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HISTORY

As volunteers age out, small Iowa museums fight to preserve local history

From the America 250: Stories from Iowa's history and how they've shaped the country series

NINA BAKER
Jun 23, 2026
Jun 23, 2026 Updated Jul 13, 2026
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The interior of Cooks Hardware at the Cedar County Historical Society in Tipton on Thursday, June 4. Jeff Kaufmann, a member of the historical society's board of directors, said the museum has taken active steps to withstand the trend of museums subsisting off aging volunteers.
NINA BAKER

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Part of the Cedar County Sports Wall of Fame at the Cedar County Historical Society in Tipton on Thursday, June 4. The collection tracks contemporary and historic athletic achievements in Cedar County.
NINA BAKER

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Photos: 18 images of the National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention on Friday

OLD WEST IN DAVENPORT — From left, Jim Kakavecos, John Sharp, Bill Schwier and Mark Brunnemer, of Indiana's Scalet Mass Vigilance Society chat at their vendor booths at the National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport. The conference brought in about 100 organization members from 12 different states for seminars, shows and sales.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0004.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0021.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0084.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0093.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0109.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0140.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0147.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0155.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0183.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0200.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0232.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0251.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0260.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0265.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0271.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0282.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

032726-qc-nws-oldwest 0294.jpg — Scenes from the 2026 National Congress of Old West Shootists Convention held at the DoubleTree hotel on Friday, March 27, in Davenport.
Katelyn Metzger

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