ASL Interpreted Guided Tours of the Jordan House Museum

2001 Fuller Road,West Des Moines IA 50265

11 September, 2021

Description

Guided Tours of the Jordan House with ASL Interpretation Learn about the Underground Railroad in Iowa, early history and life in West Des Moines during this self-guided tour of the home of James Jordan. Tours will be led by a trained guide and a sign language interpreter will be provided. You will see rooms decorated in period style and information on the fight for freedom in the journey taken by freedom seekers in the years before the Civil War. Included in your admission are 4 special exhibits: West Des Moines at War: The contributions at home and abroad of Central Iowa's finest citizens, from the Spanish-American War to present day. Profiles in Courage; Iowa Women & the Underground Railroad: Meet four amazing Iowa women who contributed to the fight for freedom. Vandenburg Pharmacy: One of the longest running pharmacies in Central Iowa, the Vandenburg family's business served Valley Junction. Rocks & Fossils of Central Iowa. The mission of the West Des Moines Historical Society is to educate, to preserve, and to promote the heritage and history of West Des Moines. The West Des Moines Historical Society owns and maintains two historic properties in West Des Moines, the Jordan House and Bennett School.The Jordan House, a stately Victorian home of Italianate Gothic design, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. It is one of the oldest structures in Polk Country and the oldest in West Des Moines. Built by one of West Des Moines’ first settlers, James C. Jordan, the house today serves both as a museum for West Des Moines and as the office of West Des Moines Historical Society. The sixteen period rooms serve as a fitting backdrop of displaying the many antique treasures gathered from the rich heritage of West Des Moines. Visitors will also be interested in both the Underground Railroad Exhibit and the many artifacts from the regular railroad which played an important role in the early years of West Des Moines.