer Public Library. You may want to do a quick read before her presentation!

02/17/2026