Iowa museum spat shows conflict over historical preservation

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An $80 million proposal to renovate Iowa's flagship history museum in Des Moines has spotlighted a growing conflict over historical preservation in Iowa, with a group of historians arguing the plan is unnecessarily costly and doesn't adequately address longstanding issues over how artifacts in the state are maintained.

The Save Iowa History Alliance has been calling on the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to fix what it says is inadequate attention to artifact preservation.

The reductions go against professional standards in the industry for collecting, managing and accessing historical resources, said Elizabeth Heineman, chair of the University of Iowa's history department.

In June 2015, the American Historical Association wrote to Branstad and DCA leaders expressing "grave concern about reductions in resources for the research collections" maintained within the department.

A representative for the national organization said the group received an email in response, and then a phone call, but he could not provide more information.

Sen. Matt McCoy, chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that needs to sign off on the museum funding, said about $12 million should pay for essential building repairs.